TFT Set 13 Guide: How to Play Bruiser

In Teamfight Tactics (TFT) Set 13, the Bruiser trait stands out as a solid option for players who want to bolster their team’s durability and sustain. This trait grants a bonus to maximum Health for your entire team, with Bruiser units benefiting from even larger increases. The result? A frontline that can absorb immense amounts of damage, giving your backline time to shine. Whether you’re crafting a team with Bruisers at its core or splashing them into your composition for added toughness, the Bruiser trait ensures your squad has the resilience to endure even the most intense battles. In this guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about playing Bruisers in TFT Set 13. Let’s dive in!

How TFT Bruiser Trait Works

The Bruiser trait is back in Set 13, continuing its legacy as one of the most straightforward yet impactful traits in TFT. By boosting your entire team’s maximum Health and providing even greater bonuses to Bruiser units, this trait ensures your team has a solid foundation for tankiness.

Bruiser Trait Bonus:

• Champions: Steb (1g), Trundle (1g), Sett (2g), Nunu & Willump (3g), Renni (3g), Elise (4g)
• Effect: Your team gains +100 max Health, with additional scaling for Bruiser units.
• (2): 20% increased Health
• (4): 45% increased Health
• (6): 70% increased Health

The Bruiser trait has always been iconic for providing durability and is making a powerful return in Set 13. While the concept is simple, individual Bruiser champions often bring unique abilities that allow them to either carry fights or disrupt enemies with crowd control, giving this trait more depth than meets the eye.

Bruiser Synergy:

Each Bruiser champion comes with additional traits that create opportunities for synergy:
• Steb (1g): Enforcer
• Trundle (1g): Scrap
• Sett (2g): Rebel
• Nunu (3g): Experiment + Visionary
• Renni (3g): Chem-Baron
• Elise (4g): Black Rose + Form Swapper

The beauty of the Bruiser trait lies in its flexibility. With minimal overlap in secondary traits, you can build a variety of team compositions around Bruisers. Champions like Nunu and Elise, with their three-trait versatility, shine in diverse team setups. For example, Nunu works seamlessly in Experiment comps, while Elise thrives in Black Rose formations. This versatility allows Bruisers to be a core part of almost any strategy, whether you’re focusing on pure tankiness or creating unique hybrid comps.

TFT Bruiser Champions

Steb (1g) – Enforcer + Bruiser

Steb is a TFT-exclusive champion from Arcane season 2, bringing a unique ability to heal allies while dealing damage. His passive provides a portion of the healing effect to nearby allies, making him a great support for early-game teams. Items like Redemption or Dragon’s Claw could amplify his value, especially if his passive synergizes with other healing sources. Although his 3-star potential in the late game is uncertain, Steb’s early-game utility and versatility make him a solid pick for Bruiser-based compositions or supportive team setups.

Trundle (1g) – Scrap + Bruiser

Trundle’s ability allows him to heal and deal damage, scaling with AP and AD respectively. This flexibility makes him an excellent early-game item holder, as his Scrap trait randomly upgrades incomplete items into fully functional ones for each battle. With the ability to thrive under low-health conditions, Trundle becomes a formidable tank in the early game. However, as with most 1-cost units, his longevity on the board diminishes in the late game unless paired effectively with his other traits or included in a reroll strategy.

Sett (2g) – Rebel + Bruiser

Sett brings utility and crowd control to the table with an ability that slams enemies together, dealing damage and stunning them. Even when only one enemy is affected, the damage and stun duration are enhanced. As a 2-cost unit, Sett offers reliable frontline disruption, making him an excellent transitional piece for mid-game compositions. While he holds his ground well, players will often swap him out for higher-cost champions to optimize their late-game lineup.

Nunu & Willump (3g) – Experiment + Bruiser + Visionary

Nunu’s ability creates a large gas cloud that deals damage over time, culminating in a powerful detonation. Although not a primary damage dealer, his Experiment trait stands out, providing unique hex bonuses that amplify the effects of other Experiment units. Nunu’s Experiment bonus adds max Health magic damage, making him a strong synergy piece in Experiment-based comps. With three traits, Nunu easily bridges multiple team synergies, offering both durability and utility.

Renni (3g) – Chem-Baron + Bruiser

Renni blends offense and crowd control with an ability that heals her (scaling with AP) and stuns her target while dealing damage (scaling with AD). While her single-target focus limits her AoE impact, her stun can be game-changing if it neutralizes a key enemy carry. As a mid-cost unit, Renni provides stability in Chem-Baron or Bruiser-heavy comps, excelling in situations where targeted crowd control can shift the fight’s momentum.

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

Elise offers premium crowd control with an ability that jumps into a hex near enemies, stunning all in a large area, dealing AP damage, and healing herself. She’s essential for activating the Black Rose trait, bringing both tankiness and utility to late-game teams. Her Form Swapper trait offers versatility, allowing her to gain a Damage Amplifier when positioned in the backline. However, placing her in the front can accelerate her mana gain due to taking damage, enabling her to cast her impactful ability sooner. Elise shines as a dual-purpose unit, capable of anchoring the frontline while also contributing to control-heavy strategies.

The Bruiser champions in Set 13 offer a mix of durability, crowd control, and flexibility, making them indispensable for creating balanced and resilient teams. Each champion brings unique traits and abilities, enabling players to tailor their compositions to fit various strategies and game plans.

Best TFT Bruiser Augments

Augments such as Bruiser Crest and Bruiser Crown are always reliable choices for boosting your Bruiser composition. These Augments not only enhance your team’s resilience but also allow you to achieve higher Bruiser trait thresholds without needing additional units. This frees up board space for other powerful synergies or carries.

That said, several Augments specifically tailored to Bruisers can elevate their effectiveness even further. Whether you’re looking to maximize survivability, enhance crowd control, or amplify damage, the right combination of Augments can make a significant difference. As we test various builds and strategies on the PBE, we’ll update this guide with the most effective Augments and their synergies.

For now, keep an eye out for Augments that boost health, provide sustain, or enhance utility effects—these will synergize perfectly with the tanky and adaptable nature of Bruiser units. As always, adapting your Augments to fit the flow of the game is key to creating a dominant board.

Conclusion

The Bruiser trait in TFT Set 13 offers a straightforward yet highly effective strategy for building a durable and reliable team. By increasing the health of all your units and providing additional bonuses for Bruisers, this trait ensures your frontline can soak up damage while setting the stage for your backline to shine. Whether you’re playing casually or aiming for a competitive edge, incorporating Bruisers into your composition allows for flexibility and adaptability.

With champions like Elise and Nunu bringing multi-trait synergy, and units like Sett and Steb offering utility and sustainability, the Bruiser trait is versatile enough to pair with various team builds. By focusing on maximizing health bonuses, strategically placing your units, and pairing them with complementary traits, you can craft a team that withstands even the toughest opponents.

As the meta develops, expect Bruisers to remain a consistent and valuable part of TFT Set 13. With the right approach, you’ll find success leveraging their tankiness and utility to secure victories in your matches. Whether you’re a veteran or new to TFT, the Bruiser trait is an excellent foundation for your strategies.