The Slayer trait in TFT Set 9.5, explained

Healing and extra damage on low units makes Slayer a scary unit to face.

Aatrox League of Legends Slayer Teamfight Tactics Set 9
Image via Riot Games

Arguably the most offensive trait in Teamfight Tactics Set 9.5, the Slayer trait has allowed players to build a very aggressive attack damage composition to counter a lot of magic damage teams, especially Sorcerers. While it might seem simple on the surface, Slayers need to be played in a specific way to get the most value out of them.

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Here is how the Slayer trait works in TFT Set 9.5, and here is a list of all the Slayer units.

How the Slayer trait works in TFT Set 9.5

Quinn from League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics
Quinn, from League of Legends and Teamfight Tactics. Image via Riot Games

For avid TFT fans, the Slayer trait is a pretty basic offensive trait but one that puts all its eggs in one basket. It hearkens back to the Assassin trait from previous sets, which gave a higher critical chance to its units alongside other buffs. The units in the trait are usually quite brittle, but the high damage they can put out can be effective against the right opposition.

The Slayer trait gives its units 12 percent Omnivamp while active. This means that they heal for 12 percent of all damage they do. On top of that, depending on how many Slayer units you have on your board, they will do bonus damage, which is doubled against units below 66 percent health.

At two Slayers, that bonus damage is only 6 percent. At four, it grows to 20 percent, then at six, it grows more to 40 percent.

All Slayer units in TFT Set 9.5

  • Kayle (Demacia/Slayer)
  • Qiyana (Ixtal/Rogue/Slayer)
  • Quinn (Demacia/Slayer)
  • Rek’Sai (Void/Bruiser/Slayer)
  • Mordekaiser (Noxus/Slayer)
  • Aatrox (Darkin/Slayer/Juggernaut)

There are a total of six Slayer units in Set 9.5, meaning to get that six-Slayer buff, players will need to get every single unit from above. If they can’t, they can get a Slayer Emblem and place it on a non-Slayer unit, or get a Slayer-focused augment.

So far, Slayer builds focusing on Zed and Gwen have been the best version of the Slayer composition. Even with it being a secondary trait in comparison to the regional traits of Demacia, Noxus, Ixtal, and others, it provides key uses to delete powerful backline units. Speaking of which, giving Katarina that Slayer Emblem and also giving her the Rogue trait to combo and do a lot of damage.

That’s been the key option so far, but we’ll have to see if more combos come around with Slayer and other traits.

Author
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Michael Czar
Contributing writer for Dot Esports. Covering esports news for just over five years. Focusing on Overwatch, VALORANT, Call of Duty, Teamfight Tactics, and some general gaming content. Washington Post-published game reviewer. Follow me on Twitter at @xtraweivy.