TFT Positioning Guide: How to Place Your Units
The same board can win or lose depending on where the units stand. Positioning costs no gold, so it's the cheapest way to get stronger. These are the basics most players use every game.
How the board works
Your half of the board has 4 rows of 7 hexes. When the fight starts, units walk toward the closest enemy, so the front row meets the enemy first and the back row stays safe the longest. Ranged units attack from a distance, melee units need to walk up.
Frontline and backline
- Front row: tanks and melee fighters. They take the first hits and buy time.
- Back row: carries and ranged units. They deal damage while the front holds.
- Middle rows: units that need to be close but not first, or units that jump in later.
Put your strongest tank where the enemy's main damage will hit first. Most of the time that's right across from their carry.
Protecting your carry
A common setup puts the carry in a back corner with a tank or support next to it. The corner limits how many enemies can reach it. Carries with a long attack range can sit further back and still reach the fight.
- Put a tough unit next to your carry, so enemies that jump in hit it first.
- Keep units that shield or heal allies close to the carry.
- If the enemy has a big area damage ability, move the carry one hex away from the group.
Playing against assassins and divers
Some champions jump to your back row when the fight starts. To handle them:
- Move your carry to the side where the jump lands on a tank instead.
- Put a sturdy unit in the back corner as bait and your carry one hex away.
- Spread your backline so one jump can't hit everyone.
Spreading out vs grouping up
Some abilities hit an area. If the enemy has strong area damage, leave a gap between your units so fewer get hit at once. If your own comp has shields, heals or effects that reach nearby allies, group those units so the effects cover more of them.
Scouting before each fight
Between rounds you can look at every other board. Before a fight, check your next opponent: where their carry stands, where their assassins or divers are, and which side their damage comes from. Then move your carry and tanks to match.
- Find the enemy's main damage unit.
- Put your best tank in its path.
- Put your carry where the enemy's divers and area damage can't reach it easily.
- Repeat every round. Boards change as players level and roll.
Late in the game, positioning against the top 2 or 3 players matters most. Those fights decide your final place.
You can try layouts in the team builder before you queue up.
FAQ
Where should I put my carry in TFT?
Usually in a back corner, with a tank or support next to it. Move it if the enemy has assassins or area damage aimed at that corner.
Why do my units die before they fight?
The enemy is probably reaching them first: assassins jumping to your backline or area damage hitting a group. Scout the enemy board and spread or move your units.
Does positioning really matter in TFT?
Yes. Close fights often come down to who reaches the carry first. It costs nothing, so it's worth a few seconds every round.
