Changing tactics

How does the saying go? History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme. The best example of this is probably Teamfight Tactics (shorted to TFT), an autobattler spin-off of the still popular MOBA League of Legends. Anyone who remembers my review of it – or even has a passing knowledge of video game history – will of course be familiar with the origins of the e-sports phenomenon LoL. It is based on Blizzard's Dota, which in turn has its roots in the Warcraft III-mod of the same name. And just as League of Legends actually goes back to a WC3-mod, the auto-battler genre was born there through another mod... the circle is complete.

The name actually reveals the core of the game principle: in each round, we place increasingly powerful units on the battlefield, which are supposed to defeat our opponents' heroes in automatically fought battles. Meanwhile, we watch idly from the sidelines and can only hope that our heroes prove themselves clever enough.

Other entries in the League of Legends -series

Game

League of Legends (2009)

Soundtrack

League of Legends (2009)

Soundtrack

Teamfight Tactics (2019)

Soundtrack

Hextech Mayhem – A League of Legends Story (2021)

Back then, it was still in its rawest form, but today the genre as such and Teamfight Tactics are much more mature and go far beyond pure gambling. Positioning, team composition, itemization, and strategic win and loss streaks are essential. Finding the right tactics is therefore what many gamers find appealing and elevates us as players from spectators to masterminds.

I personally understand the appeal, but I've spent enough hours in various matches during my Hearthstone-days to know that I'm a) too stupid and b) too inflexible to be able to play strategy games competitively. However, since my reflexes are slowly fading at the age of 33, shooters are just as out of the question, just like racing games in the foreseeable future – and I'm too stupid for economic simulations. Will I have to find another hobby soon? Maybe.

The score

Anyway, enough of these existential worries and on to the soundtrack. As is usual for a seasonally changing game, there is no coherent score for Teamfight Tactics but rather individual albums for each set. In order to breathe a certain freshness into the game (and so that no one feels offended because their favorite LoL-hero doesn't appear as a “legendary” unit), the roster and thematic focus rotate regularly. Sometimes it's about robot invasions, sometimes Sailor Moon-like heroines – all based on existing skins from the main game, of course.

As of January 2026, we are now in Set 16, entitled Lore & Legends. In my search for the corresponding scores, I only found them on Spotify and Apple Music. As expected, the scores from the early days of Teamfight Tactics were not released. Previously, only set pieces from Kole Hicks' TFT-tracks had been included in the score for the main game (Season 9). The first standalone album actually didn't appear until the 9th set in 2023. From then on, all subsequent seasons/sets got their own OST.

As one might expect, the music on the albums closely follows the themes of the respective rotation. The quality ranges from pleasant background music to cinematic orchestral pieces that are on par with the quality of the main game – which is hardly surprising, given that the creative teams behind both games work closely together. Unfortunately, like many other major publishers, Riot Games keeps the naming of composers simple and runs everything under the handle Teamfight Tactics . A quick search has yielded various names, but as always with internet sources, they should be taken with a grain of salt. Now let's move on to the albums.

Set 9: Runeterra Reforged (06/2023)

The Thai composer Bill Hemstapat and the American Kole Hicks worked on the official “first” album (since the eight previous sets did not have their own official scores and their songs are presumably still included in the League of Legends-soundtrack). While Hicks is primarily anchored in the LoL-universe, Hemstapat has been involved in various other major projects as a creative mind (Ghost of Tsushima: Iki Island, Demon Souls 2020) and music designer (God of War: Ragnarök, Days Gone).

For the musical prelude, they deliver one of the few top songs with Teamfight Tactics: Runeterra ReforgedBill Hemstapat, J.D. Spears, Kole Hicks, Alexander Temple5 . The orchestral intro immediately brings back memories of heroic epics like Overwatch, but these are quickly recaptured and become somewhat darker/more dramatic. With a little bit of The Elder Scrolls: Online, a little bit of Marvel Rivals, and above all classic League of Legends, this score offers an opulence that promises much more than the actual game can deliver for me. But sometimes the packaging is simply beautiful enough to overlook the actual content.

The composers remain faithful to this typical orchestral style and serve up high-quality fantasy fare that is dramatically driving (My Honeyfruit! [Launch Cinematic]J.D. Spears, Kole Hicks4, Shrine of the First Lands: TriumphJ.D. Spears, Bill Hemstapat4), deliberately supporting (PreparationBill Hemstapat, J.D. Spears4), and then moody in its badass style (Fragments from Runeterra, Part 2Bill Hemstapat, J.D. Spears, Kole Hicks4). The slight Asian touch in pieces such as Shrine of the First Lands: DualityJ.D. Spears, Bill Hemstapat4 takes us in the direction of Kena: Bridge of Spirits, but this musical ambivalence is nothing unusual for a League-score... and that's still what Teamfight Tactics is. Well done!

Set 10: Remix Rumble (11/2023)

With Remix Rumble the name says it all, as this set is thematically about combining champions and their themes, divided into three components: melody, bass, and drums. At least, that's how it's explained on the fan wiki; I haven't quite understood the system yet. What I can imagine is that the themes of the respective champions have been incorporated musically. I can't verify this with the sheer abundance of 172 heroes with their own themes – please forgive me.

The bag that composers Kole Hicks, Jason Walsh, J.D. Spears (Chivalry 2), Bill Hemstapat, Seth Tsui, and Brendon Williams (Destiny 2: Forsaken + The Edge of Fate, Guild Wars 2: Path of Fire, Icebrood Saga + Visions of Eternity) have packed for us is just as colorful. My personal highlight track, REMIX RUMBLE [Steve Aoki Remix]Kole Hicks5, combines electric guitars and a dominant viola with dubstep-like beats, while songs with K/DA (K-pop) and Pentakill (Meal) in their names cater to the genres of the fictional bands. Neon Nightlife (Disconauts)Brendon Williams3 brings an '80s disco feel, while Pressure’s on (Tranceformer)Jason Walsh3 speedy electro we connect with Need for Speed.

My favorite tracks are those in which the violin dances around in the best Lindsey Stirling style, supported by pop beats—the best example being Orchestrated ChaosKole Hicks, Jason Walsh, J.D. Spears, Bill Hemstapat, Seth Tsui, Brendon Williams4. This takes us through most of the genres represented using the string instrument and sums up the album quite well. With its wild mix, Remix Rumble is probably the most striking and varied set musically. I like a lot of it here, even if it's not enough for a top rating.

Set 11: Inkborn Fables (03/2024)

Inkborn Fables – as the name suggests – takes a more classic approach to fantasy. Composer J.D. Spears was apparently given free rein and presents us with 13 tracks, more than half of which are barely a minute long. As a result, the album can be listened to in just over 23 minutes. In terms of content, listeners can expect sounds from the Far East, as the set revolves around the Lunar event, the League of Legends counterpart to the Chinese New Year tradition.

So we can look forward to all kinds of familiar Asian tropes, from the Chinese bamboo flute dizi (笛子) to the guzheng. I particularly like Immortal's Journey to a Immortal’s Journey to a Celestial CourtJ.D. Spears4, whose intro, interestingly, reminds me of the music for Death's Door. Death’s Door .

Set 12: Magic N‘ Mayhem (07/2024)

Mit „Irgendwas zwischen Harry Potter and How to Train Your Dragon“ ist das Theme Magic n‘ MayhemBill Hemstapat4 ganz gut umrissen. Die Komponistenriege von Bill Hemstapat, J.D. Spears, Merlin Cen und Seth Tsui beschreitet in den dazugehörigen neun Tracks den bekannten wie verwunschenen Pfad lustig magischer Missetaten und schelmischer Zaubereien, wie man ihn aus Spiel, Film und Serie zur Genüge kennt.

The only break from the usual cheerful melodies is Tea Time TurmoilBill Hemstapat, J.D. Spears4 aus, das mit seinen Männerchören und dominanten Streichern Weltuntergangsstimmung verbreitet. Das mag als bewusst übertriebene Spitze zur Kontrastierung der Fall Guys-like cuddly magical tenderness (particularly evident in Café CutiesSeth Tsui3 and Dance with the BunniesSeth Tsui2), but I like it—if only because parallels to Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker-fantasy flash up again and again. Overall, the album remains comparatively insignificant due to its thematic focus and despite the quality of the composition.

Set 13: Into the Arcane (11/2024)

The 13th set revolves entirely around the highly recommended animated series of the same name based on League of Legends, called Arcane. It tells the story of siblings Jinx and Vi and explores how the inseparable orphan duo became diametrically opposed enemies against their will. J.D. Spears was once again commissioned to compose the score for the TFT-set, this time delivering only six tracks. Due to the narrative model, these tracks have more depth than the lively and entertaining accompanying music of the other sets.

The intro, Into the ArcaneJ.D. Spears4, builds a slow, hopeful narrative, only to be replaced by Arcane ReflectionsJ.D. Spears4 . In keeping with the style of the series, this track relies on increasing orchestral power. Carousel of ProgressJ.D. Spears4 briefly delves into the depths of a Batman-movie, while Little NightmaresJ.D. Spears4 features the first use of the distinctive mix of drama and pop beats that gives the series its unmistakable style. I think it's great, but the music doesn't quite match the intensity of the TV model.

Set 14: Cyber City (04/2025)

With the word “cyber” is in the set's title, the musical style of the accompanying album should be clear. Unsurprisingly, composers J.D. Spears, Max Davidoff-Grey, and Bill Hemstapat take the electronic route and welcome us listeners directly with the electronic ballad Cyber City LightsAnDy Darling, Anastasia Dunaeva, J.D. Spears5, sung by Russian singer AnDy Darling (Anastasia Dunaeva). I give it 5/5 rating and it sets the tone for the Cyberpunk-esque adventure.

Instead of non-stop action, subdued tones also make their way to the neon-lit surface: Rain and NeonMax Davidoff-Grey3 is a leisurely background noise that keeps our pulse at operating temperature or, in the case of All Is PossibleMax Davidoff-Grey, Kole Hicks3 or Like a Ticking BombGong Ao4 , raises it slightly. Risking It AllMerlin Cen3 also holds our attention, only this time through the dark threat that the distant future promises us. Things only get really dramatic in Project 2038Jason Walsh, Seth Tsui4, which strikes a conciliatory note only at the end.

Set 15: K.O. Coliseum (07/2025)

K.O. Coliseum was the 15th edition and actual set of Teamfight Tactics and was made available to public servers on patch V15.1. This set featured a collection of champions, origins and classes themed around Crystal Rose, God Weapon, Luchador, Monster Tamers, Neon Strata, Odyssey, Star Guardian, Super Planet Force Savers, Soul Fighter, and Supreme Cells from the League of Legends-skin Multiverse.

So says the League of Legends–wiki. If you've chosen the “confused” expression from your facial expression cabinet, you're in the same boat as me. After missing ten seasons, I am completely out of the LoL-skin cosmos and have no idea which champion appears where or what they look like. Based purely on the aesthetics of the cover and a few of the names mentioned above, it seems reasonable to assume that the whole thing probably has something to do with wrestling.

Sollte dies stimmen, ist die Musik der Komponist*innen Laryssa Okada, Merlin Cen, JianAn Wang und Ao Gong in Teilen jedoch zu Beginn zu handzahm und sphärisch. Look to the SkyLaryssa Okada3 and K.O. Coliseum (Stripped)Laryssa Okada3 bestechen durch simple Klaviermelodien und ruhige Beats eines Celestes, Mario Karts or Murder by Numbers. Besonders Full-Team EffortMerlin Cen3 geht sehr in Richtung Fall Guys or Winning Grand Prix from Mario Kart 8, Rise TogetherJianan Wang4 weckt Erinnerungen an zeitgenössische Animes. Tatsächlich dürfte hier aber die Nähe zu den Star Guardian-Themes von League of Legends gesucht worden sein.

As a result, the music initially seems child-friendly (especially in comparison to the dramatic 13th set, Into the Arcane), but at the end, the album takes another dramatic twist with Dawnbringer FallsJean-Gabriel Raynaud4 and Nightbringer RisesJean-Gabriel Raynaud4 . The only notable exceptions are the soulful A Clever Fox Is Never CaughtAo Gong, Yutaka Yamada4 and The Wind Is Calling Your NameAo Gong, Kevin Penkin4, which are somewhat reminiscent of the Ori-games.

Set 16: Lore & Legends (12/2025)

With Lore & Legends the OGs Kole Hicks, J.D. Spears, and Alexander Temple were back at it, delivering six tracks of classic fantasy. These include motifs we already know from League of Legends although unfortunately I can't remember exactly which ones. How fitting that the title Too Many ChampionsKole Hicks, J.D. Spears4 speaks from my heart. I mean, when I started playing LoL (yes, back before the war) Leona was the 72nd champion to be added – and that was already a lot. Now there are 100 more!

Back to the music: to describe it, we can tick off the buzzwords “dramatic,” “action-packed,” and “epic” (ReawakeningJ.D. Spears, Alexander Temple4). On the other hand, there are “emotional,” “thoughtful,” and “solemn” (The Grand LibraryJ.D. Spears, Alexander Temple4). The Shurima-tracks add a touch of oriental flair, but overall, there's nothing we don't already know from the main game and other representatives of the genre.