TFT standalone client launched with Teamfight Tactics Patch 18.6 in November 2026. It gives the game its own PC client instead of running inside the League of Legends client, although Riot still lets players switch between the two games. Patch 18.6 is a considerably larger download than usual, so the installation may take longer than a routine update.
Wondering if you need a new account, whether you can still open League or what happens to your Little Legends? The change is less dramatic than it sounds. Your Riot login stays the same, while the biggest cosmetic-sharing changes won’t arrive until Set 19.
What is the TFT standalone client?
The TFT standalone client is Riot’s dedicated home for Teamfight Tactics on PC. Previously, TFT shared the League client. Now it has its own menus and room for features designed specifically around TFT, rather than fitting everything into an interface built for League of Legends.
Riot is keeping the first release focused on getting players into the game reliably. Better lobbies, cosmetic previews and more in-client events are planned for later updates. They’re reasons for the move, not features you should expect to find on day one.
How to download and launch the TFT standalone client
Use Riot’s official launcher to find Teamfight Tactics and follow its install or update prompts. That’s the supported route to the new PC client. Riot hasn’t published one universal click-by-click installation path for every existing setup, so don’t follow a third-party installer claiming to be required.
Patch 18.6 is a much larger download than normal. Riot also warned that deployment would take longer across PC and mobile, with timing varying by region. Give your launcher time to finish; a longer update by itself isn’t proof of a failed installation.
Do you still need to open League first? No. TFT now has its own client. Riot says you can still switch between TFT and League or ARAM with a button, so the games remain connected without sharing the same interface.
Do you need a new account or lose your cosmetics?
No new Riot account is required. Riot’s account support says you can keep signing in with your usual credentials. The move to the TFT standalone client doesn’t mean starting your rank, purchases or inventory from scratch.
There is a separate cosmetic conversion process following TFT’s move to Unreal Engine for Set 18. Some owned cosmetics are returning to the game in batches while Riot converts them. Patch 18.6 brings back 73 cosmetics, as well as a few Arenas. That process should not be confused with deleting ownership because TFT has a different client.
Little Legends and emotes: what changes in Set 19?
Riot is ending cross-game sharing for newly released Little Legends and emotes in stages. The change is tied to the games using different engines. It does not remove older items from League simply because you’ve downloaded the TFT standalone client.
| Cosmetic | What happens | What stays usable |
|---|---|---|
| Little Legends, Patch 19.1 | Newly released Little Legends can no longer follow you in ARAM | Little Legends released before Patch 19.1 remain usable as ARAM followers |
| TFT emotes, Patch 19.2 | New TFT emotes stop being shared with League of Legends | Emotes released before Patch 19.2 stay available across both games |
Those dates matter. Players who already own older items do not suddenly lose all of their previous ARAM followers or shared emotes in Patch 18.6. The restrictions apply to new releases from the specified later patches.
What else improves in Patch 18.6?
Several changes arrive alongside the TFT standalone client. Riot has made the Buy XP and Reroll buttons easier to identify when you hover over them on PC. The chat window now shows more lines with more readable text, and the /Deafen chat command has returned.
The patch also shortens Carousel wait times. Riot’s live Follow the Fix tracker continues to list work on crashes, client menus, lobbies and performance, so the new launcher shouldn’t be mistaken for a fix to every reported problem.
What is coming in Patch 18.7 and Set 19?
Riot plans to bring back leaderboards and improve lobby invitations and party switching in Patch 18.7. Its current fix tracker also targets macOS support in 18.7. That’s a planned target, not confirmation of a completed Mac launch.
Set 19 will bring more substantial in-client events. Riot has also announced appreciation missions for Patch 19.1: play one Set 19 game for 500 Treasure Tokens, or 20 for a token from a Mythic Chibi-only banner. Those aren’t Patch 18.6 rewards.
TFT standalone client questions answered
Is the TFT standalone client out? Yes. It is part of Patch 18.6. You should follow the official Riot client update for your region rather than relying on a third-party installer.
Will my old Little Legends still work in ARAM? Yes, the catalogue released before Patch 19.1 remains supported there. Newer Little Legends will not be shared as ARAM followers.
What if my download is larger than normal? Riot specifically warned that 18.6 is an unusually large patch due to the dedicated client launch. Future update sizes are expected to return to normal.
For existing TFT players, the TFT standalone client mainly changes where you launch and manage the game. Your Riot account remains the same, and the more visible social and cosmetic features will arrive over several patches rather than overnight.
Related Guides
Official source: Riot Games Teamfight Tactics Patch 18.6 notes.
