TFT Set 13 Heimerdinger Comp: Sentinel & Academy Explained

Heimerdinger, the brilliant inventor and yordle genius, is a dominant force in Teamfight Tactics Set 13, especially when combined with the Sentinel and Academy traits. If you’re looking for a composition that scales well into the late game, provides ample tankiness, and can dish out massive amounts of damage, this Heimerdinger-centered comp is a great choice. In this blog post, we’ll break down the champions, items, positioning, and strategies you need to optimize your chances with this powerful setup.

Key Champions in the Heimerdinger Sentinel & Academy Composition

The core of the composition revolves around Heimerdinger, but there are several other important champions that complement him. Here's a quick rundown of the key units:

Heimerdinger (Academy, Innovator)
As your primary carry, Heimerdinger’s ability to deal insane amounts of damage with his turrets and spells makes him one of the top picks in the late game. His role in this composition is to serve as your AP carry, so building around him is crucial.

Illaoi (Sentinel)
Illaoi serves as your primary tank, absorbing damage and offering strong sustain with her tentacle attacks. Her high health pool and the added defensive power from the Sentinel trait make her a formidable frontline presence.

Corki (Academy, Cannoneer)
Corki is your secondary carry and helps diversify your damage output with his explosive attacks. He synergizes well with the Academy trait, making him an excellent choice for backline damage.

Vex (Academy, Mage)
Early on, Vex will be your stand-in for Heimerdinger, helping to stabilize your board until you hit level 8 and start collecting the necessary Heimerdinger, Corki, and Illaoi units to 2-star them.

Rumble (Sentinel)
Once you hit level 9, adding Rumble to complete your 6 Sentinels is key to bolstering your frontline and ensuring your carries remain safe throughout the fight. Rumble’s tankiness and extra crowd control make him a solid addition.

Core Traits: Sentinel and Academy

Sentinel (6):
The Sentinel trait is a critical component of this comp as it provides massive durability for your frontline. With 6 Sentinels active, your tanks gain a significant shield at the beginning of combat, which ensures they can survive longer and absorb more damage. This allows Heimerdinger and Corki the time they need to unleash their full damage potential.

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Academy (4):
The Academy trait boosts the effectiveness of your champions in combat. At 4 Academy units, your Academy champions receive bonus damage, which applies to both Heimerdinger and Corki. This synergy is what turns this composition into a powerful late-game powerhouse.

Strategy and Gameplay Tips

Early Game (Levels 1-7)
The goal early on is to stabilize and survive while slowly building up the pieces of your composition. You’ll want to prioritize collecting Vex for your early game and other Academy units to help your board remain strong. Use items that help Heimerdinger (once you acquire him) become stronger in terms of damage output. If you find Corki early, he can serve as a good temporary carry.

Focus on leveling up to level 6-7, which will allow you to activate 2 Academy units and potentially start rolling for Heimerdinger and Corki.

Mid Game (Level 8)
Once you hit level 8, your priority should be to roll for Heimerdinger, Corki, and Illaoi. At this point, you should aim to 2-star all of them. Heimerdinger should become your primary carry, while Corki can serve as secondary DPS. Illaoi will take the front line and begin to absorb damage for your carries.

Keep an eye on your economy and aim to hit level 9 as soon as possible to complete your 6 Sentinels. It’s important to have some gold in reserve to roll for these key units while also leveling up.

Late Game (Level 9)
Once at level 9, add Rumble to complete your 6 Sentinels, giving your frontline a huge boost in tankiness. This upgrade will ensure that Illaoi, Rumble, and any other Sentinels you have become tanky enough to protect Heimerdinger and Corki. You should also consider optimizing your items and positioning by placing your carries (Heimerdinger and Corki) in the safest spots, usually toward the backline but far enough to avoid being caught in crowd control.

Itemization for Heimerdinger and the Team

Heimerdinger’s power comes from his ability to dish out massive damage through his turrets and spells. Therefore, it's crucial to stack Ability Power (AP) and survivability items on him. Here are some of the best item picks:

Heimerdinger (AP Carry Items)

Blue Buff – Heimerdinger’s abilities can quickly become overwhelming with Blue Buff, allowing him to cast more often and deal more damage.

Rabadon’s Deathcap – The ultimate damage-boosting item for any AP carry. It multiplies his ability power, turning him into a terrifying late-game threat.

Hextech Gunblade – This item not only increases his damage but also provides lifesteal, giving Heimerdinger some sustain.

Illaoi (Tank Items)

Warmog’s Armor – Illaoi thrives with high health, and Warmog’s Armor gives her excellent sustain throughout fights.

Ionic Spark – This item can deal with magic resistance and help reduce healing, making it a great choice for Illaoi to deal with troublesome enemy units.

Redemption – This item can provide a huge healing boost to your team in the middle of a fight, especially if you position it correctly.

Corki (Secondary Carry Items)

Guinsoo’s Rageblade – Corki’s attacks scale well with this item, making him an excellent source of sustained damage.

Last Whisper – A great item to help Corki shred through tanky frontline units.

Draven (Anti-healing)

If you find Draven and want to add him as a utility piece, equipping him with Morellonomicon or Red Buff will help deal with enemy healing and provide valuable crowd control.

Positioning Tips

Heimerdinger: Always position Heimerdinger at the backline where he’s safe from assassins or frontline tanks. Ideally, you want him surrounded by tanky Sentinels who can absorb damage and keep him safe.

Illaoi and Rumble: Place your Sentinels (Illaoi and Rumble) on the front lines to absorb the initial burst of damage. Rumble can also disrupt enemy formations with his crowd control.

Corki: While Corki is your secondary carry, he can take some damage and should ideally be positioned behind your Sentinels but far enough from the frontline to avoid crowd control.

Conclusion

The Heimerdinger Sentinel & Academy composition in TFT Set 13 is a late-game powerhouse that can carry you to victory with its strong AP carry and tanky front line. By focusing on Heimerdinger’s itemization, stacking key traits like Sentinel and Academy, and positioning your champions well, you’ll be ready to face any challenge and maximize your chances of a top finish.

Stay adaptable, watch for power spikes, and ensure that your carries get the time and space they need to shine. With a solid understanding of the Heimerdinger comp and some practice, you’ll soon be mastering this top-tier composition. Good luck on the Rift! 

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