Patch 18.6 review — November 10, 2026
Nidalee’s AD-form healing rises to 325/550/2000 AP and its third-cast bonus damage rises to 140%. Her AP-form empowered attack is 195/295/2000 AP and third-attack damage is 350/525/3000 AP. The AD form’s healing still scales with AP; do not substitute AD for that coefficient. Murkwolf’s empowered attack is 65/100/180 AD. These form-specific changes do not announce a new Adaptor form-selection rule.
Official Riot Patch 18.6 notes, published November 3 UTC / November 4 JST. Review scope: the released notes; PC/mobile regional deployment may take longer. November 6 and 10 follow-up updates contain client and bug fixes, with no Adaptor form or item changes. Earlier dated sections retain their historical patch scope.
Patch 18.5 review — October 22, 2026
Master Yi’s AD-form starting Attack Damage rises from 60 to 63, while AP-form ability damage rises from 125/190/285 AP to 135/200/320 AP. These are form-specific buffs. Check the selected form, its positioning and the complete item set before moving items. The 18.5 notes do not announce a change to the basic Adaptor form-selection rule.
Official Riot Patch 18.5 notes. Earlier dated patch sections retain their historical scope.
Current Set: Set 18 — Enchanted Wilds
Current Patch: 18.6
Patch-Specific Review: November 10, 2026
Status: Live Set 18 mechanics guide
Patch 18.5 bug-fix review — October 22, 2026: The main 18.4 patch fixed Weight the Worth granting bugged Adaptor copies and a Double Trouble interaction involving Adaptors. The separate October 7 B-patch fixed Weight the Worth granting bugged Golden Egg copies. These fixes should not be conflated. Neither changes the AD-versus-AP form-selection rule. Sources: Riot Patch 18.4 notes and Riot Patch 18.5 notes.
Adaptor is one of the clearest examples of why TFT item decisions are about more than adding the largest stat.
Every Adaptor has an AD and AP version of its ability. The champion changes version according to which offensive stat is higher, while the trait grants either AD or AP based on that same comparison.
That means an item can change the champion’s damage type, range, targeting, positioning, or combat job. A Sword or Rod is not merely increasing a number. It can select a different version of the unit.
This guide explains how to evaluate AD and AP items on Adaptors, why mixed offensive items need extra attention, and how Nidalee demonstrates the full effect of the trait.
Quick Answer
Before placing an AD or AP item on an Adaptor, check which offensive stat will be higher after the item is equipped and which ability version that will activate.
Then ask whether the activated version matches:
- the unit’s current position
- the board’s damage needs
- the holder’s remaining items
- the frontline time available
- the intended final role
Use this rule:
On an Adaptor, choose the ability version first and the item second. If the item switches the champion into a role your board cannot support, the raw stats are not enough.
Mixed AD and AP can still be correct. The risk is equipping them without tracking which side wins the stat comparison.
Which Champions Have
Adaptor in Set 18?
Riot’s official Enchanted Wilds overview lists five Adaptors:
Akali- Gromp
Kog’Maw
Master Yi
Nidalee
Riot confirms that all Adaptors have an AD and AP version of their ability. The official overview gives Nidalee as the most detailed example of how sharply those versions can differ.
Do not assume every Adaptor changes in exactly the same way as Nidalee. Use the live tooltip to verify the specific AD and AP versions before committing items.
How the Adaptor Stat Check Works
Adaptor compares the champion’s Attack Damage and Ability Power direction. The higher offensive stat determines which version of the ability is used, and the trait reinforces that direction.
The practical consequence is that the full item set matters.
An early AD slam may activate the physical version. A later AP item can narrow the gap or switch the champion. Trait bonuses, item stats, and other combat effects can also affect which side is higher.
Before equipping an item, check:
- Which version is active now?
- How much AD and AP will the new item add?
- Will the active version switch?
- Does the champion need to be repositioned after the switch?
- Do the other equipped items still support the new version?
This is more important than following a generic “AD item” or “AP item” label.
Nidalee: The Clearest
Adaptor Example
Riot describes Nidalee as the Adaptor with the sharpest difference between AD and AP.
AP Nidalee
With AP-oriented itemization, Nidalee uses a ranged javelin pattern. Her next attacks become javelins that deal magic damage, and the later attack can target a distant enemy with fewer items for increased damage.
The practical needs are:
- safe ranged positioning
- enough time to complete the attack sequence
- AP and supporting stats that improve the ranged pattern
- awareness of the distant target selection
AD Nidalee
With AD-oriented itemization, Nidalee transforms into a melee cougar. She swipes nearby enemies while ignoring Armor and can leap toward a distant target after a kill.
The practical needs are different:
- melee survivability
- positioning that gives access without immediate death
- enough damage to secure the kill that enables the leap
- awareness that she can move deeper into danger after a takedown
The same champion changes from a ranged magic-damage pattern to a melee physical assassin pattern. The correct item decision must include positioning and survival, not only damage.
Why Positioning Must Change With the Form
A form switch can make the current hex wrong.
A ranged AP Adaptor usually values safety and uninterrupted casts or attacks. A melee AD version may need frontline access, a side angle, or protection from immediate focus.
After an item changes the active version, ask:
- Is the unit still in the correct row?
- Does it now need a safer entry angle?
- Can it reach the intended target?
- Will it be focused before using the ability?
- Does the board have enough frontline for the ranged version?
- Does the melee version need sustain or durability from another item?
Equipping the right stat and leaving the unit in the wrong position is only half a decision.
The Risk of Mixed AD and AP Items
Mixed offensive items can be valuable when both versions use their secondary effects well. The problem is uncertainty.
For example, one item may be chosen for healing, mana, attack speed, critical strike chance, or utility rather than its headline AD or AP. On an Adaptor, that secondary-purpose item may still change the higher offensive stat and switch the ability.
Before mixing items, check whether:
- the active form remains stable
- the second item unexpectedly flips the form
- the first item still supports the new version
- the holder’s positioning remains correct
- a third item could switch the unit again
Do not evaluate each item separately. Evaluate the final stat direction of the entire set.
When to Slam AD on an Adaptor
An AD slam is attractive when:
- the physical ability version fits the board
- the unit has a credible physical-damage holder role
- the board can support its range or melee pattern
- the item remains useful on another AD holder if you pivot
- immediate physical damage protects HP or a streak
- the form will not be accidentally flipped by the next planned item
Avoid treating the AD version as automatic just because you opened with Swords. If the activated form needs melee access and your board cannot protect it, the item may produce less value than expected.
Use AD Items Explained for the general physical-damage framework.
When to Slam AP on an Adaptor
An AP slam is attractive when:
- the magic or ability-based version fits the board
- the champion has enough time to cast or complete its attack pattern
- the item works on another AP holder if the Adaptor line disappears
- your board needs magic damage or ranged pressure
- the form remains stable after the remaining planned items
AP is not automatically correct because the unit casts an ability. The AP version must create useful combat value, and the board must give it time to function.
Use AP Items Explained for the general magic-damage framework.
How Adaptors Help Recover From Awkward Items
Adaptors can turn an item mismatch into a playable direction.
If your intended comp is AP but the game gives several AD components, an Adaptor may provide a physical secondary carry or temporary holder. The reverse can also apply when AP components appear in an AD-oriented game.
Before pivoting the whole board, ask:
- Can an Adaptor use the awkward stat?
- Does the activated version add a damage type the board lacks?
- Can the unit serve as a secondary carry?
- Can the item transfer later if the Adaptor is replaced?
- Does the form require a positioning change the board can support?
This makes Adaptors valuable flexibility tools, but only when the resulting form creates real board value.
Read What to Do When Your Items Do Not Match Your Team Comp for the broader recovery framework.
Adaptor Items and Temporary Holders
An Adaptor can be a strong temporary holder because the unit can respond to the offensive stat you already have.
A useful temporary Adaptor holder should:
- activate a strong version with the available item
- create immediate board power
- be positioned for that version
- remain replaceable later
- allow the item to transfer to more than one final carry
The Adaptor trait increases flexibility, but it does not remove the normal holder test. A weak unit, wrong position, or unsupported combat pattern can still waste a strong item.
Practical Adaptor Checklist
Before equipping an offensive item:
- Which version is active now?
- Which version will be active after the item?
- What changes about range, targeting, or damage type?
- Does the current hex still work?
- Does the board support the new version?
- Do the other equipped items support it?
- Could the next planned item flip the form again?
- Can the item transfer to another holder later?
If you cannot answer the first three questions, check the live tooltip before committing.
Common Adaptor Item Mistakes
Treating the item as a simple stat increase
The item may change the entire ability version. Compare combat patterns, not only AD and AP totals.
Forgetting to reposition
A switch between ranged and melee behavior can make the current hex dangerous or ineffective.
Mixing stats without checking the winner
An item chosen for healing, mana, attack speed, or critical strike chance can still flip the offensive-stat comparison.
Copying Nidalee logic to every Adaptor
Riot uses Nidalee as the sharpest official example. Verify each champion’s two live ability versions rather than assuming the same ranged-versus-melee split.
Forcing a form that the board cannot support
The higher-damage version is not automatically better if it dies too quickly, cannot reach targets, or removes a damage type your board needs.
Practical Decision Table
| Situation | Recommended check | Likely direction |
|---|---|---|
| Strong AD item and protected physical holder role | Confirm physical version and positioning | AD can be a strong tempo slam |
| Strong AP item and enough cast time | Confirm magic version and ranged safety | AP can provide reliable spell value |
| Mixed AD/AP item set | Calculate which stat remains higher | Build around one stable form rather than accidental switching |
| Awkward AD item on AP board | Test Adaptor as secondary physical carry | Can recover item mismatch without full pivot |
| Form switch moves unit into melee | Reposition and add survival support | Raw damage alone may not be enough |
| One item flips a completed build unexpectedly | Reconsider holder or item order | Preserve the intended ability version |
September 1 Adaptor Bug Fixes
Patch 18.1 received two Adaptor-related bug fixes on September 1 that matter when testing forms and moving items.
- Item Remover scaling: using an Item Remover on a starred-up Adaptor no longer swaps the unit back to its one-star scaling.
- Alternate-form Mana: certain Adaptor units no longer revert to the other form’s Mana costs.
These fixes do not change the core item framework in this guide, but they remove two launch bugs that could make a correct AD/AP decision look inconsistent in-game. When moving items or switching forms, judge the current live behavior rather than the launch-week bugged behavior.
Patch 18.2 Adaptor Bug Fix
Riot’s Patch 18.2 notes also fixed an Adaptor interaction tied to Double Trouble: Adaptors of different types could fail to gain the Augment’s effect, and some created 2-star copies could double-count their traits. This is a bug-fix note rather than a change to the core AD-versus-AP form-selection rule described above.
Patch 18.3 Adaptor Updates
Patch 18.3 changes two important Adaptor examples without changing the trait’s core AD-versus-AP selection rule. Gromp’s AP form DoT was increased from 160/240/360 AP to 175/265/410 AP, while his AD form received higher base Attack Speed and Attack Damage. Nidalee’s AD form swipe damage was reduced from 225/340 AD to 210/315 AD, while her AP form’s third attack was increased from 300/450 AP to 330/500 AP.
For item decisions, this reinforces the main rule of this guide: evaluate the active form itself, not only the champion name. Patch changes can move the relative value of an AD or AP route even when the Adaptor mechanic remains unchanged.
Patch 18.4 Adaptor Item Updates (October 19 Check)
Riot’s official Patch 18.4 notes change the relative value of certain Adaptor forms, not the basic rule that higher AD versus AP chooses the active ability version. Nidalee’s AP-form small spear damage increased from 170/255 to 185/275 AP, while her AD-form ability damage decreased from 210/315 to 200/300 AD. When choosing her items, check which form and positioning your board can support rather than copying an older AD-first or AP-first build.
In the October 7 mid-patch update, Gromp’s AP-form splash damage increased from 160/240/375 to 180/270/435 AP; his AD form’s base Attack Damage increased from 45 to 50 and base Attack Speed from 0.70 to 0.75. Riot also fixed additional Adaptor interactions, including a bug where the Weight the Worth Augment could grant bugged copies and an issue preventing Adaptors from gaining Double Trouble’s bonus. These are patch-specific balance and bug-fix notes, not evidence that any one item combination is universally best.
Scope: The dated 18.3 and 18.4 paragraphs describe how the current baseline was reached; they are not alternative live stat sheets. Rechecked through Patch 18.6 on November 10, 2026. November 6 and 10 follow-up updates do not change Adaptor form selection or ability values. Master Yi’s AD and AP forms receive the further 18.5 changes in the review above. The item advice is qualitative, not a measured win-rate or item-tier ranking.
Soul Awakening After the August
27 Mid-Patch Fix
Riot fixed a Patch 18.1 launch bug that caused Soul Awakening’s bonus true damage to work only with Attack Damage. The bonus now applies to Ability Damage as well.
This removes a bug-based reason to force an Adaptor into its AD form. Choose the AD or AP ability version that fits the board; both damage types can now receive the Augment’s true-damage payoff after maximum stacks.
The ten-second ramp still matters. If an AP or AD Adaptor already has functional damage, a frontline or sustain slam may add more practical value by keeping the board alive long enough to reach the payoff.
For the complete interaction and item framework, read the Soul Awakening AP damage bug-fix guide.
FAQ
What does Adaptor do in TFT Set 18?
Adaptor champions have AD and AP versions of their abilities. The active version changes according to which offensive stat is higher, and the trait grants the corresponding offensive stat.
Which champions are Adaptors?
Riot’s official Set 18 overview lists Akali, Gromp, Kog’Maw, Master Yi, and Nidalee.
Can an item change an Adaptor’s ability?
Yes. Adding enough AD or AP to change the higher offensive stat can activate the other version of the ability.
Is Nidalee better with AD or AP?
The two builds perform different jobs. AP Nidalee uses a ranged magic-damage javelin pattern. AD Nidalee becomes a melee cougar that ignores Armor and can leap after kills. Choose according to board needs, positioning, available support, and the full item set.
Can I mix AD and AP items on an Adaptor?
Yes, but track which stat is higher after every item. Mixed items can unexpectedly switch the ability version or leave the rest of the build supporting the wrong form.
Do I need to reposition after changing forms?
Recheck positioning every time. Range, targeting, movement, and survival needs can change with the active version.
Official Sources
- Riot Games: Patch 18.4 and October 7 mid-patch update
- Riot Games: Patch 18.3
- Riot Games: Patch 18.2
- Riot Games: Enchanted Wilds Overview
- Riot Games: Patch 18.1 — launch and September 1 updates
Final Takeaway
Adaptor changes itemization from a stat question into a role-selection question.
Choose the ability version your board can use, confirm which stat activates it, and position the champion for the resulting combat pattern. Mixed items can work, but only when the final stat direction is intentional.
On an Adaptor, the best item is not simply the one with the best number. It is the one that activates the right champion for the board you are actually playing.
