Hey there, fellow TFTers. Rotting Potato here, yet again !

With Set 12 just dropping, it’s time to dive into the best ways to kick off your games.

Getting a solid start can make all the difference, setting you up for smooth sailing towards win streaking and potentially winning the game and reducing the well known mortdogged effect.

In this post, we’re going to share with you some of the top openers you should try out in the new set.

Whether you’re a veteran or just getting started, these tips will help you get the edge you need right from the first round.

Let’s jump in and see what’s working best in TFT Set 12!

4 Witchcraft, 2 Incantor

If you manage to get an early Neeko, you’re in for a particularly strong start. This opener offers flexibility, allowing you to pivot into a Syndra reroll, among other strategies.

• Mage Syndra: Equip Syndra with a Mage Emblem to maximize her passives.
• Incantor Syndra: Pair Syndra with Cassiopeia and use Neeko or Swain as your frontline.

Remember, this strategy isn’t limited to just Syndra. Depending on the units you get, you can also pivot to vertical Witchcraft or Eldritch compositions.

4 Bastion, 2 Faerie

Another opener that is mainly good for fast 8 boards. Tristana is an excellent item holder for Varus if you’re aiming for a Blaster route, and the same goes for Kalista items.

Blitz and Poppy (ideally Blitz) can hold items for your frontline, transitioning smoothly to Nasus, Tahm Kench, or Rakan depending on your roll down.

This opener works great for a 4 Bastion, 4 Faerie, and 3 Multistriker board, with Kalista and Rakan as your main late-game carries.
Essentially, an early Tristana sets you up well for any Kalista composition due to her early game strength.

Additionally, this setup is effective for any Varus Pyro/Blaster composition, with Varus and Nasus as your main carries.

3 Frost 2 Dragon 2 Hunter 2 Shapeshifter

This is an insane opener, especially if you manage to 2-star some 1-cost units.

It’s one of the best starting points for pivoting into a variety of boards, including reroll Swain, reroll Hunters, reroll Frost, reroll Warwick, and reroll Nomsy.

You can also transition into a fast 8 Dragon Blaster Pyro comp with Varus and Smolder as your main backline carries.

The possibilities are endless with this versatile opener!

3 Honeymancy 2 Bastion 2 Incantor 2 Witchcraft

An easy opener if you hit a lot of Honeymancers is to use this setup.

For a damage dealer item holder, you can swap one Blitzcrank for a Kog’Maw.

This is a solid start for Honeymancer-based comps, 1-cost rerolls, Mage Veigar rerolls on level 7, pivoting into Cassiopeia reroll, or even a fast 8 strategy to play around Karma reroll.

You can also pivot into 4 preserver Swain reroll, having Nunu as the item holder for your swain. This opener offers flexibility and strength, making it a reliable choice in many scenarios.

3 Mage 2 Bastion 2 Faerie

Another strong opener involves using Seraphine as an item holder for your AP carries and Lillia as your frontline tank.

This setup is great for transitioning into Mage-based comps or Faerie comps.

If you need a damage dealer item holder, you can swap Lillia with Tristana and Poppy with Rumble, allowing you to start stacking Sugarcrafting and activating everything trait rumble has.

This flexibility makes it a versatile and effective opener.

3 Eldritch 3 Multistriker 2 Warrior

I personally believe this is one of the strongest openers in the game right now.

This cheap and strong start allows you to pivot into one of the easiest comps to play early on in the new set.

You can pivot to Vertical Eldritch, reroll Warrior Akali/Nilah comp, or any Kalista comp since Ashe pairs well with Kalista items (Runaan’s, Infinity Edge, Last Whisper, Guinsoo’s Rageblade).

Additionally, you can transition into Vertical Shapeshifter or Vertical Warriors with Gwen and Fiora as your main carries.

This isn’t the only version of this opener—you can also use Shyvana instead of Jax, ditch Multistriker, and simply rely on a strong frontline to dominate other average boards.

3 Portal 2 Scholar 2 Shapeshifter 2 Witchcraft

Another comp where Neeko can shine very early is this one. If you get an early Neeko, do your best to make it work—she is THAT strong.

This setup is a classic Portal or Scholar comp on steroids. The cherry on top is hitting an early Ryze or Taric before stage 3.

Additionally, Zoe is a strong enabler and a powerful debuffer. She provides flat shredding of Magic Resist, which is exceptionally strong in the early game.

3 Mage 2 Blaster 2 Faerie 2 Sugarcraft 2 Vanguard

This is one of the best openers for a Sugarcraft board first, and literally anything else second.

You can itemize Tristana with your Jinx items and Seraphine with your Bard items if you want to reroll on 7 for Sugarcraft. Galio can be equipped with tank items as well.

From this strong start, you can also pivot into Mage comps by ditching Sugarcraft, transition into Blaster comps, move into Portals later on, or even build a Kalista level 8 board if you’re strong enough.

Evolve, adapt, overcome.

2 Pyro 2 Bastion 2 Warrior 2 Witchcraft

Our last opener today focuses on hitting an early Shen.

This setup is ideal for reroll Akali/Nilah comps and also works well for a quick pivot into a fast 8 Varus board. Remember, Varus is currently very strong in 4 Blaster boards.

With Shen anchoring your frontline, you have the flexibility to adapt to the game’s needs, whether sticking with your initial plan or pivoting based on what you roll. Keep in mind that Shen provides a solid foundation for various strategies, making this opener versatile and powerful.

Closing thoughts

In TFT Set 12, having a strong opener is crucial for setting up a successful game. A good start allows you to build a win streak and maintain a strong economy, giving you the flexibility to pivot into different compositions based on the units and items you find.

By mastering these openers, you can adapt to various situations, whether transitioning into late-game comps or rerolling for specific units.

The key is to stay flexible and make smart decisions as the game progresses.

A solid opener can provide the foundation you need to stay ahead of your opponents and secure a strong finish. Happy climbing, and good luck in your matches!