TFT Patch 14.4 is live, and the meta has definitely shifted—again. Between augment tweaks, item nerfs, and trait rebalancing, knowing which Headliner units are worth anchoring your comp around is more important than ever.
If you’re wondering which champs to trust with your early board (or full comp), this guide will help you lock in those high-roll picks and avoid the bait units that fizzle out by Stage 4.
What’s a Headliner (and Why Should You Care)?
In case you need a refresher: Headliners are the shiny champs you see in your shop that come with bonus stats and extra trait power. They’re basically supercharged versions of regular units—and they’re usually your comp’s foundation.
TL;DR: Build around strong Headliners = smoother game flow and higher top 4 chances.
Best 1-Cost Headliners (Great Starts)
Yasuo (Fated/Bruiser)
Yasuo’s been killing it early thanks to high base damage and strong dueling traits. He’s especially good with early AD items like Deathblade.
Why he’s good:
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Carries early fights with almost no help
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Scales well into midgame
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Pairs well with Wukong or Kha’Zix
Jinx (Disco/Executioner)
Jinx got some love lately and she’s back to cleaning up boards. Toss her some attack speed and she’ll carry through Stage 3.
Pro tip: Slam Guinsoo’s if you get a Recurve Bow early and lean into Disco for sustain.
Annie (Spellweaver/Sniper)
Annie’s lowkey busted again. She dishes out solid AoE damage and makes early Spellweaver boards scary good.
Great with:
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Luden’s Echo
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Blue Buff
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Spellweaver + Crowd Diver openers
Best 2-Cost Headliners (Stable Midgame)
Kayle (Sentinel/Executioner)
If you get Kayle Headliner and Executioner Augment (or drop a Shadow Isles opener), you’re cooking. Great with AS items like Rageblade or Shiv.
Seraphine (Disco/Spellweaver)
Buffs your team and vibes hard in Disco boards. She’s not the main carry, but with a little love, she becomes a support queen that keeps your comp rolling.
Senna (Heartsteel/Rapidfire)
Senna brings utility and damage. Good tempo unit with some real scaling when Heartsteel pays off. Plus, she pairs well with Ezreal comps.
Best 3-Cost Headliners (Comp Defining)
Riven (Fated/Bruiser)
Riven Headliner with Fated + some early defensive items = unbeatable frontline. Plus, she makes vertical Fated comps easier to pull off.
Mordekaiser (Sentinel/Guardian)
Big AoE slam that crushes clumped teams. He's especially nasty with flat AP and tanky frontlines.
Try this: Ionic Spark + Morello + frontline = enemy board melted.
Best 4-Cost Headliners (Game-Changers)
Zed (Executioner/Crowd Diver)
Zed’s still an absolute menace. High damage, fast resets, and if you hit him early—watch your LP climb.
Must-have items: Edge of Night, IE, Last Whisper
Poppy (Fortune/Guardian)
Tanky. Disruptive. Scales well with Guardian traits. A fantastic frontline if you get her early and build around Fortune.
Ezreal (Heartsteel/Rapidfire)
Ezreal’s still Ezreal—solid poke, utility, and high synergy potential. He fits nicely in Heartsteel or support-heavy comps.
Ahri (Spellweaver/Fated)
With the right items, Ahri deletes enemy boards. She thrives in high AP comps with frontlines that buy her time.
Go-to build: Blue Buff + Jeweled Gauntlet + Giant Slayer
Best 5-Cost Headliners (If You’re Lucky)
Lucian (Sentinel/Big Shot)
If you hit Lucian Headliner, pivot and pray. He scales like crazy with the right setup, especially post-14.4 buffs.
Watch for: Egg Hack + early Lucian = free top 2.
Illaoi (Bruiser/Warden)
Best late-game anchor if you need someone to hold down your front while carries do the dirty work. Not flashy, but ultra-consistent.
Tips for Picking the Right Headliner
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Check your opener: Don’t force Headliners that don’t fit your board. Early synergy = free econ.
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Itemize smart: Some Headliners need specific items to pop (Zed, Ahri), while others just need basic tank gear (Riven, Poppy).
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Scout & adapt: If three people are contesting Zed, maybe pivot to Executioner Kayle or Lucian later.
Bonus: Watchlist Picks
Not quite meta, but strong if you know how to pilot them:
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Lux – Niche AP backliner that can still pop off
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Amumu – A fantastic crowd control frontline with the right setup
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Twitch – Underrated executioner that fits vertical comps
Useful Community & Meta Links
Wrap-Up: Build Smart, Play Flexible
Headliners are one of the easiest ways to get ahead in TFT Patch 14.4—but only if you know who to build around and when to pivot. Don't tunnel vision your favorite 4-cost. Adapt, scout, and roll with the meta.
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