What is Kindred Red or Blue in TFT?

Teamfight Tactics (TFT) is a popular auto-battler game developed by Riot Games, set in the universe of League of Legends. It brings strategic gameplay to the forefront, where players compete by managing economy, positioning units, and combining various champions with unique traits and synergies. One of the unique champions in TFT is Kindred, a character that represents the duality of life and death in the League of Legends lore. However, within the context of TFT, you might have encountered the terms “Kindred: Red” and “Kindred: Blue.” These are not merely color designations but refer to different variations of Kindred’s ultimate ability in TFT, and understanding the distinction between them can significantly impact gameplay and strategy.

This article will delve into what Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue are, how they function in TFT, and how you can use them to your advantage.

The Origins of Kindred in League of Legends

Before diving into TFT, it’s essential to understand who Kindred is in the League of Legends universe. Kindred is a dual-character champion representing both Lamb (life) and Wolf (death). They are often seen as the personification of death, but in a more balanced and natural way, not just a figure of doom. Lamb offers a merciful release, while Wolf embodies the untamed nature of death’s inevitability.

In League of Legends, Kindred is known for their ability to mark champions for death and use their ultimate ability, Lamb’s Respite, which creates a zone where no one can die for a few seconds. This ability can be both a defensive tool and a way to disrupt enemies, creating opportunities for Kindred and their team to turn the tides of battle.

Kindred in TFT: An Introduction

In TFT, Kindred appears as a ranged champion whose ultimate ability plays a crucial role in protecting your team. Depending on the set and update, Kindred can have varying origins and classes, influencing how they synergize with other champions. For example, in the TFT set “Fates,” Kindred is a Spirit Hunter, which allows them to gain synergies that enhance attack speed and survivability. However, one of the most intriguing aspects of Kindred in TFT is their ultimate ability, which can have different effects depending on the game’s design and what variation of Kindred you have.

This brings us to the two popular terms: Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue.

What is Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue?

Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue refer to the two different versions of Kindred’s ultimate ability in TFT. The difference in colors signifies the type of effect the ultimate will have, either offensive or defensive, which directly impacts how you might want to build your team around Kindred. These versions are not part of the official game lore but rather terms that have been coined by the TFT community to describe the variations of Kindred’s abilities and their effects.

1. Kindred: Red (Aggressive/Offensive Variation)

Kindred: Red refers to an offensive version of Kindred’s ultimate ability. In this variation, Kindred’s ultimate can be designed to focus on dealing damage or enhancing the team’s offensive potential. This version usually favors aggressive strategies where the goal is to wipe out the enemy team quickly. With Kindred: Red, your positioning and itemization will likely revolve around maximizing damage output and ensuring that Kindred and their allies can eliminate enemies before they have a chance to react.

• When to Use Kindred: Red: This version is ideal when you are focusing on an offensive composition. For example, if your team is built around Assassins, Hunters, or other high-damage-dealing champions, Kindred: Red can be a perfect fit. You’ll want to prioritize offensive items like Infinity Edge, Rabadon’s Deathcap, or Guinsoo’s Rageblade to maximize the impact of Kindred’s ultimate. This variation excels in compositions where burst damage is key to victory, and you need an ultimate that amplifies that aspect.
• Best Compositions for Kindred: Red: Some examples of compositions that work well with Kindred: Red include Assassin builds, where champions like Akali or Zed are key damage dealers, or Hunter compositions that rely on rapid and powerful attacks. In these setups, Kindred’s ability to add offensive pressure can be the difference between winning or losing a critical round.

2. Kindred: Blue (Defensive Variation)

Kindred: Blue, on the other hand, refers to the defensive version of Kindred’s ultimate ability. This variation typically revolves around protecting your team, offering a safety net against overwhelming enemy damage. Instead of enhancing your team’s offensive output, Kindred: Blue focuses on survivability, allowing your units to endure longer in fights and outlast the enemy.

• When to Use Kindred: Blue: This version is beneficial when you are playing a more defensive composition, such as those centered around Vanguards or Mystics, where the key to victory is outlasting your opponent’s damage. You will want to focus on defensive items like Guardian Angel, Dragon’s Claw, or Warmog’s Armor to enhance the survivability of Kindred and other crucial units. Kindred: Blue shines in compositions that are less focused on dealing immediate damage and more on sustaining through long fights, chipping away at the enemy over time.
• Best Compositions for Kindred: Blue: Compositions that focus on outlasting the enemy, such as a Protector build or a Mystic-centered lineup, are perfect for Kindred: Blue. These teams generally benefit from a defensive ultimate that can save key units from being eliminated too early in the fight, allowing them to sustain through burst damage and counter-attack after the enemy has exhausted their initial assault.

How to Build Around Kindred: Red or Blue

Whether you choose to use Kindred: Red or Kindred: Blue, your team composition and itemization strategy should complement the strengths of each version. Here’s how you can build around each variation:

Building Around Kindred: Red

1. Focus on Damage Output: In Kindred: Red setups, your primary goal is to maximize damage across your team. Choose champions and items that prioritize offense. Hunters, Assassins, and other high-damage champions work best here.
2. Positioning: Place Kindred in a position where they can safely unleash their ultimate without being immediately targeted by the enemy. Typically, the backline is ideal, but depending on the enemy team’s composition, you may need to adjust this to ensure Kindred survives long enough to cast their ultimate.
3. Offensive Items: Equip Kindred with items that increase their damage potential. Items like Rabadon’s Deathcap, Luden’s Echo, or Guinsoo’s Rageblade can make Kindred’s ultimate even more lethal. Don’t forget to consider critical strike items if you want to emphasize burst damage.
4. Synergies: Prioritize offensive synergies. If Kindred is a Hunter in your particular TFT set, pairing them with other Hunters like Aphelios or Ashe can create a strong, damage-heavy team that capitalizes on Kindred’s offensive ultimate.

Building Around Kindred: Blue

1. Focus on Survivability: With Kindred: Blue, the goal is to keep your team alive for as long as possible. Champions that can sustain damage or provide crowd control to stall the enemy are ideal here.
2. Positioning: Like with Kindred: Red, positioning is crucial. However, with Kindred: Blue, you may need to place Kindred slightly more centrally to ensure that their ultimate can protect key units. If Kindred is placed too far back, they might not be able to save frontline tanks from overwhelming damage.
3. Defensive Items: Equip Kindred with items that increase their survivability. Items like Guardian Angel, Banshee’s Claw, or Dragon’s Claw can help ensure that Kindred stays alive long enough to cast their ultimate, protecting your team in the process.
4. Synergies: Look for defensive synergies. Mystics, Protectors, and Vanguards often synergize well with Kindred: Blue. These compositions rely on taking less damage or healing through enemy attacks, and Kindred’s ultimate can provide crucial moments of protection that allow your team to turn the tables on the enemy.

Adapting Your Strategy

The key to success with Kindred in TFT is understanding when to shift your strategy. Sometimes, despite your initial plans, the nature of the game will require you to adapt. For example, you might have built your team around a Kindred: Red strategy, but if you face a team with overwhelming burst damage, it may be wise to transition into a Kindred: Blue setup. Adapting to your opponents and the state of the game is crucial in TFT, and understanding the differences between Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue gives you another layer of strategic depth to explore.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Kindred: Red and Kindred: Blue are two distinct variations of the same champion, each catering to different playstyles and strategies in Teamfight Tactics. Whether you prefer an aggressive, damage-focused composition with Kindred: Red or a defensive, survivability-focused setup with Kindred: Blue, mastering these variations will give you a significant edge in the game. By carefully considering your team composition, item choices, and positioning, you can maximize the effectiveness of whichever version of Kindred you choose to use.