The Return of Reroll in TFT Patch 16.5 — Top 5 Best 3‑Star Carries to Climb Ranked

Patch 16.5 brought major balance adjustments to two‑cost and three‑cost units with the explicit goal of making reroll strategies competitive with traditional legendary Fast 8 boards. Buffs to champions such as Jinx, Orianna, Graves, Rek’Sai, and Darius (with notable 3‑star scaling increases) have helped reroll comps return to the meta — especially when executed with proper items and augments.

You can also check out our previous meta guide for Patch 16.4 S‑Tier comps and smart builds to understand how the meta evolved into 16.5:
👉 TFT (Teamfight Tactics) 16.4 Meta Guide: Best S‑Tier Comps & Smart Builds to Climb Ranked

In this guide, we’ll break down the top 5 3‑star reroll carries, ranked items, strategies, and when to choose reroll over Fast 8.


Why Reroll Strategies Are Strong in TFT 16.5

Patch 16.5 intentionally buffed the three‑star forms of many cost‑2 and cost‑3 champions to bring reroll comps back into contention with high‑cost tempo strategies. Riot noted that units like Graves, Orianna, and Rek’Sai “fall off once they hit three stars,” so their 3★ forms received notable buffs to improve reliability.

Key reasons reroll is viable now:

  • Stronger 3★ scaling on multiple champions.

  • Better mid‑game power compared to risky Fast 8 tempo.

  • More consistent item paths that accentuate reroll strengths.


Top 5 Best 3‑Star Reroll Carries in TFT Patch 16.5


1️⃣ Jinx — S‑Tier Reroll Hyper Carry

Why She’s Strong:
Jinx received a significant 3‑star damage buff in 16.5, boosting her late‑game threat level. Before this patch, Jinx struggled due to bugs and inconsistent scaling, but now she hits meaningful damage spikes as a reroll carry.

Best Items:

  • Guinsoo’s Rageblade — excellent scaling with her attack speed focus

  • Last Whisper / Zaun Mods — cut through armor and enhance damage ramp

  • Giant Slayer — great against beefy frontlines

Strategy: Slow roll at Level 6 to hit 3★ efficiently, then pivot into mid‑game for cleanups.

The Return of Reroll in TFT Patch 16.5


2️⃣ Orianna — S‑Tier AP Burst Reroll Champion

Why She’s Strong:
Orianna got one of the largest 3★ ability damage increases in 16.5, letting her burst entire frontline comps once she hits three stars — a huge addition for AP‑focused reroll builds.

Best Items:

  • Blue Buff — faster casts

  • Nashor’s Tooth — improves spell speed

  • Jeweled Gauntlet — boosts AP burst output

Strategy: Prioritize items that improve cast frequency and spell damage, then slow roll to hit 3★ ASAP.


3️⃣ Graves — A+ Reroll Anti‑Backline Carry

Why He’s Strong:
Graves’ 3★ ability damage was increased significantly, making him a great option for punishing carry backlines when paired with proper survivability items.

Best Items:

  • Bloodthirster — sustain

  • Sterak’s Gage — extra durability

  • Edge of Night — survivability against crowd control

Strategy: Position centrally behind tanks to maximize uptime and burst potential.


4️⃣ Rek’Sai — A‑Tier Void Bruiser Carry

Why She’s Strong:
Rek’Sai’s spin damage scaling received a buff to her 3★ form, giving her improved sustain and damage output — especially impactful if your comp lacks a strong defensive frontline.

Best Items:

  • Titan’s Resolve — bonus resistances and damage

  • Bloodthirster — sustain

  • Crownguard — defensive frontlining


5️⃣ Darius — B+ Reroll Tank‑Carry Option

Why He’s Here:
Darius’ heal ratio at three stars makes him exceptionally hard to bring down, especially in reroll tanks or hybrid builds. His role is often secondary but still impactful with the right item set.

Best Items:

  • Ionic Spark — shields vs magic heavy boards

  • Sunfire Cape — consistent damage

  • Redemption — team survivability


Fast 8 vs Reroll — When to Choose Which

Fast 8 strategies optimize for late‑game tempo by prioritizing high‑cost units and leveling early. In contrast, reroll focuses on hitting 3★ spikes on mid‑tier carries sooner and winning through consistent mid‑game power spikes.

Reroll is ideal when:

  • You hit key items early.

  • You can maintain gold for slow rolling.

  • Your reroll carries are synergistic with early board traits.

Fast 8 is ideal when:

  • You find high‑tier legendaries early.

  • Your reroll carries are weak or missing key augments.


Best Augments for Reroll Comps in 16.5

Certain augments elevate reroll builds dramatically:

  • Economy augments to preserve gold for slow rolling.

  • Damage or spell speed augments that benefit primary reroll carries.

  • Support augments that add sustain or defensive stats for your carries.

Select augments based on your reroll plan, and pivot early if the augment doesn’t fit your goals.


How to Execute a Perfect Slow‑Roll Strategy

Step‑by‑Step:

  1. Hold 50–60 gold to maximize reroll efficiency.

  2. Slow roll at Level 6–7 if you’re targeting multiple 3‑star carries.

  3. Prioritize core items early — don’t overspend before hitting key pieces.

  4. Transition to late‑game based on lobby comps and remaining augments.


Quick Meta Snapshot Table (Featured Snippet‑Friendly)

Champion    Tier    Best Items                                        Strategy
JinxSGuinsoo’s Rageblade, Zaun ModsHyper reroll carry
OriannaSBlue Buff, Jeweled GauntletBurst AP reroll
GravesA+Bloodthirster, Sterak’s GageAnti‑backline damage
Rek’SaiATitan’s Resolve, BloodthirsterBruiser reroll
DariusB+Ionic Spark, Sunfire CapeTank carry reroll

FAQ

Q: Is reroll good in TFT Patch 16.5?
Yes — Riot buffed 3★ scaling on key champions to bring reroll comps back into contention with Fast 8 builds.

Q: What is the best reroll comp in TFT 16.5?
Top reroll carries currently include Jinx, Orianna, and Graves due to their improved three‑star performance.

Q: Should I play Fast 8 or reroll?
Choose reroll if you hit core items early and can afford to slow roll for 3★ spikes; choose Fast 8 if you find multiple high‑cost carries early.


Conclusion

Patch 16.5 has clearly revived reroll strategies in TFT by strengthening the three‑star forms of several cost‑2 and cost‑3 units while preserving strategic diversity. With Jinx, Orianna, Graves, Rek’Sai, and Darius leading the charge, reroll comps have solidified their place in the meta — especially for players who can execute slow roll economically and capitalize on strong item synergies.

Make sure to review our Patch 16.4 meta guide linked above if you want deeper context on how the meta evolved into the current iteration.

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