If you’re not familiar with the name AceofSpades, this player is currently ranked 13th in the Challenger tier on the North American server. Additionally, AceofSpades collaborates with the specialized site Mobalytics.gg to provide rankings for compositions in Teamfight Tactics. Recently, this player shared with the community about a super weird but extremely effective Riven – Undead composition. AceofSpades also mentioned that this composition is greatly favored by top players in China.
As we know, the Undead composition provides players with a lot of crowd control and quality tank champions. Therefore, players often combine the Undead team with strong magic damage dealers like Vel’Koz and Heimerdinger to take advantage of the crowd control effects that Undead champions provide.
However, you can only go for a magic damage dealer build if you acquire skill damage items and energy regeneration in the mid-game. If players get only Wooden Bows and B.F. Swords while farming monsters, this plan will fall apart completely. In that case, Riven is the best “emergency solution” when effectively utilizing items made from Wooden Bows and B.F. Swords.
Due to the similarities mentioned above, building the Riven – Undead composition in the early and mid-game will not differ much from the Mage – Undead or Dark God – Sorcerer compositions. You will still start with Kalista, quickly aiming to reach 3 Undead champions, and then combine tank items like Warmog’s Blood Armor for Nunu & Willump.
The difference in the Riven – Undead team only occurs when you reach level 7 and the monster rounds provide many Wooden Bows and B.F. Swords. At this point, your main champion will be Riven, and players should add Gragas (even if only at 1 star level) to activate the Ascended and Brawler effects. These effects will help your Riven survive longer and deal a bit more damage. Additionally, having more health will allow Nunu & Willump to easily take down enemy champions.
In the late game, you can replace Gragas with stronger Ascended units like Garen or Nidalee. The best-case scenario here is that you combine or obtain the Ascended Emblem and give it to Nunu & Willump. Additionally, units like Volibear and Fiddlesticks from the Dark God faction are always good choices when using the Undead faction.
Regarding essential items, Riven greatly needs the Infinity Edge and Bloodthirster to ensure her safety as she is still a melee unit. While using Infinity Edge may reduce the stun potential of the Dawnblade skill, you will have many other champions to fulfill the crowd control role. Besides the two items mentioned above, Runaan’s Hurricane (both standard and Light versions) is extremely suitable for Riven in the late game.
