TFT Set 13 Guide: How to Play Black Rose

Black Rose, rooted in Noxian lore, takes center stage in TFT Set 13 with its unique and thematic gameplay. With the addition of Ambessa, the Black Rose faction, led by Noxian aristocrats, emerges as a pivotal trait. Known for its secrecy, the Black Rose faction features five champions representing its power in this set.

True to its lore, Black Rose champions act as summoners, calling forth a mighty Sion to aid them. As the game progresses, Sion becomes unchained, serving as a powerful protector for the Black Rose members. In this guide, we’ll break down the strategies and tips you need to master the Black Rose composition in TFT Set 13. Let’s dive in!

How TFT Black Rose Works

The Black Rose trait in TFT Set 13 brings a compelling dynamic to the game, centered around summoning and empowering a mighty Sion. This trait shines through its scaling power, rewarding players who commit to its champions and synergize effectively.

Black Rose Trait Bonus

• (3) Summons a chained Sion. He becomes unchained after five casts by Black Rose units or if his health drops below 65%.
• (4) Sion grows stronger, and enemies take increased damage from Black Rose units.
• (5) Sion unleashes dark magic upon being freed and fully heals.
• (7) Sion resurrects with overwhelming power after death, making him a nearly unstoppable force.

Sion’s power scales with the star levels of Black Rose champions, making unit upgrades critical for maximizing the trait’s potential.

Black Rose Champions and Their Roles

1. Morgana (1G): A versatile Visionary champion who provides utility and early game strength.
2. Vladimir (2G): Combines Watcher and Sorcerer traits, offering flexibility and sustain in battles.
3. Cassiopeia (3G): A Dominator champion excelling in consistent magic damage.
4. Elise (4G): A unique Form Swapper and Bruiser, blending durability and adaptability.
5. LeBlanc (5G): A high-cost Sorcerer bringing immense power and burst potential to the comp.

Black Rose Synergy and Strategy

The Black Rose trait operates in tiers: 3, 4, and 5 units are easily attainable, but reaching the 7-unit milestone requires creativity and commitment. To unlock this ultimate tier, you’ll need two Spatulas to craft the necessary items, resulting in a near-invincible Sion with devastating power.

Each Black Rose champion brings additional traits, allowing players to form strategic webs:
• Morgana aids with her utility and Visionary buffs.
• Vladimir provides synergy with Watcher and Sorcerer, enhancing magical damage output.
• Cassiopeia capitalizes on Dominator traits to punish enemies.
• Elise acts as a durable frontliner and disruptor with her Bruiser capabilities.
• LeBlanc serves as the late-game powerhouse with her exceptional Sorcerer magic.

By combining these traits effectively and focusing on star-level upgrades, the Black Rose comp becomes a force to be reckoned with, offering robust frontlines and devastating damage potential.

TFT Black Rose Champions

The Black Rose lineup in TFT Set 13 is composed of five diverse champions, each contributing unique abilities and traits that synergize well. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the Black Rose champions and their playstyles:

Morgana (1G) – Black Rose + Visionary

Morgana curses the nearest enemy who isn’t already cursed, dealing magic damage over 10 seconds and reducing their shield effectiveness.

Her utility makes her a standout unit, particularly in the 5 Black Rose trait. As a natural anti-shield unit, Morgana counters champions heavily reliant on shields for tankiness. She’s also a strong holder of anti-heal items like Morellonomicon, making her valuable against healing-heavy teams. With her flexibility, Morgana can shine on both Black Rose and Visionary boards.

Vladimir (2G) – Black Rose + Watcher + Sorcerer

Vladimir’s ability heals himself based on Ability Power while dealing magic damage to a single target.

While Vladimir thrives in the early game due to his strong sustain and damage, he tends to fall off in the late game when his single-target focus becomes less effective. His healing is useful for stabilizing early boards, but he’s likely the weaker link of the Black Rose team in extended matches.

Cassiopeia (3G) – Black Rose + Dominator

Cassiopeia blasts a target with magic damage. On her third cast, she splashes miasma to nearby enemies, dealing damage within 3 hexes.

Cassiopeia steps away from her single-target past, gaining flexibility as an AP carry that can target multiple enemies. While her secondary trait, Dominator, adds Ability Power, its benefits for the Black Rose trait are limited. However, pairing her with tanky Dominators like Blitzcrank may open up reroll synergies, giving her additional utility.

Elise (4G) – Black Rose + Form Swapper + Bruiser

Elise leaps to a nearby hex, stunning all enemies within 2 hexes, dealing damage, and healing herself.

Elise is a key frontline unit for Black Rose, thanks to her ability to stun and sustain. Her Form Swapper and Bruiser traits make her an excellent tank, perfectly complementing the mostly AP-damage-dealing Black Rose roster. By buying time for Sion and other units, Elise becomes an indispensable part of the composition.

LeBlanc (5G) – Black Rose + Sorcerer

LeBlanc chains up to 4 enemies, dealing magic damage split among them. When one chained target takes damage, bonus true damage spreads to the others. She gains enhanced damage on her next 3 attacks, scaling with the number of enemies eliminated by her ultimate.

LeBlanc shifts from her traditional single-target burst role to a more versatile AoE-focused champion. Her ability to chain enemies makes her impactful across the entire board, ensuring no damage is wasted. As a Sorcerer, LeBlanc benefits from splashable AP bonuses, amplifying her already formidable scaling.

Key Takeaways

The Black Rose champions bring a mix of utility, sustain, and burst damage to the table. Morgana disrupts shields and healing, Vladimir stabilizes early boards, Cassiopeia adds AoE pressure, Elise anchors the frontline with stuns and sustain, and LeBlanc rounds out the composition with high-impact AoE damage. Together, they create a dynamic and versatile trait that thrives on synergy and careful positioning.

Best Augments for Black Rose in TFT

Augments are a game-changer in TFT, and Black Rose benefits from a variety of options that enhance both synergy and individual champion power. While Augments like Crest and Crown are always solid picks for boosting trait bonuses, others bring unique interactions that elevate Black Rose compositions. Here’s a breakdown:

Black Rose Crest

This augment provides a Black Rose Emblem, allowing flexibility in team-building. It enables non-Black Rose units to gain the trait, making it easier to reach higher breakpoints in the synergy. Ideal for slotting in units that can benefit from the Black Rose trait.

Black Rose Crown

The Crown augment is a more potent option, granting a Black Rose Emblem, a Morellonomicon, and a Cassiopeia. The Emblem opens up even more synergy possibilities, while the Morellonomicon ensures utility by applying anti-heal effects. The free Cassiopeia adds immediate value, providing a reliable carry option or trait enabler.

Forbidden Magic

This augment rewards aggressive gameplay, enhancing Sion’s power with every third takedown by Black Rose champions or Sion himself. It grants +1.50% permanent Attack Damage and +10 Max Health for Sion, allowing him to scale into a tanky damage dealer over time. Additionally, it comes with 3 Black Rose champions, providing a head start for the trait’s synergy.

Crimson Pact

A unique augment tailored for Vladimir, Crimson Pact redefines his role on the board. The strongest Vladimir gains +3 Range, +5 bonus Mana per attack, and his ability is reworked to amplify damage instead of healing. It grants 6% Damage Amplification, deals 80% bonus damage, and spreads additional damage to two nearby enemies. This makes Vladimir a versatile utility and damage-dealing unit, adding significant value to both early and mid-game.

Key Takeaways

These augments enhance the strength and versatility of Black Rose compositions. Whether you’re leveraging Emblems to broaden your synergy options, empowering Sion through Forbidden Magic, or turning Vladimir into a potent hybrid with Crimson Pact, these augments ensure you’ll have the tools to dominate the board. Choose strategically based on your board state and the stage of the game.

Conclusion

The Black Rose trait in TFT Set 13 introduces a dynamic and lore-rich strategy to the game, blending tactical depth with immense late-game power. This trait revolves around summoning and empowering Sion, a chained colossus whose release can single-handedly shift the tide of any battle. At the (3) Black Rose breakpoint, players unlock Sion’s chained form, requiring strategic coordination of casts or health thresholds to unleash his true potential. At (4) Black Rose, Sion’s power spikes as he inflicts amplified damage, with enemy units suffering even more from Black Rose champions’ attacks.

Reaching (5) Black Rose turns Sion into an unstoppable force, healing to full health upon his release and cementing his position as a nearly unkillable frontline. At the pinnacle of (7) Black Rose, Sion transcends death itself, resurrecting with unparalleled strength and wreaking havoc on the battlefield. Each champion’s star level contributes to Sion’s growth, making high-star units not just desirable but essential for maximizing his destructive potential.

Black Rose thrives as a high-risk, high-reward trait that rewards players who enjoy meticulous planning and calculated risk-taking. Building around Sion adds an engaging layer of anticipation, with each fight hinging on his transformation and impact. From Morgana’s utility to LeBlanc’s devastating area control, the Black Rose champions offer versatility and synergy, making every composition feel rewarding.

For players seeking an electrifying and dominating strategy, Black Rose is a standout choice in TFT Set 13. With careful team-building, optimal use of augments, and smart economy management, this trait can deliver some of the most exhilarating victories in the game. Mastering Black Rose isn’t just about winning—it’s about commanding the battlefield with style and overwhelming power.