TFT Set 8/8.5 competitive NA roadmap: Formats and updates

A full guide to the NA Set Eight TFT organized play season.

Image via Riot Games

Riot Games and Wisdom have partnered again for the Set Eight Teamfight Tactics season, applying several changes to Cup tournaments.

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Following the release of Monsters Attack! on Dec. 7, competitive TFT players had until Jan. 14 to prepare for the first tournament of Set Eight. All NA tournaments feature a 40 percent increased total prize pool. And Cup tournaments throughout Set Eight will contain a new final cut format, along with greater breakpoints between qualifier points earned based on a Cup placement, according to Wisdom

All TFT Set Eight NA tournaments

There are a total of six tournaments that take place prior to the Set Eight World Championship.

Image via Riot Games Wisdom

Similar to previous seasons, two Cup tournaments will feed into the Mid-Set Finale. And the back half of the year will have a Mecha Cup and the NA Last Chance Qualifier leading up to the Regional Finals. Only Cup tournaments are receiving changes in TFT Set Eight organized play. 

  • Defender Cup: Jan. 14 to 15, and Jan. 21 to 22
  • Corrupted Cup: Feb. 11 to 12, and Feb. 18 to 19
  • Mid-Set Finale: March 3 to 5
  • Mecha Cup: April 15 to 16 and April 22 to 23
  • NA Last Chance Qualifier: April 29 to 30
  • Regional Finals: May 12 to 14

NA Cup tournament formats

All TFT Set Eight Cup tournaments will take place over the course of four days. Day one will feature 160 players through sign-ups. Only the top 32 advance to the third day where the top 32-seeded players for the Cup tournament will join the competition.

Of the 64 players competing during day three, 32 will advance to the final day. After five games played on the final day, the field will get reduced to 16, and then to eight after six games. The seventh and final game will showcase the top eight from day four without a reset in points. 

Players who finish in the top four of the Defender and Corrupted Cup will earn a direct invite to the Mid-Set Finale. The top four from the Mecha Cup will also earn a seed at the Regional Finals.

Qualifier Cup points

Qualifier points return for TFT Set Eight but with a slightly new look.

Points from all three Cups are equal to one another, featuring a slight increase in breakpoints between placement finishes. The difference in points between a first at a Cup tournament and a 16th-place finish is 16 points. 

  • First: 55 points
  • Second: 50 points
  • Third to Fourth: 48 points
  • Fifth to sixth: 46 points
  • Seventh to eighth: 44 points
  • Nine to 12th: 41 points
  • 13th-16th: 39 points

All TFT Set Eight NA Prize pool increases

The prize pool for all TFT North America tournaments has been increased by 40 percent for the Set Eight season. Set Seven Worlds showcased a substantial prize payout increase, which is carrying over into the NA circuit.

  • Cup Tournaments: Increased from $7,500 to $12,500
  • Mid-Set Finale: Increased from $20,000 to $25,000
  • Regional Finals: Increased from $25,000 to $35,000

No dates or prize pool information for TFT Set Eight Worlds has been released by Riot Games at the time of writing.

Update April 23 6pm CT: The TFT Set Eight/8.5 roadmap was updated heading into Regional Finals.

Author
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Danny Forster
Danny has been writing for Dot Esports for over five years, first as a freelancer and now as a staff writer. He is the lead beat writer for Magic: The Gathering and Teamfight Tactics. Danny is also a solid Monopoly GO player, having beaten every main event without spending a dime. When Danny isn't writing or gaming, he's chilling by the water in Spacecoast Florida with his family and friends. He's always got a tan, because touching grass is important, and loves playing strategic digital and tabletop games. Past outlets Danny has written for include TheGamer and ScreenRant.