The Rise of Vander in TFT Set 13
While Vander is a significant character from the animated series Arcane, the impact of Vander in the meta of TFT Set 13 has become quite prominent. As for the basics, he serves primarily as a tank in the Vigilante – Divine lineup and does not play any other roles. Even when Riot Games granted the “Heroic Buff” named Thao Gang, this upgrade was still not enough to elevate Vander to a high level before version 13.5.
In patch 13.5, after several nerfs to the competition’s lineups, Vander’s Thao Gang was newly utilized. The reason I find the meta of patch 13.5 appearing more frequently is that reroll lineups require strategic combat, and Vander, after the “Heroic Buff,” has the potential to significantly impact the game. In terms of fundamentals, combat-oriented lineups need to quickly target to inflict damage to the enemy. However, the ability to sustain damage while targeting the enemy makes it challenging for Vander to maintain his positioning, especially in the initial rounds of combat.
Building a Vander Thao Gang Lineup in TFT Set 13
One of the signs that players should focus on when playing Vander is the synergy with Violet and Powder, activating the 3 Family Trait from the start. Moreover, placing Vander on the battlefield during the first rounds with the first champion helps players increase their chances of obtaining the Thao Gang trait in round 2-1. At level 4, players need to include a Vigilante that can sustain like Amumu or Darius to ensure a strong frontline.
As players progress through the reroll strategies, they will also utilize item acquisition when reaching level 6 and searching for Vander. During this process, Vladimir will serve as an excellent addition, activating the 4 Vigilante trait to help the lineup become more formidable in battles. This synergy only enhances the chances of sustaining through combat when combined with powerful items that make Vander hard to eliminate during matches.
After upgrading Vander, players need to quickly reach level 8 to complete the 6 Vigilante trait as efficiently as possible. Garen naturally becomes an essential unit during this stage as the effect of the 3rd level Vigilante will help Vander gain additional health to perform better in battles. If players have enough resources to reach level 9, they can also include a few 5-cost units like Malzahar, Jinx, or even lucky enough to have 6-cost champions such as Warwick, Mel, and Viktor to help the player secure victories against tough opponents.
A Few Tips When Building the Lineup
With a playstyle leaning towards early aggression, Vander requires the Blood Sword, the No Healing Item, to engage effectively. With items in the 3rd slot, players can choose between the Infinity Sword, the Giant Slayer, or the Sterak’s Gage depending on the battlefield conditions. Additionally, items like the Shadow Shadow Blade, the Armor of the Gods, or the Bloodthirster are also very suitable for Vander. One important note when selecting items is that Vander synergizes well with many choices like the Blade of the Ruined King, the Black Cleaver, the Infinity Edge… allowing players to flexibly adjust their usage instead of hoarding too much gold to reroll.
