TFT Set 5 Shadow Items explained

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With the exception of the first instalment of Teamfight Tactics, each Set from Set 2 onwards has flexed a unique game mechanic to give Riot’s auto battler some added flavor. 

First we had Elemental Hexes, then we endured Galaxies and their different adaptations to games, and last and most recently, we had the Chosen feature. For Set 5 now, TFT will include Shadow Items, a cursed spinoff of items that players have already become accustomed to. 

The Shadow Items come straight from the Shadow Isles themselves and so the theme of TFT Set 5: Reckoning has spooky undertones to suit fit. Many new traits and champions have also been added to match this theme, such as Abomination and Forgotten, with the latter even having a special benefit for those champions who wield Shadow Items.

TFT Set 5: Reckoning will also feature a new game pass with unique rewards, such as brand new Little Legends and Arenas, as well as Emotes. (Image Credit: Riot Games).

Additionally, one may also observe this spooky and dark theme being countered by traits such as Dawnbringer and Redeemed, who are present to clash against traits such as Nightbringer and Revenant in light of Set 5: Reckoning’s unofficial storyline.

In the cases of the new class God-King, an elite 5 star unit class containing only Garen and Darius, who also belong to the Dawnbringer and Nightbringer traits respectively, the two God-Kings deal 30% bonus damage to enemies who possess at least one of their “rival traits”.

 

What are Shadow Items in TFT?

With all things considered, Shadow Items have effectively doubled the number of items in the game, as all complete items now have a corresponding cursed variant. This is the reason why Riot have described the utilization of Shadow Items as a “high risk high reward” strategy.

Riot Games explains: “With great power, but risky drawbacks, Shadow Items can be mixed and matched with various team compositions to make for powerful win conditions.

“Can you imagine Draven throwing axes faster and faster while dealing damage to himself, but also healing back with a Bloodthirster? That’s a scary build, but it gets even scarier when we talk about the team comp you can run it in.”

Whilst Shadow Items have their own unique benefit, they also contain a drawback as after all, they are technically cursed. This drawback will also take into effect if you choose to build a Shadow Item, as well as the innate benefit.

(Image Credit: Riot Games)

For example, the Shadow Item variant of Rabadon’s Deathcap, known as Rabadon’s Cursed Deathcap gives the wearer 80% additional Ability Power, but at the cost of -20% health. 

The Cursed Infinity Edge also gives you bonus critical strike damage, with each point of Critical Strike Chance above 100% becoming +1% Critical Strike Damage. The holder also gains 30% extra Critical Strike Damage but every time you crit you take 5% of your maximum health as true damage.

Dark Shroud of Stillness increases the maximum Mana of both enemies and allies by 65% until they cast, with Zeke’s Evil Herald stealing the attack speed of allies to buff the holder. I’m sure you get the idea now; Shadow Item’s come with a massive buff but you must pay a heavy price to activate it.

To make a Shadow Item, you will need to combine a cursed component with another cursed one or regular component. You will still get the effect by using one cursed component, so we recommend not wasting your cursed components by combining two together. 

How to get Shadow Items in TFT

There are only two ways to get Shadow Items in TFT: from the carousel in between stages and from the brand new armory. You cannot attain them from PvE rounds, such as Krugs or Wraiths.

Shadow Items have a chance of appearing on the carousel; either as components in early stages of the game, or full items as time goes on.

In the new Armory, players will be presented with a choice between two-four items and half of those will be Shadow Item components. This option will present itself at 2-2, 3-2, and 4-2.

The Armory will give players a choice of free items to select and half of these items will be Shadow Item components. (Image Credit: Riot Games).

It should be noted that two Shadow components do not create an uncorrupted item, and once an item is cursed, you cannot cleanse it.

Full List of all Shadow Items in TFT Set 5: Reckoning

TFT Shadow Sword Items

  • Cursed Deathblade
    • Sword & Sword
      • Contributing to a kill grants the holder +15 Attack Damage for the rest of combat. This effect can stack any number of times (starting at 3). The holder receives -20% maximum Health.

 

  • Guardian Fallen Angel
    • Sword & Chain
      • Prevents the holder’s first death, placing them in stasis instead. After 2 seconds, they return with 80% Health and shed all negative effects. After this effect triggers, the holder’s Attack Speed is reduced by 50% for the rest of combat.

 

  • Zeke’s Evil Herald
    • Sword & Belt
      • When combat begins, the holder reduces the Attack Speed of all allies within 1 hexes in the same row by -25% Attack Speed. The holder then gains +40% Attack Speed for each affected ally.

 

  • Cursed Hextech Gunblade
    • Sword & Rod
      • The holder’s magic and true damage from Abilities heals the nearest ally with missing Health for 60% of the damage dealt. This heal cannot affect the holder.

 

  • Riskthirster
    • Sword & Cloak
      • Physical damage heals the holder for 40% of the damage dealt. Each time the holder heals to 90% Health, they gain 30% Attack Speed for 3 seconds (does not stack). The wearer takes 33% of their maximum Health in true damage at the beginning of combat.

 

  • Evil Giant Slayer
    • Sword & Bow
      • The holder’s Abilities and attacks do 45% bonus damage. If the target has less than 1100 maximum Health, the holder’s Abilities and attacks do 15% decreased damage instead.

 

  • Cursed Spear of Shojin
    • Sword & Tear
      • The wearer’s attacks restore 14 additional Mana. The wearer deals 20% less damage.

 

  • Cursed Infinity Edge
    • Sword & Glove
      • Grants +75% Critical Strike Chance (including components). Each point of Critical Strike Chance above 100% becomes +1% Critical Strike Damage. The holder also gains 30% Critical Strike Damage. Each time the holder critically strikes, they deal 3% of their maximum Health to themselves as true damage.

TFT Shadow Chain Vest Items

  • Villain’s Bramble Vest
    • Chain & Chain
      • Grants 200 bonus Armor (including components).

 

  • Guardian Fallen Angel
    • Sword & Chain
      • Prevents the holder’s first death, placing them in stasis instead. After 2 seconds, they return with 80% Health and shed all negative effects. After this effect triggers, the holder’s Attack Speed is reduced by 50% for the rest of combat.

 

  • Eclipse Cape
    • Chain & Belt
      • Every 1.5 second(s), a random enemy within 3 hexes is burned for 25% of their maximum Health over 10 seconds. Any healing they receive is reduced by 50%. The holder is also burned for 4% of their maximum Health every second for the entirety of combat and any healing they received is reduced by 50%.

 

  • Locket of the Dark Solari
    • Chain & Rod
      • When combat begins, the holder and all allies with 2 hexes in the same row gain 60 bonus Armor and Magic Resist, but gain 5 less Mana per attack.

 

  • Evil Gargoyle Stoneplate
    • Chain & Cloak
      • The holder heals themself for 45 health every 2 seconds for each unit targeting them.

 

  • Titan’s Explosive Resolve
    • Chain & Bow
      • Every 4 seconds, the holder’s next attack deals 25% of the total damage they have taken since the last empowered attack as true damage.

 

  • Frozen Dark Heart
    • Chain & Tear
      • Reduces the Attack Speed of all enemies within 2 hexes by 50%. Each Frozen Heart a champion carries beyond the first increases the radius of this effect. The Attack Speed of allies (except the wearer) within 1 hex is reduced by 50%.

 

  • Dark Shroud of Stillness
    • Chain & Glove
      • When combat begins, the holder shoots a beam straight ahead and behind that delays affected enemies’ and allies’ first ability cast, increasing their maximum Mana by 65% until they cast.

TFT Shadow Giant’s Belt Items

  • Warmog’s Poison Armor
    • Belt & Belt
      • Grants 1800 bonus Health (including components), The holder takes 100 true damage each second.

 

  • Zeke’s Evil Herald
    • Sword & Belt
      • When combat begins, the holder reduces the Attack Speed of all allies within 1 hex in the same row by -25% Attack Speed. The holder then gains +40% Attack Speed for each affected ally.

 

  • Eclipse Cape
    • Chain & Belt
      • Every 1.5 second(s), a random enemy within 3 hexes is burned for 25% of their maximum Health over 10 seconds. Any healing they receive is reduced by 50%. The holder is also burned for 4% of their maximum Health every second for the entirety of combat and any healing they received is reduced by 50%.

 

  • Mor-evil-lonomicon
    • Belt & Rod
      • When the holder deals magic damage with their ability, they burn the target, dealing 100% of the target’s maximum Health as true damage over 25 seconds, and reducing healing by 50% for the duration of the burn.
        The holder’s ability deals 50% less damage.

 

  • Explosive Zephyr
    • Belt & Cloak
      • When combat begins, the holder summons a whirlwind on the opposite side of the arena that removes the closest enemy from combat for 8 seconds. Once the enemy returns to combat, they gain 30 Attack Damage and Ability Power for the rest of combat. Ignores CC immunity.

 

  • Zz’Rot Dark Portal
    • Belt & Bow
      • At the start of combat, the wearer taunts enemies within 2 hexes.When the holder dies, a Construct with 500 Health arises and taunts enemies again. When it dies it deals 500 true damage to enemies within 1 hex(es).

 

  • Lack of Redemption
    • Belt & Tear
      • The holder radiates an aura to all allies on the board except themself, and heals them for 20% of their missing Health every 5 seconds. Each time this happens, the holder damages themselves for 10% of their current Health as true damage.

 

  • Explosive Trap Claw
    • Belt & Glove
      • Blocks the first enemy ability that hits the wearer, then teleports them to the ability’s caster, and causes both units to start targeting each other. They deal 25% increased damage to each other.

TFT Shadow Needlessly Large Rod Items

  • Rabadon’s Cursed Deathcap
    • Rod & Rod
      • The holder gains 80 additional Ability Power and receives -20% maximum Health.

 

  • Cursed Hextech Gunblade
    • Sword & Rod
      • The holder’s magic and true damage from Abilities heals the nearest ally with missing Health for 60% of the damage dealt. This heal cannot affect the holder.

 

  • Locket of the Dark Solari
    • Chain & Rod
      • When combat begins, the holder and all allies with 2 hexes in the same row gain 60 bonus Armor and Magic Resist, but gain 5 less Mana per attack.

 

  • Mor-evil-lonomicon
    • Belt & Rod
      • When the holder deals magic damage with their ability, they burn the target, dealing 100% of the target’s maximum Health as true damage over 25 seconds, and reducing healing by 50% for the duration of the burn.
        The holder’s ability deals 50% less damage.

 

  • Ionic Dark-Spark
    • Rod & Cloak
      • Enemies and allies (except the holder) within 2 hexes are zapped when they cast an ability, taking magic damage scaling with their maximum Mana, and allies take 100% of their maximum Mana. Whenever an ally or enemy is zapped, the holder gains 5 Ability Power for the rest of combat.

 

  • Guinsoo’s Evil Rageblade
    • Rod & Bow
      • Attacks grant +9% bonus Attack Speed for the rest of combat. The bonus Attack Speed can stack any number of times. The holder is dealt 2.5% of their maximum Health as true damage each attack.

 

  • Archdemon’s Staff
    • Rod & Tear
      • Each time the holder casts their ability, they gain empty maximum Health equal to 300% of their maximum Mana. The holder then heals for that amount.

 

  • Poisoned Gauntlet
    • Rod & Glove
      • The holder’s magic and true damage from their ability can critically strike, The holder gains 40% Critical Strike Damage and 25% Critical Strike Chance. Each time the holder casts their ability, they deal 15% of their maximum Health to themselves as true damage.

TFT Shadow Cloak Items

  • Dark Dragon’s Claw
    • Cloak & Cloak
      • Reduces incoming magic damage by 15%. Negates bonus damage from incoming critical hits.

 

  • Riskthirster
    • Sword & Cloak
      • Physical damage heals the holder for 40% of the damage dealt. Each time the holder heals to 90% Health, they gain 30% Attack Speed for 3 seconds (does not stack). The wearer takes 33% of their maximum Health in true damage at the beginning of combat.

 

  • Evil Gargoyle Stoneplate
    • Chain & Cloak
      • The holder heals themself for 45 health every 2 seconds for each unit targeting them.

 

  • Explosive Zephyr
    • Belt & Cloak
      • When combat begins, the holder summons a whirlwind on the opposite side of the arena that removes the closest enemy from combat for 8 seconds. Once the enemy returns to combat, they gain 30 Attack Damage and Ability Power for the rest of combat. Ignores CC immunity.

 

  • Ionic Dark-Spark
    • Rod & Cloak
      • Enemies and allies (except the holder) within 2 hexes are zapped when they cast an ability, taking magic damage scaling with their maximum Mana, and allies take 100% of their maximum Mana. Whenever an ally or enemy is zapped, the holder gains 5 Ability Power for the rest of combat.

 

  • Runaan’s Evil Hurricane
    • Cloak & Bow
      • The holder’s attacks fire bolts at 2 nearby enemies, dealing 50% of the holder’s Attack Damage. These bolts can critically strike but do not apply on-hit effects.

 

  • Chalice of Malice
    • Cloak & Tear
      • When combat begins, all of the holder’s allies within 1 hex in the same row gain 45 Spell Power for the rest of combat. The holder loses 20 Ability Power instead of gaining any.

 

  • Evil Quicksilver
    • Cloak & Glove
      • The wearer is immune to crowd control for the entirety of combat and receives -20% maximum Health.

TFT Shadow Recurve Bow Items

  • Rapid Deathcannon
    • Bow & Bow
      • Increases the holder’s Attack Range by 1 hex. Additionally, the holder gains +40% bonus Attack Speed when there are no enemies within 2 hex.The holder’s attacks can no longer miss.

 

  • Evil Giant Slayer
    • Sword & Bow
      • The holder’s Abilities and attacks do 45% bonus damage. If the target has less than 1100 maximum Health, the holder’s Abilities and attacks do 15% decreased damage instead.

 

  • Titan’s Explosive Resolve
    • Chain & Bow
      • Every 4 seconds, the holder’s next attack deals 25% of the total damage they have taken since the last empowered attack as true damage.
  • Zz’Rot Dark Portal
    • Belt & Bow
      • At the start of combat, the wearer taunts enemies within 2 hexes.When the holder dies, a Construct with 500 Health arises and taunts enemies again. When it dies it deals 500 true damage to enemies within 1 hex(es).

 

  • Guinsoo’s Evil Rageblade
    • Rod & Bow
      • Attacks grant +9% bonus Attack Speed for the rest of combat. The bonus Attack Speed can stack any number of times. The holder is dealt 2.5% of their maximum Health as true damage each attack.

 

  • Runaan’s Evil Hurricane
    • Cloak & Bow
      • The holder’s attacks fire bolts at 2 nearby enemies, dealing 50% of the holder’s Attack Damage. These bolts can critically strike but do not apply on-hit effects.

 

  • Evil Statikk Shiv
    • Bow & Tear
      • Every other attack from the holder unleashes a chain lightning that strikes 4 enemy, dealing 65 magic damage and reducing their Magic Resist by 70% for 5 seconds.The holder receives -33% Attack Damage.

 

  • Final Whisper
    • Bow & Glove
      • When the holder inflicts a critical hit, the target’s Armor and Magic Resist are reduced by 50% for 5 seconds. The holder’s Armor and Magic Resist are also permanently reduced by 25%.

TFT Shadow Spatula Items

  • Force of Darkness
    • Spatula & Spatula
      • Wearer’s team gains +2 maximum team size but the player’s Little Legends takes 100% extra damage.

 

TFT ShadowTear Items

  • Very Dark Blue Buff
    • Tear & Tear
      • After casting their ability, the holder gains 15 Mana. If the holder has less than 60% Health, this is increased to 50.

 

  • Cursed Spear of Shojin
    • Sword & Tear
      • The wearer’s attacks restore 14 additional Mana. The wearer deals 20% less damage.

 

  • Frozen Dark Heart
    • Chain & Tear
      • Reduces the Attack Speed of all enemies within 2 hexes by 50%. Each Frozen Heart a champion carries beyond the first increases the radius of this effect. The Attack Speed of allies (except the wearer) within 1 hex is reduced by 50%.

 

  • Lack of Redemption
    • Belt & Tear
      • The holder radiates an aura to all allies on the board except themself, and heals them for 20% of their missing Health every 5 seconds. Each time this happens, the holder damages themselves for 10% of their current Health as true damage.

 

  • Archdemon’s Staff
    • Rod & Tear
      • Each time the holder casts their ability, they gain empty maximum Health equal to 300% of their maximum Mana. The holder then heals for that amount.

 

  • Chalice of Malice
    • Cloak & Tear
      • When combat begins, all of the holder’s allies within 1 hex in the same row gain 45 Spell Power for the rest of combat. The holder loses 20 Ability Power instead of gaining any.

 

  • Evil Statikk Shiv
    • Bow & Tear
      • Every other attack from the holder unleashes a chain lightning that strikes 4 enemy, dealing 65 magic damage and reducing their Magic Resist by 70% for 5 seconds.The holder receives -33% Attack Damage.

 

  • Hand of Vengeance
    • Tear & Glove
      • At the beginning of combat, the holder gains both of the following:
        – +40 Attack Damage and +40 Ability Power.
        – Attacks and abilities heal for 40% of damage dealt.These bonuses expire after each takedown, and renew on the next.

TFT Shadow Brawlers Glove Items

  • Cursed Thief’s Glove
    • Glove & Glove
      • At the beginning of each planning phase, the holder equips 2 temporary items. These Items are always full shadow items.

 

  • Cursed Infinity Edge
    • Sword & Glove
      • Grants +75% Critical Strike Chance (including components). Each point of Critical Strike Chance above 100% becomes +1% Critical Strike Damage. The holder also gains 30% Critical Strike Damage. Each time the holder critically strikes, they deal 3% of their maximum Health to themselves as true damage.

 

  • Dark Shroud of Stillness
    • Chain & Glove
      • When combat begins, the holder shoots a beam straight ahead and behind that delays affected enemies’ and allies’ first ability cast, increasing their maximum Mana by 65% until they cast.

 

  • Explosive Trap Claw
    • Belt & Glove
      • Blocks the first enemy ability that hits the wearer, then teleports them to the ability’s caster, and causes both units to start targeting each other. They deal 25% increased damage to each other.

 

  • Poisoned Gauntlet
    • Rod & Glove
      • The holder’s magic and true damage from their ability can critically strike, The holder gains 40% Critical Strike Damage and 25% Critical Strike Chance. Each time the holder casts their ability, they deal 15% of their maximum Health to themselves as true damage.

 

  • Evil Quicksilver
    • Cloak & Glove
      • The wearer is immune to crowd control for the entirety of combat and receives -20% maximum Health.

 

  • Final Whisper
    • Bow & Glove
      • When the holder inflicts a critical hit, the target’s Armor and Magic Resist are reduced by 50% for 5 seconds. The holder’s Armor and Magic Resist are also permanently reduced by 25%.

 

  • Hand of Vengeance
    • Tear & Glove
      • At the beginning of combat, the holder gains both of the following:
        – +40 Attack Damage and +40 Ability Power.
        – Attacks and abilities heal for 40% of damage dealt.These bonuses expire after each takedown, and renew on the next.

 

And that concludes the complete list of every Shadow Item and their corresponding components/recipes. When Set 5: Reckoning goes live on servers on Wednesday 28 April 2021, be sure to have this page open when you are playing for guidance!

With that being said, we hope this guide has helped you and we wish you the best of luck out there on the battlefield. Let the clash between good/light and evil/dark commence!