Teamfight Tactics
What Is Fast 8 in Teamfight Tactics?
A TFT strategy where you save gold and level to 8 early, usually in stage 4, to find 4-cost carries.
What does fast 8 mean in TFT?
Fast 8 is a Teamfight Tactics strategy where you keep a strong economy, skip most early rolling and buy experience to reach level 8 earlier than the lobby, usually around stage 4. At level 8, the shop offers 4-cost units more often, so you then roll down for your main carry and frontline. It is the most common way to build a board around 4-cost units.
How fast 8 works
- Build economy early. Win or lose streaks and staying near 50 gold maximize interest, which pays up to 5 extra gold per round.
- Level on curve. Buy experience at the usual breakpoints instead of rolling, with 4 gold buying 4 XP.
- Hit level 8, commonly at stage 4-1 or 4-2, depending on the set, your health and your board.
- Roll down at 8 to find the 4-cost carry and frontline for your composition.
- Stabilize, then go further: keep economy if possible and push to 9 for legendary units when the game goes long.
Fast 8 vs. other strategies
| Strategy | Main idea | Typical carries |
|---|---|---|
| Fast 8 | Push levels and roll at 8 | 4-cost units |
| Slow roll | Stay at a low level and roll above 50 gold | 1- and 2-cost units at three stars |
| Reroll | Spend gold early to three-star cheap units | 1-, 2- or 3-cost units |
| Fast 9 | Push even further for 5-cost legendaries | 5-cost units |
Common mistakes
- Leveling while losing too much health. If your board is too weak in stage 3, rolling a bit to stabilize can save the game.
- Rolling to 0 at 8 without a plan. Know which units you need before you start rolling.
- Ignoring contested units. If several players want the same carry, consider pivoting to another composition.
Example
A player win-streaks early, reaches 50 gold in stage 3 and levels to 8 at stage 4-1. They roll down to about 20 gold, find their 4-cost carry at two stars and a solid frontline, and stabilize at a top-four health total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is fast 8 always the best strategy?
No. It is the most common, but reroll and slow roll comps are stronger when their units are good in the current set and not contested.
When should I level to 8?
Most guides point to stage 4-1 or 4-2, but the exact timing depends on the set, your health and how strong your board is. Stay flexible instead of following one fixed stage.