How to Play Portal — TFT Set 12: Magic N’ Mayhem
The new Set 12 TFT Portal trait is one of my favorites as the units are fun and flexible and the random items flying onto units is a lot of fun!
In this guide, I’ll be going over the units in this trait, how it works, and what team comps you can build around Portal.
Explore ALL new Set 12 synergies here.
How TFT Portal Works
Portal Trait Bonus
At the start of Combat Portal Champions gain a shield that lasts for 15 seconds.
Objects from other dimensions fly out of a portal every few seconds to help allies and disrupt enemies. The portal becomes 8% stronger for each Portal champion’s star level.
- (3) 200 Shield, Small portal
- (6) 400 Shield, Medium portal
- (8) 600 Shield, Large portal
- (10) 1200 Shield, GIGA portal
The shield helps your team survive to get value from the portal. The portal can toss out a variety of things including completed items, but if you really want to figure out what else the portal can give your team, you will have to find out yourself!
Portal Synergy
Here are the Portal champions as well as their other traits that give the opportunities branch out into other traits
- Jayce (1G) – Shapeshifter
- Zoe (1G) – Witchcraft, Scholar
- Galio (2G) – Vanguard, Mage
- Kassadin (2G) – Multistriker
- Ezreal (3G) – Blaster
- Ryze (4G) – Scholar
- Taric (4G) – Bastion
- Norra & Yuumi (5G) – Best Friends, Mage
The Portal trait has 8 units in it making it the largest trait in Set 12. Due to having solid increments for each stage, the Portal trait can be played throughout the whole game including on level 8.
However, it won’t have many synergies at 8 if you play all the units. So by playing 6 Portal with other units or using a Portal spatula to cut down on a lower value Portal unit such as Jayce, you can make your team much stronger.
Portal Champions
Jayce (1G) – Portal + Shapeshifter
[See Jayce’s Champion Page]
Jayce isn’t really a unit you play around in Portal and is more of a synergy bot for this comp. His ability, Hammer Form, turns him into a melee fighter.
His other trait, shapeshifter does give him additional health when paired with another shapeshifter, but because this comp wants to get to 6 and 8 Portal units, it is unlikely that a player would play around rerolling Jayce but instead would push levels.
Zoe (1G) – Portal + Witchcraft, Scholar
[See Zoe’s Champion Page]
Zoe has 3 traits which means she is an excellent trait bot in the Portal comps. Notably, she gives Scholar which gives the team additional mana and naturally pairs with another Portal and Scholar unit, Ryze. On top of this, her ability, Trouble Bubble reduces a target’s magic resistance. Due to her ability and excellent synergies, this means she ends up on most late game boards despite being a 1 cost unit on Portal boards.
Galio (2G) – Portal + Vanguard, Mage
[See Galio’s Champion Page]
Another 3 trait unit, Galio offers Mage which is quite important when wanting to get the 3 piece Mage trait to pair with Norra. This makes him a key part of most Portal boards. His ability, Convergence, gives him some extra tankiness.
Kassadin (2G) – Portal + Multistriker
[See Kassadin’s Champion Page]
Kassdin has multistriker which isn’t particularly helpful in this comp which makes him a not great synergy bot. However, his ability does give him a shield to give him a bit of extra tankiness.
Ezreal (3G) – Portal + Blaster
[See Ezreal’s Champion Page]
Ezreal is a Blaster and physical damage dealer. He is a 3 cost champion that can pump out a decent amount of damage with his ability Portalshot Barrage. He uses items well, so he is able to take advantage of the Portal trait.
Ryze (4G) – Portal + Scholar
[See Ryze’s Champion Page]
Ryze is one of the stronger units of the Portal trait as he does great with ability power items as well as the Scholar trait pairs with Zoe. He is on most late game boards in the Portal trait!
Taric (4G) – Portal + Bastion
[See Taric’s Champion Page]
Taric is the strongest tank of the Portal comp. His Bation trait also pairs well with other units such as Diana. His ability, All Eyes on Me which Taric gains damage reduction while redirecting projectiles to himself. After, he does magic damage in a 2 hex area.
Norra & Yuumi (5G) – Portal + Best Friends, Mage
[See Norra and Yuumi’s Champion Page]
Norra & Yuumi are the core part of this comp as you want to be able to play around the Mage trait with your Galio and Norra – allowing Norra to do a lot of damage. She is the main carry of the comp if you aren’t rerolling blasters. Yuumi is able to attach and heal a tank – most likely Taric.
Best Portal Augments
Portal Crest and Crown
These are a no brainer as adding Portal spatulas allows you to either get to 6 or 8 Portal early as well as gives you the potential to drop weaker Portal units.
Mage Crest and Crown
If you are playing around Galio and Norra, Mage crest allows you to cut Nami or another Mage to more easily fit your board. The Mage crest goes well with Taric for tankiness.
Portal Delivery Service
This augment gives you a random 1-3 cost Portal champion. This can be used to get early game Portal as well as econ up. However, in some metas this may allow you to reroll and 3 star multiple Portal units!
Blossoming Lotus I & II
Critical strikes for Portal trait are strong due to Portal giving your units extra items. So if your units are getting additional attack damage and ability power from the Portal, then the ability to critically strike will do further damage for this comp!
High Voltage
High Voltage gives an Ionic Spark which is especially strong if you plan to play around Ryze or Norra. The spark has increased range as well as does increased damage. Putting it on a strong tank such as Taric will get the most value out of it. In the early game, you want to put the spark on a two star front liner.
TFT Portal Team Comps
6 Portal, 2 Blaster Reroll
[See Team Comp]
- Zoe, Galio, Ezreal, Hwei, Ryze, Taric, Norra & Yuumi, Diana or Hecarim, + Strong Legendary Units
- Instead of playing around 4 cost units, this comp plays around Blasters Ezreal and Hwei.
- Ezreal is an AD Carry while Hwei is an AP Carry
- Reroll at 7 for Hwei and Ezreal but be sure to pick up Taric!
- Tank items belong on Taric or a rerolled 3 cost tank such as Hecarim.
- (Consider Hecarim if you are hitting him on your level 7 Rerolls
6 Portal, 3 Mage, Legendary
[See Team Comp]
- Zoe, Galio, Ezreal, Ryze, Taric, Norra & Yuumi, Nami, Diana, + Strong Legendary units
- Make sure you have two star Bastions to give your team enough tankiness to live in order to get value from Portal
- Carry Ryze until you hit 2 star Norra
- Early game use Mage to carry your AP Carry items
- You can use 8 Portal before you get two Star Legendaries if necessary
8 Portal
[See Team Comp]
- Zoe, Galio, Kassadin, Ezreal, Ryze, Taric, Norra & Yuumi with a Portal Spat on either a Bastion or Mage. Jayce can be played if you have a Portal Spat on Briar (if Briar is strong at the time).
- Generally you will only want to play 8 Portal with a spat or else you won’t have enough synergies
- Carry is Ryze or Norra if she is 2 star with Mage
- Taric is the main tank and needs to be paired with a Bastion
- A Mage spat means you can cut a Mage such as Nami and makes it easier to fit 8 Portal
- At 8 Portal you are relying on your Portal’s strength, so having your units starred up is really important
