Choosing the right path for Kindred in Teamfight Tactics (TFT) can significantly influence your game outcome. Kindred, known for its unique abilities and versatile roles, can adapt to different playstyles through the Red and Blue paths.
This guide will help you understand the strengths and weaknesses of each path and provide tips on making the best choice for your team composition.
Understanding Kindred in TFT
Background and Role
Kindred is a champion in TFT, embodying the eternal hunter’s Lamb and Wolf. They excel in flexibility, offering both damage and utility, making them a versatile addition to various team compositions. In TFT, Kindred can serve as a primary damage dealer or a support unit, depending on the path chosen.
Their dual nature is reflected in the Red and Blue paths, each offering distinct benefits that cater to different gameplay strategies.
Abilities and Traits
Kindred’s abilities revolve around dealing consistent damage and providing crucial survivability to allies. Their main abilities include:
- Dance of Arrows: A quick dash that damages nearby enemies, which can be used effectively in both paths.
- Wolf’s Frenzy: Summons Wolf to attack targets, amplifying damage over time.
- Lamb’s Respite: A protective area that prevents units within it from dying, which can turn the tide in close battles.
Understanding how these abilities synergize with different paths will help you maximize Kindred’s potential in any match.
Kindred Red Path Explained
What is the Red Path?
The Red path maximises Kindred’s damage output, making them formidable carry. This path enhances their attack speed and critical hit potential, making Kindred a powerhouse regarding raw damage. The Red Path is ideal for players looking to bolster their offensive capabilities and overwhelm opponents through sheer damage.
Strengths of Red Path
- High Damage Output: The Red path significantly increases Kindred’s attack speed and critical damage, making them a lethal force in the frontline.
- Synergy with Attack Damage Teams: This path pairs well with compositions focusing on attack damage (AD), such as Assassins or other high-damage champions.
- Effective Against Squishy Targets: The red path’s burst potential excels at quickly eliminating low-health targets, disrupting the enemy’s formation and strategy.
Weaknesses of Red Path
- Vulnerability to Burst Damage: The Red Path’s focus on offence often comes at the expense of survivability, making Kindred vulnerable to high burst damage from opponents.
- Requires Support for Sustain: Kindred on the Red Path can struggle to survive in prolonged fights without proper support or defensive items.
- Positioning Dependency: Effective positioning is crucial to maximize damage output and avoid being targeted by enemy spells and abilities.
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Kindred Blue Path Explained
What is the Blue Path?
The Blue Path focuses on enhancing Kindred’s utility and support capabilities, making them a versatile asset to the team. This path improves Kindred’s ability to control the battlefield, protect allies, and provide crucial sustenance through Lamb’s Respite. The Blue path is best for players who prefer a more strategic, support-oriented role for Kindred.
Strengths of Blue Path
- Enhanced Survivability: The Blue path amplifies Lamb’s Respite’s protective effects, allowing Kindred to shield key allies in critical moments.
- Utility and Crowd Control Synergy: This path pairs well with champions that rely on crowd control and sustainability, creating a balanced and resilient team composition.
- Versatility in Team Roles: The Blue Path allows Kindred to flexibly switch between damage dealing and support, adapting to the team’s needs during the match.
Weaknesses of Blue Path
- Lower Damage Output: While the Blue path offers utility, it sacrifices some of the raw damage potential found in the Red path, which can be a drawback against teams with high burst damage.
- Dependence on Team Coordination: The success of the Blue Path often relies on good team coordination and positioning, which can be challenging in less organized matches.
- Vulnerability to High-Damage Carries: Kindred on the Blue path may struggle against opponents who can quickly eliminate key targets despite Lamb’s Respite.
Comparing Red and Blue Paths
Damage vs. Utility
The fundamental difference between the Red and Blue paths lies in their focus—damage versus utility. The Red path provides consistent, high-damage output, making Kindred a strong carry option. In contrast, the Blue Path’s strength lies in utility and support, offering strategic advantages to protect and sustain the team during critical game phases.
Synergy with Team Compositions
- Red Path: Best suited for aggressive, damage-heavy compositions. Kindred’s amplified damage can complement other high AD champions, creating a snowball effect that can overwhelm opponents quickly.
- Blue Path: This path works well with balanced or defensive compositions. It enhances team resilience and can counter aggressive enemy strategies by keeping key allies alive longer.
Early Game vs. Late Game
- Red Path: Often more effective in the early to mid-game when Kindred’s damage can quickly dispatch weaker enemies. This can help secure early leads and control of the board.
- Blue Path: Shines in the late game, where its utility can sustain allies through prolonged fights and counter the burst damage of enemy carriers.
How do you decide: Red or Blue for Kindred?
Assessing Your Team Composition
The first step in deciding between Red or Blue is to assess your current team composition. If your team lacks damage and struggles to secure kills, the Red path may provide the necessary boost. Conversely, if your team has enough damage but lacks survivability, the Blue Path’s utility can offer the necessary support.
Adapting to Opponents
Consider the strategies of your opponents. If you’re up against a team with high burst potential, the Blue Path can help mitigate their damage and protect key allies. If the opponents are squishy and lack crowd control, the Red Path can exploit these weaknesses with high damage output.
Gameplay Tips
- For Red Path: Focus on positioning Kindred so they can deal with maximum damage without being immediately targeted. Use items that further enhance attack speed and critical damage.
- For Blue Path: Position Kindred strategically to maximize the protective benefits of Lamb’s Respite. Consider pairing with champions with strong crowd control or healing abilities to create a robust defensive line.
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Advanced Tips for Mastering Kindred
Path Switching
Though Kindred cannot switch paths mid-match, adapting your strategy based on the evolving game state is crucial. Keep an eye on your team’s performance and be prepared to adjust item builds and positioning accordingly.
Itemization and Positioning
- Red Path Items: Consider items that enhance attack speed, critical hit chance, and raw damage. Examples include Infinity Edge, Rapid Firecannon, and Bloodthirster.
- Blue Path Items: Focus on items that enhance survivability and utility, such as Guardian Angel, Redemption, or Zz’Rot Portal, to add defensive value.
Combos and Strategies
- Red Path Combos: Pair Kindred with champions like Yasuo or Samira, who can benefit from increased damage output. Positioning these champions near Kindred can help create powerful combos that can quickly decimate enemy lines.
- Blue Path Combos: Combine Kindred with champions like Janna or Lulu, who provide additional support and crowd control. This combination can create a resilient frontline that’s difficult for opponents to penetrate.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Overcommitting to One Path
A common mistake is sticking rigidly to a path without considering the game state. Be flexible and willing to adjust your strategy based on your team’s needs and the opponents’ tactics.
Ignoring Team Needs
Choosing a path that doesn’t align with your team’s composition can lead to suboptimal performance. Always assess what your team lacks before committing to a path for Kindred.
Misjudging Opponent Threats
Failing to accurately assess the opposing team’s biggest threats accurately can result in poor path choices. Always watch enemy champions’ strengths and adjust your strategy accordingly to counter their main damage dealers or disruptors.
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FAQs
1. Is It Possible To Switch Kindred Paths During A Tft Match?
No, once you choose a path for Kindred, it remains fixed for the duration of the match. Adapt your strategy to maximize the benefits of your chosen path.
2. What Items Work Best With Kindred On The Red Path?
Items like Infinity Edge, Rapid Firecannon, and Bloodthirster enhance Kindred’s attack speed and critical damage on the Red path.
3. Can The Blue Path Of Kindred Counter High-Damage Assassins?
Yes, the Blue Path’s utility and sustain abilities can help mitigate the burst damage from high-damage assassins, providing critical protection for your team.
4. How Do I Know If The Blue Path Is The Right Choice For Kindred?
Choose the Blue path if your team needs more sustain and utility, especially when facing high burst damage or if your composition relies on strategic positioning and prolonged fights.
5. Which Champions Synergize Well With Kindred’s Blue Path?
Champions like Janna, Lulu, and other support champions with crowd control or healing abilities synergize well with Kindred’s Blue path, enhancing the overall team’s resilience.
Conclusion
Choosing between Kindred’s Red or Blue paths in TFT is a strategic decision that depends heavily on your team’s needs, opponents’ strategies, and the overall game flow. The Red path offers a powerful offensive boost, making Kindred a formidable carry, while the Blue path provides valuable utility and support, enhancing team survivability. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each path, you can make informed decisions that maximize Kindred’s impact on the battlefield.
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