TFT Set 13 Guide: How to Play Artillerist

In Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Set 13, the Artillerist trait introduces an explosive dynamic to combat. Artillerists possess a unique ability: after every five attacks, they launch a rocket that deals 125% of their Attack Damage (AD) in a small area around their target. This AoE effect significantly amplifies their damage potential, making them key players in shredding clustered enemy teams.

As the Artillerist trait levels up, champions gain bonus Attack Damage, elevating their overall output. At the highest tier, the rockets deal double damage, transforming Artillerists into unstoppable damage-dealing machines. Whether you’re aiming for sustained damage or clutch team wipes, the Artillerist trait offers a thrilling blend of power and strategy. In this guide, we’ll dive into the mechanics and strategies to dominate with Artillerists in TFT Set 13. Let’s get started!

How the Artillerist Trait Works in TFT Set 13

The Artillerist trait adds an explosive twist to the classic AD-scaling mechanics of Teamfight Tactics. Artillerists gain bonus Attack Damage (AD) over the course of a fight, and after every five attacks, they unleash rockets that deal AoE damage around their target. This makes Artillerists exceptional for breaking through tightly packed enemy formations, combining sustained attacks with bursts of splash damage.

Artillerist Trait Bonus

Champions: Tristana (2g), Urgot (2g), Ezreal (3g), Corki (4g)
• (2): Gain 10% bonus Attack Damage.
• (4): Gain 40% bonus Attack Damage.
• (6): Gain 50% bonus Attack Damage, and rockets deal double damage every five attacks.

Synergy and Playstyle

Each Artillerist champion brings additional synergies through their secondary traits:
• Tristana: Emissary
• Urgot: Experiment / Pit Fighter
• Ezreal: Academy / Rebel
• Corki: Scrap

With only four Artillerist units in the set, you can unlock their core power at (4) by fielding all of them, which provides substantial damage output. However, running all four Artillerists may leave your frontline and utility lacking. Most effective builds will likely focus on using two Artillerists paired with complementary traits such as Scrap (Corki), Academy (Ezreal), or Emissary (Tristana) to enhance your carry potential while maintaining balance in your team composition.

Using Artillerist Emblems

The Artillerist Emblem opens up a wealth of flexibility. With an emblem, you can convert any champion into an Artillerist, achieving the (4) bonus with just three units. If you manage to secure two Emblems, the (6) Artillerist bonus becomes attainable, turning your team into a high-damage wrecking crew. While this setup sacrifices some frontline durability, the overwhelming AoE damage from six Artillerists can dismantle enemy boards in seconds.

The Artillerist trait rewards creative team-building and strategic itemization to amplify its devastating potential. With the right balance of offense and support, Artillerists can dominate any match.

TFT Artillerist Champions

The Artillerist champions bring a blend of single-target and AoE damage capabilities, making them versatile units with unique utility. Here’s a closer look at the champions and their roles within the trait:

Tristana (2g) – Emissary + Artillerist

Tristana’s ability deals damage to a target and ricochets if the target is eliminated, with each successful ricochet granting her permanent bonus damage. Unlike most champions that scale only within a fight, Tristana can snowball across multiple rounds, making her an excellent early-game investment.

Her Emissary trait is active by default, but its full potential unlocks only with all four Emissaries. However, Tristana is perfectly capable of leading a (4) Artillerist board on her own, leaving space to focus the rest of your composition on building a solid frontline to support her as the primary carry.

Urgot (2g) – Experiment + Pit Fighter + Artillerist

Urgot is a versatile 2-cost champion that serves as both a secondary damage dealer and a hybrid frontline unit. His Experiment trait provides a shield, boosting his survivability and making him an excellent utility unit. Urgot’s ability applies Sunder to enemies, reducing their armor and amplifying the damage of his allies.

Pairing Urgot with Tristana creates a potent 2-cost core for reroll compositions. Activating the Experiment trait with champions like Dr. Mundo enhances Urgot’s durability, allowing him to contribute consistently throughout fights while supporting the team with his debuff utility.

Ezreal (3g) – Academy + Rebel + Artillerist

Ezreal brings straightforward AoE damage to the table, targeting multiple enemies within a small radius. While his three traits give him flexibility in various team comps, his ability lacks the complexity of other Artillerist champions.

Ezreal works well as a secondary damage dealer when paired with other Artillerists or can fit into broader Academy or Rebel compositions. Although his kit is simple, his versatility makes him a reliable choice for mid-game stability.

Corki (4g) – Scrap + Artillerist

Corki is the centerpiece of Artillerist compositions, delivering a barrage of missiles that deal damage to his target and all enemies within a 2-hex radius. His wide attack range makes him an excellent carry, capable of spreading substantial damage across enemy lines. Additionally, his missiles reduce the armor of affected enemies, synergizing well with items and traits that capitalize on reduced defenses.

As a 4-cost carry, Corki offers both reliability and scalability. While he requires some investment to shine, his high damage output and utility make him a key player in any Artillerist-focused strategy.

Best TFT Artillerist Augments

Augments like Crest and Crown are always valuable options, as they provide flexibility and help activate higher-tier traits without needing additional champions. However, there are several other notable Augments that can significantly enhance the performance of Artillerists. Here’s an overview of what to look out for:

Artillerist Crest and Crown

• Artillerist Crest grants an Artillerist Emblem, allowing any champion to join the trait. This is particularly helpful for expanding into the (4) or even (6) Artillerist bonus without sacrificing core units from other synergies.
• Artillerist Crown includes an Emblem, bonus items, and additional champions, accelerating your ability to reach key power spikes and maximizing damage output across your board.

Scaling and Damage-Enhancing Augments

• Scope Weapons: Boosting the attack range of your Artillerists lets them position more safely while dealing consistent damage. This is especially effective for champions like Tristana and Corki, whose abilities benefit from greater range.
• Thrill of the Hunt: The healing from takedowns keeps your Artillerists alive longer, allowing them to sustain their damage output and survive prolonged fights.

Utility and Synergy Augments

• Battle Mage: Grants bonus stats to front-row units, which can help Urgot or other frontliners protect your Artillerist backline while maintaining strong utility.
• Celestial Blessing: Lifesteal for both abilities and attacks enhances sustain, particularly for champions like Corki and Tristana, whose abilities hit multiple targets.

Game-Changing Augments

• Tiny Titans: Provides additional health to help you stabilize and secure key units for your composition, allowing Artillerists to scale into the late game.
• Item Grab Bag: Bonus item components offer flexibility to craft ideal items for your Artillerist carries, such as Infinity Edge or Last Whisper.

Late-Game Augments

• Artillery Barrage: Increases the power of rockets fired by your Artillerists, turning their AoE damage into a game-changing force.
• Stand United: Boosts stats based on active synergies, rewarding creative team building that incorporates other powerful traits alongside Artillerists.

By selecting Augments that complement your team’s strengths and address weaknesses, you can create a devastating Artillerist comp capable of dominating any match. Keep experimenting to find the perfect combinations for your playstyle!

Conclusion

The Artillerist trait in TFT Set 13 is a fantastic choice for players who love high-damage compositions with explosive potential. With their unique ability to unleash powerful rockets after every few attacks, Artillerists bring devastating area-of-effect damage to the battlefield, making them an excellent source of consistent damage throughout a match.

Building a strong Artillerist comp requires a balance of synergy, frontline support, and the right items to maximize their critical strikes and attack speed. Champions like Tristana and Corki excel as carries, while Urgot and Ezreal provide valuable utility and versatility. Augments like Crest, Crown, and utility-based choices can further enhance their effectiveness, offering flexibility in creating diverse and powerful team compositions.

Whether you’re going for the 4-Artillerist bonus or aiming for the ultimate 6-Artillerist setup, this trait provides ample opportunities to dominate opponents with precise positioning and well-thought-out strategies. Experiment with different combinations, leverage the trait’s strengths, and enjoy the explosive power of Artillerists in TFT Set 13!