diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
index c1d4ebdc40..bbe70a08bc 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/component.ts
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ import {Sanitizer} from '../sanitization/security';
 
 import {assertComponentType, assertDefined} from './assert';
 import {queueInitHooks, queueLifecycleHooks} from './hooks';
-import {CLEAN_PROMISE, ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES, _getComponentHostLElementNode, baseDirectiveCreate, createLViewData, createTView, detectChangesInternal, enterView, executeInitAndContentHooks, getRootView, hostElement, initChangeDetectorIfExisting, leaveView, locateHostElement, setHostBindings,} from './instructions';
+import {CLEAN_PROMISE, _getComponentHostLElementNode, baseDirectiveCreate, createLViewData, createTView, detectChangesInternal, enterView, executeInitAndContentHooks, getRootView, hostElement, initChangeDetectorIfExisting, leaveView, locateHostElement, setHostBindings, queueHostBindingForCheck,} from './instructions';
 import {ComponentDef, ComponentDefInternal, ComponentType} from './interfaces/definition';
 import {LElementNode} from './interfaces/node';
 import {RElement, RendererFactory3, domRendererFactory3} from './interfaces/renderer';
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ export function renderComponent<T>(
 
     // Create directive instance with factory() and store at index 0 in directives array
     component = baseDirectiveCreate(0, componentDef.factory() as T, componentDef);
+    if (componentDef.hostBindings) {
+      queueHostBindingForCheck(0, componentDef.hostVars);
+    }
     rootContext.components.push(component);
     (elementNode.data as LViewData)[CONTEXT] = component;
     initChangeDetectorIfExisting(elementNode.nodeInjector, component, elementNode.data !);
@@ -129,7 +132,7 @@ export function renderComponent<T>(
     opts.hostFeatures && opts.hostFeatures.forEach((feature) => feature(component, componentDef));
 
     executeInitAndContentHooks();
-    setHostBindings(ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES);
+    setHostBindings(rootView[TVIEW].hostBindings);
     detectChangesInternal(elementNode.data as LViewData, elementNode, component);
   } finally {
     leaveView(oldView);
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
index 753bd8e7d8..72cc43db36 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/component_ref.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ import {Type} from '../type';
 
 import {assertComponentType, assertDefined} from './assert';
 import {LifecycleHooksFeature, createRootContext} from './component';
-import {baseDirectiveCreate, createLNode, createLViewData, createTView, elementCreate, enterView, hostElement, initChangeDetectorIfExisting, locateHostElement, renderEmbeddedTemplate} from './instructions';
+import {adjustBlueprintForNewNode, baseDirectiveCreate, createLNode, createLViewData, createTView, elementCreate, enterView, hostElement, initChangeDetectorIfExisting, locateHostElement, renderEmbeddedTemplate} from './instructions';
 import {ComponentDefInternal, ComponentType, RenderFlags} from './interfaces/definition';
 import {LElementNode, TNode, TNodeType} from './interfaces/node';
 import {RElement, RendererFactory3, domRendererFactory3} from './interfaces/renderer';
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ export class ComponentFactory<T> extends viewEngine_ComponentFactory<T> {
           let firstTNode: TNode|null = null;
           let previousTNode: TNode|null = null;
           for (let j = 0; j < nodeList.length; j++) {
+            adjustBlueprintForNewNode(rootView);
             const lNode =
                 createLNode(++index, TNodeType.Element, nodeList[j] as RElement, null, null);
             if (previousTNode) {
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/i18n.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/i18n.ts
index d5ce437c39..40c387ea08 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/i18n.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/i18n.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
  */
 
 import {assertEqual, assertLessThan} from './assert';
-import {NO_CHANGE, _getViewData, bindingUpdated, bindingUpdated2, bindingUpdated3, bindingUpdated4, createLNode, getPreviousOrParentNode, getRenderer, load, resetApplicationState} from './instructions';
+import {NO_CHANGE, _getViewData, adjustBlueprintForNewNode, bindingUpdated, bindingUpdated2, bindingUpdated3, bindingUpdated4, createLNode, getPreviousOrParentNode, getRenderer, load, resetApplicationState} from './instructions';
 import {RENDER_PARENT} from './interfaces/container';
 import {LContainerNode, LNode, TContainerNode, TElementNode, TNodeType} from './interfaces/node';
 import {BINDING_INDEX, HEADER_OFFSET, TVIEW} from './interfaces/view';
@@ -330,8 +330,10 @@ export function i18nApply(startIndex: number, instructions: I18nInstruction[]):
         // If we were to only create a `RNode` then projections won't move the text.
         // Create text node at the current end of viewData. Must subtract header offset because
         // createLNode takes a raw index (not adjusted by header offset).
+        adjustBlueprintForNewNode(viewData);
+        const lastNodeIndex = viewData.length - 1;
         const textLNode =
-            createLNode(viewData.length - HEADER_OFFSET, TNodeType.Element, textRNode, null, null);
+            createLNode(lastNodeIndex - HEADER_OFFSET, TNodeType.Element, textRNode, null, null);
         localPreviousNode = appendI18nNode(textLNode, localParentNode, localPreviousNode);
         resetApplicationState();
         break;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
index cf4be6bc31..d2592fd725 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/instructions.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ import {AttributeMarker, InitialInputData, InitialInputs, LContainerNode, LEleme
 import {CssSelectorList, NG_PROJECT_AS_ATTR_NAME} from './interfaces/projection';
 import {LQueries} from './interfaces/query';
 import {ProceduralRenderer3, RComment, RElement, RNode, RText, Renderer3, RendererFactory3, RendererStyleFlags3, isProceduralRenderer} from './interfaces/renderer';
-import {BINDING_INDEX, CLEANUP, CONTENT_QUERIES, CONTEXT, CurrentMatchesList, DECLARATION_VIEW, DIRECTIVES, FLAGS, HEADER_OFFSET, HOST_NODE, INJECTOR, LViewData, LViewFlags, NEXT, OpaqueViewState, PARENT, QUERIES, RENDERER, RootContext, SANITIZER, TAIL, TData, TVIEW, TView} from './interfaces/view';
+import {BINDING_INDEX, CLEANUP, CONTAINER_INDEX, CONTENT_QUERIES, CONTEXT, CurrentMatchesList, DECLARATION_VIEW, DIRECTIVES, FLAGS, HEADER_OFFSET, HOST_NODE, INJECTOR, LViewData, LViewFlags, NEXT, OpaqueViewState, PARENT, QUERIES, RENDERER, RootContext, SANITIZER, TAIL, TData, TVIEW, TView} from './interfaces/view';
 import {assertNodeOfPossibleTypes, assertNodeType} from './node_assert';
 import {appendChild, appendProjectedNode, canInsertNativeNode, createTextNode, findComponentHost, getChildLNode, getLViewChild, getNextLNode, getParentLNode, insertView, removeView} from './node_manipulation';
 import {isNodeMatchingSelectorList, matchingSelectorIndex} from './node_selector_matcher';
@@ -48,17 +48,6 @@ const _CLEAN_PROMISE = Promise.resolve(null);
  */
 export type SanitizerFn = (value: any) => string;
 
-/**
- * Directive and element indices for top-level directive.
- *
- * Saved here to avoid re-instantiating an array on every change detection run.
- *
- * Note: Element is not actually stored at index 0 because of the LViewData
- * header, but the host bindings function expects an index that is NOT adjusted
- * because it will ultimately be fed to instructions like elementProperty.
- */
-const _ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES = [0, 0];
-
 /**
  * TView.data needs to fill the same number of slots as the LViewData header
  * so the indices of nodes are consistent between LViewData and TView.data.
@@ -346,7 +335,7 @@ export function setHostBindings(bindings: number[] | null): void {
     for (let i = 0; i < bindings.length; i += 2) {
       const dirIndex = bindings[i];
       const def = defs[dirIndex] as DirectiveDefInternal<any>;
-      def.hostBindings && def.hostBindings(dirIndex, bindings[i + 1]);
+      def.hostBindings !(dirIndex, bindings[i + 1]);
       bindingRootIndex = viewData[BINDING_INDEX] = bindingRootIndex + def.hostVars;
     }
   }
@@ -383,26 +372,14 @@ export function executeInitAndContentHooks(): void {
 export function createLViewData<T>(
     renderer: Renderer3, tView: TView, context: T | null, flags: LViewFlags,
     sanitizer?: Sanitizer | null): LViewData {
-  // TODO(kara): create from blueprint
-  return [
-    tView,                                                                       // tView
-    viewData,                                                                    // parent
-    null,                                                                        // next
-    null,                                                                        // queries
-    flags | LViewFlags.CreationMode | LViewFlags.Attached | LViewFlags.RunInit,  // flags
-    null !,                                                                      // hostNode
-    tView.bindingStartIndex,                                                     // bindingIndex
-    null,                                                                        // directives
-    null,                                                                        // cleanupInstances
-    context,                                                                     // context
-    viewData ? viewData[INJECTOR] : null,                                        // injector
-    renderer,                                                                    // renderer
-    sanitizer || null,                                                           // sanitizer
-    null,                                                                        // tail
-    -1,                                                                          // containerIndex
-    null,                                                                        // contentQueries
-    null                                                                         // declarationView
-  ];
+  const instance = tView.blueprint.slice() as LViewData;
+  instance[PARENT] = viewData;
+  instance[FLAGS] = flags | LViewFlags.CreationMode | LViewFlags.Attached | LViewFlags.RunInit;
+  instance[CONTEXT] = context;
+  instance[INJECTOR] = viewData ? viewData[INJECTOR] : null;
+  instance[RENDERER] = renderer;
+  instance[SANITIZER] = sanitizer || null;
+  return instance;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -474,13 +451,13 @@ export function createLNode(
     const adjustedIndex = index + HEADER_OFFSET;
 
     // This is an element or container or projection node
-    ngDevMode && assertDataNext(adjustedIndex);
     const tData = tView.data;
+    ngDevMode && assertLessThan(
+                     adjustedIndex, viewData.length, `Slot should have been initialized with null`);
 
     viewData[adjustedIndex] = node;
 
-    // Every node adds a value to the static data array to avoid a sparse array
-    if (adjustedIndex >= tData.length) {
+    if (tData[adjustedIndex] == null) {
       const tNode = tData[adjustedIndex] =
           createTNode(type, adjustedIndex, name, attrs, tParent, null);
       if (!isParent && previousOrParentNode) {
@@ -504,8 +481,9 @@ export function createLNode(
   // View nodes and host elements need to set their host node (components set host nodes later)
   if ((type & TNodeType.ViewOrElement) === TNodeType.ViewOrElement && isState) {
     const lViewData = state as LViewData;
-    ngDevMode && assertNotDefined(
-                     lViewData[HOST_NODE], 'lViewData[HOST_NODE] should not have been initialized');
+    ngDevMode &&
+        assertEqual(
+            lViewData[HOST_NODE], null, 'lViewData[HOST_NODE] should not have been initialized');
     lViewData[HOST_NODE] = node;
     if (firstTemplatePass) lViewData[TVIEW].node = node.tNode;
   }
@@ -515,6 +493,20 @@ export function createLNode(
   return node;
 }
 
+/**
+ * When LNodes are created dynamically after a view blueprint is created (e.g. through
+ * i18nApply() or ComponentFactory.create), we need to adjust the blueprint for future
+ * template passes.
+ */
+export function adjustBlueprintForNewNode(view: LViewData) {
+  const tView = view[TVIEW];
+  if (tView.firstTemplatePass) {
+    tView.hostBindingStartIndex++;
+    tView.blueprint.push(null);
+    view.push(null);
+  }
+}
+
 
 //////////////////////////
 //// Render
@@ -664,7 +656,7 @@ export function renderComponentOrTemplate<T>(
 
       // Element was stored at 0 in data and directive was stored at 0 in directives
       // in renderComponent()
-      setHostBindings(_ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES);
+      setHostBindings(tView.hostBindings);
       componentRefresh(HEADER_OFFSET);
     }
   } finally {
@@ -910,19 +902,23 @@ export function resolveDirective(
 /** Stores index of component's host element so it will be queued for view refresh during CD. */
 function queueComponentIndexForCheck(): void {
   if (firstTemplatePass) {
-    (tView.components || (tView.components = [])).push(viewData.length - 1);
+    (tView.components || (tView.components = [])).push(previousOrParentNode.tNode.index);
   }
 }
 
 /** Stores index of directive and host element so it will be queued for binding refresh during CD.
  */
-function queueHostBindingForCheck(dirIndex: number): void {
+export function queueHostBindingForCheck(dirIndex: number, hostVars: number): void {
   // Must subtract the header offset because hostBindings functions are generated with
   // instructions that expect element indices that are NOT adjusted (e.g. elementProperty).
   ngDevMode &&
       assertEqual(firstTemplatePass, true, 'Should only be called in first template pass.');
+  for (let i = 0; i < hostVars; i++) {
+    tView.blueprint.push(NO_CHANGE);
+    viewData.push(NO_CHANGE);
+  }
   (tView.hostBindings || (tView.hostBindings = [
-   ])).push(dirIndex, viewData.length - 1 - HEADER_OFFSET);
+   ])).push(dirIndex, previousOrParentNode.tNode.index - HEADER_OFFSET);
 }
 
 /** Sets the context for a ChangeDetectorRef to the given instance. */
@@ -1005,10 +1001,11 @@ function saveResolvedLocalsInData(
     lNode: LNodeWithLocalRefs, localRefExtractor: LocalRefExtractor): void {
   const localNames = lNode.tNode.localNames;
   if (localNames) {
+    let localIndex = lNode.tNode.index + 1;
     for (let i = 0; i < localNames.length; i += 2) {
       const index = localNames[i + 1] as number;
       const value = index === -1 ? localRefExtractor(lNode) : directives ![index];
-      viewData.push(value);
+      viewData[localIndex++] = value;
     }
   }
 }
@@ -1055,15 +1052,21 @@ export function createTView(
     viewQuery: ComponentQuery<any>| null): TView {
   ngDevMode && ngDevMode.tView++;
   const bindingStartIndex = HEADER_OFFSET + consts;
-  return {
+  // This length does not yet contain host bindings from child directives because at this point,
+  // we don't know which directives are active on this template. As soon as a directive is matched
+  // that has a host binding, we will update the blueprint with that def's hostVars count.
+  const initialViewLength = bindingStartIndex + vars;
+  const blueprint = createViewBlueprint(bindingStartIndex, initialViewLength);
+  return blueprint[TVIEW] = {
     id: viewIndex,
+    blueprint: blueprint,
     template: templateFn,
     viewQuery: viewQuery,
     node: null !,
     data: HEADER_FILLER.slice(),  // Fill in to match HEADER_OFFSET in LViewData
     childIndex: -1,               // Children set in addToViewTree(), if any
     bindingStartIndex: bindingStartIndex,
-    hostBindingStartIndex: bindingStartIndex + vars,
+    hostBindingStartIndex: initialViewLength,
     directives: null,
     firstTemplatePass: true,
     initHooks: null,
@@ -1084,6 +1087,15 @@ export function createTView(
   };
 }
 
+function createViewBlueprint(bindingStartIndex: number, initialViewLength: number): LViewData {
+  const blueprint = new Array(initialViewLength)
+                        .fill(null, 0, bindingStartIndex)
+                        .fill(NO_CHANGE, bindingStartIndex) as LViewData;
+  blueprint[CONTAINER_INDEX] = -1;
+  blueprint[BINDING_INDEX] = bindingStartIndex;
+  return blueprint;
+}
+
 function setUpAttributes(native: RElement, attrs: TAttributes): void {
   const isProc = isProceduralRenderer(renderer);
   let i = 0;
@@ -1680,7 +1692,7 @@ export function directiveCreate<T>(
     // any projected components.
     queueInitHooks(directiveDefIdx, directiveDef.onInit, directiveDef.doCheck, tView);
 
-    if (directiveDef.hostBindings) queueHostBindingForCheck(directiveDefIdx);
+    if (directiveDef.hostBindings) queueHostBindingForCheck(directiveDefIdx, directiveDef.hostVars);
   }
 
   if (tNode && tNode.attrs) {
@@ -2758,8 +2770,10 @@ export function getBinding(bindingIndex: number): any {
 /** Updates binding if changed, then returns whether it was updated. */
 export function bindingUpdated(bindingIndex: number, value: any): boolean {
   ngDevMode && assertNotEqual(value, NO_CHANGE, 'Incoming value should never be NO_CHANGE.');
+  ngDevMode && assertLessThan(
+                   bindingIndex, viewData.length, `Slot should have been initialized to NO_CHANGE`);
 
-  if (bindingIndex >= viewData.length) {
+  if (viewData[bindingIndex] === NO_CHANGE) {
     viewData[bindingIndex] = value;
   } else if (isDifferent(viewData[bindingIndex], value, checkNoChangesMode)) {
     throwErrorIfNoChangesMode(creationMode, checkNoChangesMode, viewData[bindingIndex], value);
@@ -2843,4 +2857,3 @@ export function _getComponentHostLElementNode<T>(component: T): LElementNode {
 }
 
 export const CLEAN_PROMISE = _CLEAN_PROMISE;
-export const ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES = _ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES;
diff --git a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
index ce0246a58b..136bccf3f7 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/render3/interfaces/view.ts
@@ -253,6 +253,12 @@ export interface TView {
    */
   readonly id: number;
 
+  /**
+   * This is a blueprint used to generate LViewData instances for this TView. Copying this
+   * blueprint is faster than creating a new LViewData from scratch.
+   */
+  blueprint: LViewData;
+
   /**
    * The template function used to refresh the view of dynamically created views
    * and components. Will be null for inline views.
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index af4b06f2ff..e020817d97 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/hello_world/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -56,6 +56,9 @@
   {
     "name": "NG_PROJECT_AS_ATTR_NAME"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "NO_CHANGE"
+  },
   {
     "name": "PARENT"
   },
@@ -72,7 +75,7 @@
     "name": "RENDER_PARENT"
   },
   {
-    "name": "ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES"
+    "name": "SANITIZER"
   },
   {
     "name": "TVIEW"
@@ -83,9 +86,6 @@
   {
     "name": "_CLEAN_PROMISE"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "_ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES"
-  },
   {
     "name": "_getComponentHostLElementNode"
   },
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@
   {
     "name": "createTextNode"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "createViewBlueprint"
+  },
   {
     "name": "createViewQuery"
   },
@@ -239,6 +242,9 @@
   {
     "name": "nextNgElementId"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "queueHostBindingForCheck"
+  },
   {
     "name": "readElementValue"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json b/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
index 5c5da9df29..275423dc22 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
+++ b/packages/core/test/bundling/todo/bundle.golden_symbols.json
@@ -131,9 +131,6 @@
   {
     "name": "RENDER_PARENT"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES"
-  },
   {
     "name": "RecordViewTuple"
   },
@@ -203,9 +200,6 @@
   {
     "name": "_DuplicateMap"
   },
-  {
-    "name": "_ROOT_DIRECTIVE_INDICES"
-  },
   {
     "name": "_THROW_IF_NOT_FOUND"
   },
@@ -413,6 +407,9 @@
   {
     "name": "createTextNode"
   },
+  {
+    "name": "createViewBlueprint"
+  },
   {
     "name": "createViewQuery"
   },
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/change_detection_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/change_detection_spec.ts
index 596b281a0b..6c0bb46a68 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/change_detection_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/change_detection_spec.ts
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ describe('change detection', () => {
         selectors: [['my-comp']],
         factory: () => comp = new MyComponent(),
         consts: 2,
-        vars: 1,
+        vars: 2,
         /**
          * {{ doCheckCount }} - {{ name }}
          * <button (click)="onClick()"></button>
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/common_integration_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/common_integration_spec.ts
index fb942d01bc..8796872d98 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/common_integration_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/common_integration_spec.ts
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ describe('@angular/common integration', () => {
           template: (rf: RenderFlags, ctx: MyApp) => {
             if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
               elementStart(0, 'ul');
-              { template(1, liTemplate, 2, 1, undefined, ['ngForOf', '']); }
+              { template(1, liTemplate, 2, 3, undefined, ['ngForOf', '']); }
               elementEnd();
             }
             if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ describe('@angular/common integration', () => {
       function liTemplate(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           elementStart(0, 'li');
-          { template(1, spanTemplate, 2, 1, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
+          { template(1, spanTemplate, 2, 3, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
           elementEnd();
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ describe('@angular/common integration', () => {
       function divTemplate(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           elementStart(0, 'div');
-          { template(1, pTemplate, 3, 1, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
+          { template(1, pTemplate, 3, 2, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
           elementEnd();
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ describe('@angular/common integration', () => {
       function innerDivTemplate(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           elementStart(0, 'div');
-          { template(1, spanTemplate, 2, 1, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
+          { template(1, spanTemplate, 2, 2, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
           elementEnd();
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ describe('@angular/common integration', () => {
       function itemTemplate7(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           elementStart(0, 'span');
-          { template(1, itemTemplate8, 2, 1, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
+          { template(1, itemTemplate8, 2, 10, null, ['ngForOf', '']); }
           elementEnd();
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
index e8a8f1c896..680a78b988 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/component_directives_spec.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         type: HostBindingDir,
         selectors: [['', 'hostBindingDir', '']],
         factory: function HostBindingDir_Factory() { return new HostBindingDir(); },
+        hostVars: 1,
         hostBindings: function HostBindingDir_HostBindings(dirIndex: $number$, elIndex: $number$) {
           $r3$.ɵelementProperty(
               elIndex, 'id', $r3$.ɵbind($r3$.ɵloadDirective<HostBindingDir>(dirIndex).dirId));
@@ -256,6 +257,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         type: HostBindingDir,
         selectors: [['', 'hostBindingDir', '']],
         factory: function HostBindingDir_Factory() { return new HostBindingDir(); },
+        hostVars: 1,
         hostBindings: function HostBindingDir_HostBindings(dirIndex: $number$, elIndex: $number$) {
           $r3$.ɵelementAttribute(
               elIndex, 'aria-label',
@@ -446,7 +448,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
         selectors: [['my-array-comp']],
         factory: function MyArrayComp_Factory() { return new MyArrayComp(); },
         consts: 1,
-        vars: 1,
+        vars: 2,
         template: function MyArrayComp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyArrayComp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵtext(0);
@@ -479,7 +481,7 @@ describe('components & directives', () => {
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           factory: function MyApp_Factory() { return new MyApp(); },
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 0,
           template: function MyApp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $MyApp$) {
             if (rf & 1) {
               $r3$.ɵelement(0, 'my-array-comp');
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
index 1157b3fdc3..2a9ccecd20 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/compiler_canonical/elements_spec.ts
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
         selectors: [['local-ref-comp']],
         factory: function LocalRefComp_Factory() { return new LocalRefComp(); },
         consts: 4,
-        vars: 1,
+        vars: 2,
         template: function LocalRefComp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $LocalRefComp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
             $r3$.ɵelement(0, 'div', $e0_attrs$, $e0_locals$);
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ describe('elements', () => {
         type: ListenerComp,
         selectors: [['listener-comp']],
         factory: function ListenerComp_Factory() { return new ListenerComp(); },
-        consts: 1,
+        consts: 2,
         vars: 0,
         template: function ListenerComp_Template(rf: $RenderFlags$, ctx: $ListenerComp$) {
           if (rf & 1) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/component_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/component_spec.ts
index d6c355959a..4a8044e88a 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/component_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/component_spec.ts
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ describe('encapsulation', () => {
       static ngComponentDef = defineComponent({
         type: LeafComponentwith,
         selectors: [['leaf']],
-        consts: 1,
+        consts: 2,
         vars: 0,
         template: function(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: LeafComponentwith) {
           if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
index 1522c6fde7..d64a369751 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/di_spec.ts
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
           const tmp2 = reference(2) as any;
           textBinding(3, interpolation2('', tmp2.value, '-', tmp1.value, ''));
         }
-      }, 4, 1, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
+      }, 4, 2, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
 
       const fixture = new ComponentFixture(App);
       expect(fixture.html).toEqual('<div dir="" dirsame="">ElementRef-true</div>');
@@ -872,7 +872,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
       const App = createComponent('app', function(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           template(0, function() {
-          }, 0, 1, undefined, ['dir', '', 'dirSame', ''], ['dir', 'dir', 'dirSame', 'dirSame']);
+          }, 0, 0, undefined, ['dir', '', 'dirSame', ''], ['dir', 'dir', 'dirSame', 'dirSame']);
           text(3);
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
@@ -880,7 +880,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
           const tmp2 = reference(2) as any;
           textBinding(3, interpolation2('', tmp1.value, '-', tmp2.value, ''));
         }
-      }, 4, 1, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
+      }, 4, 2, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
 
       const fixture = new ComponentFixture(App);
       expect(fixture.html).toEqual('TemplateRef-true');
@@ -933,7 +933,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
           const tmp2 = reference(2) as any;
           textBinding(3, interpolation2('', tmp1.value, '-', tmp2.value, ''));
         }
-      }, 4, 1, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
+      }, 4, 2, [Directive, DirectiveSameInstance]);
 
       const fixture = new ComponentFixture(App);
       expect(fixture.html).toEqual('<div dir="" dirsame="">ViewContainerRef-true</div>');
@@ -1217,7 +1217,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
           exist = injectAttribute('exist');
           nonExist = injectAttribute('nonExist');
         }
-      });
+      }, 1);
 
       new ComponentFixture(MyApp);
       expect(exist).toEqual('existValue');
@@ -1376,7 +1376,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
           containerRefreshStart(1);
           {
-            let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(0, 4, 1);
+            let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(0, 4, 2);
             if (rf1 & RenderFlags.Create) {
               elementStart(
                   0, 'span', ['childDir', '', 'child2Dir', ''],
@@ -1408,7 +1408,7 @@ describe('di', () => {
   describe('getOrCreateNodeInjector', () => {
     it('should handle initial undefined state', () => {
       const contentView = createLViewData(
-          null !, createTView(-1, null, 0, 0, null, null, null), null, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
+          null !, createTView(-1, null, 1, 0, null, null, null), null, LViewFlags.CheckAlways);
       const oldView = enterView(contentView, null !);
       try {
         const parent = createLNode(0, TNodeType.Element, null, null, null, null);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/exports_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/exports_spec.ts
index 3b01ef29a2..023d956b83 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/exports_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/exports_spec.ts
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ describe('exports', () => {
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
           elementStart(0, 'input', ['value', 'one'], ['outerInput', '']);
           elementEnd();
-          template(2, outerTemplate, 5, 0, '', [AttributeMarker.SelectOnly, 'ngIf']);
+          template(2, outerTemplate, 5, 2, '', [AttributeMarker.SelectOnly, 'ngIf']);
         }
         if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
           elementProperty(2, 'ngIf', bind(app.outer));
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ describe('exports', () => {
             text(1);
             elementStart(2, 'input', ['value', 'two'], ['innerInput', '']);
             elementEnd();
-            template(4, innerTemplate, 2, 1, '', [AttributeMarker.SelectOnly, 'ngIf']);
+            template(4, innerTemplate, 2, 2, '', [AttributeMarker.SelectOnly, 'ngIf']);
           }
           elementEnd();
         }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/i18n_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/i18n_spec.ts
index 8b29b6025e..4038de3f17 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/i18n_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/i18n_spec.ts
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
         factory: () => new MyApp(),
         selectors: [['my-app']],
         consts: 1,
-        vars: 1,
+        vars: 2,
         // Initial template:
         // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}"></div>
 
@@ -1199,7 +1199,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           selectors: [['parent']],
           directives: [Child],
           factory: () => new Parent(),
-          consts: 4,
+          consts: 7,
           vars: 2,
           template: (rf: RenderFlags, cmp: Parent) => {
             if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
@@ -1512,7 +1512,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 4,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}"></div>
 
@@ -1550,7 +1550,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 3,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}"></div>
 
@@ -1587,7 +1587,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 4,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}{{exp4}}"></div>
 
@@ -1626,7 +1626,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 5,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}{{exp4}}{{exp5}}"></div>
 
@@ -1670,7 +1670,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 6,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}{{exp4}}{{exp5}}{{exp6}}"></div>
 
@@ -1716,7 +1716,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 7,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title
           // title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}{{exp4}}{{exp5}}{{exp6}}{{exp7}}"></div>
@@ -1771,7 +1771,7 @@ describe('Runtime i18n', () => {
           factory: () => new MyApp(),
           selectors: [['my-app']],
           consts: 1,
-          vars: 1,
+          vars: 8,
           // Initial template:
           // <div i18n i18n-title
           // title="{{exp1}}{{exp2}}{{exp3}}{{exp4}}{{exp5}}{{exp6}}{{exp7}}{{exp8}}"></div>
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
index 40daba5a14..f7e485702c 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/instructions_spec.ts
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe('instructions', () => {
 
   describe('bind', () => {
     it('should update bindings when value changes', () => {
-      const t = new TemplateFixture(createAnchor, () => {}, 1);
+      const t = new TemplateFixture(createAnchor, () => {}, 1, 1);
 
       t.update(() => elementProperty(0, 'title', bind('Hello')));
       expect(t.html).toEqual('<a title="Hello"></a>');
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/integration_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/integration_spec.ts
index 41621a2707..7d4e78687d 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/integration_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/integration_spec.ts
@@ -340,6 +340,7 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
             }
           },
           factory: () => cmptInstance = new TodoComponentHostBinding,
+          hostVars: 1,
           hostBindings: function(directiveIndex: number, elementIndex: number): void {
             // host bindings
             elementProperty(
@@ -930,7 +931,7 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
         containerRefreshStart(1);
         {
           for (let subTree of ctx.tree.subTrees || []) {
-            const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 0);
+            const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 3, 0);
             { showTree(rf0, {tree: subTree}); }
             embeddedViewEnd();
           }
@@ -967,14 +968,14 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
           if (rf & RenderFlags.Update) {
             containerRefreshStart(0);
             {
-              const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 0);
+              const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 3, 0);
               { showTree(rf0, {tree: ctx.beforeTree}); }
               embeddedViewEnd();
             }
             containerRefreshEnd();
             containerRefreshStart(2);
             {
-              const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 0);
+              const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 3, 0);
               { showTree(rf0, {tree: ctx.afterTree}); }
               embeddedViewEnd();
             }
@@ -997,7 +998,7 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
         elementProperty(0, 'afterTree', bind(ctx.afterTree));
         containerRefreshStart(1);
         {
-          const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 0);
+          const rf0 = embeddedViewStart(0, 3, 0);
           { showTree(rf0, {tree: ctx.projectedTree}); }
           embeddedViewEnd();
         }
@@ -1109,15 +1110,15 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
           }
         }
         let args = ['(', 0, 'a', 1, 'b', 2, 'c', 3, 'd', 4, 'e', 5, 'f', 6, 'g', 7, ')'];
-        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 10))
+        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 54))
             .toEqual(
                 '<b a="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7)" a0="0" a1="(0)" a2="(0a1)" a3="(0a1b2)" a4="(0a1b2c3)" a5="(0a1b2c3d4)" a6="(0a1b2c3d4e5)" a7="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6)" a8="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7)"></b>');
         args = args.reverse();
-        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 10))
+        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 54))
             .toEqual(
                 '<b a=")7g6f5e4d3c2b1a0(" a0="7" a1=")7(" a2=")7g6(" a3=")7g6f5(" a4=")7g6f5e4(" a5=")7g6f5e4d3(" a6=")7g6f5e4d3c2(" a7=")7g6f5e4d3c2b1(" a8=")7g6f5e4d3c2b1a0("></b>');
         args = args.reverse();
-        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 10))
+        expect(renderToHtml(Template, args, 1, 54))
             .toEqual(
                 '<b a="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7)" a0="0" a1="(0)" a2="(0a1)" a3="(0a1b2)" a4="(0a1b2c3)" a5="(0a1b2c3d4)" a6="(0a1b2c3d4e5)" a7="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6)" a8="(0a1b2c3d4e5f6g7)"></b>');
       });
@@ -1136,14 +1137,16 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
             containerRefreshStart(1);
             {
               if (true) {
-                let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(1, 1, 0);
+                let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(1, 1, 1);
                 {
                   if (rf1 & RenderFlags.Create) {
                     elementStart(0, 'b');
                     {}
                     elementEnd();
                   }
-                  elementAttribute(0, 'title', bind(ctx.title));
+                  if (rf1 & RenderFlags.Update) {
+                    elementAttribute(0, 'title', bind(ctx.title));
+                  }
                 }
                 embeddedViewEnd();
               }
@@ -1182,6 +1185,7 @@ describe('render3 integration test', () => {
             factory: function HostBindingDir_Factory() {
               return hostBindingDir = new HostBindingDir();
             },
+            hostVars: 1,
             hostBindings: function HostBindingDir_HostBindings(dirIndex: number, elIndex: number) {
               elementAttribute(
                   elIndex, 'aria-label', bind(loadDirective<HostBindingDir>(dirIndex).label));
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/lifecycle_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/lifecycle_spec.ts
index 839136e9b1..b011d0bf18 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/lifecycle_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/lifecycle_spec.ts
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ describe('lifecycles', () => {
         elementEnd();
       }
     }, 2);
-    let Parent = createOnInitComponent('parent', getParentTemplate('comp'), 1, [Comp]);
+    let Parent = createOnInitComponent('parent', getParentTemplate('comp'), 1, 1, [Comp]);
     let ProjectedComp = createOnInitComponent('projected', (rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) => {
       if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
         text(0, 'content');
@@ -49,7 +49,8 @@ describe('lifecycles', () => {
     }, 1);
 
     function createOnInitComponent(
-        name: string, template: ComponentTemplate<any>, consts: number, directives: any[] = []) {
+        name: string, template: ComponentTemplate<any>, consts: number, vars: number = 0,
+        directives: any[] = []) {
       return class Component {
         val: string = '';
         ngOnInit() {
@@ -61,7 +62,7 @@ describe('lifecycles', () => {
           type: Component,
           selectors: [[name]],
           consts: consts,
-          vars: 0,
+          vars: vars,
           factory: () => new Component(),
           inputs: {val: 'val'}, template,
           directives: directives
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
index af1ed3db80..360af2a2ef 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/pipe_spec.ts
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ describe('pipe', () => {
           containerRefreshStart(4);
           {
             for (let i of [1, 2]) {
-              let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(1, 2, 0);
+              let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(1, 2, 3);
               {
                 if (rf1 & RenderFlags.Create) {
                   elementStart(0, 'div');
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/pure_function_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/pure_function_spec.ts
index b4897bdba8..f01c0f3548 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/pure_function_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/pure_function_spec.ts
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ describe('object literals', () => {
         containerRefreshStart(0);
         {
           for (let i = 0; i < 2; i++) {
-            let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 0);
+            let rf1 = embeddedViewStart(0, 1, 4);
             if (rf1 & RenderFlags.Create) {
               elementStart(0, 'object-comp');
               objectComps.push(loadDirective(0));
@@ -531,12 +531,12 @@ describe('object literals', () => {
     const e0_ff = (v1: any, v2: any) => { return {opacity: v1, duration: v2}; };
 
     const configs = [{opacity: 0, duration: 500}, {opacity: 1, duration: 600}];
-    renderToHtml(Template, {configs}, 1, 4, defs);
+    renderToHtml(Template, {configs}, 1, 0, defs);
     expect(objectComps[0].config).toEqual({opacity: 0, duration: 500});
     expect(objectComps[1].config).toEqual({opacity: 1, duration: 600});
 
     configs[0].duration = 1000;
-    renderToHtml(Template, {configs}, 1, 4, defs);
+    renderToHtml(Template, {configs}, 1, 0, defs);
     expect(objectComps[0].config).toEqual({opacity: 0, duration: 1000});
     expect(objectComps[1].config).toEqual({opacity: 1, duration: 600});
   });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/query_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/query_spec.ts
index 0bbb52be60..defe635c9b 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/query_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/query_spec.ts
@@ -1148,7 +1148,7 @@ describe('query', () => {
                  }
 
                },
-               7, 0, [ViewContainerManipulatorDirective], [],
+               9, 0, [ViewContainerManipulatorDirective], [],
                function(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
                  if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
                    query(0, ['foo'], true, QUERY_READ_FROM_NODE);
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
index c0c720c207..3351140da8 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/render_util.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export class TemplateFixture extends BaseFixture {
    */
   update(updateBlock?: () => void): void {
     renderTemplate(
-        this.hostNode.native, updateBlock || this.updateBlock, 0, null !, this.vars,
+        this.hostNode.native, updateBlock || this.updateBlock, 0, this.vars, null !,
         this._rendererFactory, this.hostNode, this._directiveDefs, this._pipeDefs, this._sanitizer);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/styling_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/styling_spec.ts
index 46415d86ba..e84893aedd 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/styling_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/styling_spec.ts
@@ -166,12 +166,12 @@ describe('styling', () => {
              }
            }
 
-           expect(renderToHtml(Template, {
-             myStyles: {width: '200px', height: '200px'},
-             myWidth: '300px'
-           })).toEqual('<span style="width: 300px; height: 200px; opacity: 0.5;"></span>');
+           expect(renderToHtml(
+                      Template, {myStyles: {width: '200px', height: '200px'}, myWidth: '300px'}, 1))
+               .toEqual('<span style="width: 300px; height: 200px; opacity: 0.5;"></span>');
 
-           expect(renderToHtml(Template, {myStyles: {width: '200px', height: null}, myWidth: null}))
+           expect(
+               renderToHtml(Template, {myStyles: {width: '200px', height: null}, myWidth: null}, 1))
                .toEqual('<span style="width: 200px; height: 100px; opacity: 0.5;"></span>');
          });
     });
diff --git a/packages/core/test/render3/view_container_ref_spec.ts b/packages/core/test/render3/view_container_ref_spec.ts
index be18553e9d..617b10e1b7 100644
--- a/packages/core/test/render3/view_container_ref_spec.ts
+++ b/packages/core/test/render3/view_container_ref_spec.ts
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ describe('ViewContainerRef', () => {
         }
 
         const fixture = new TemplateFixture(
-            createTemplate, updateTemplate, 3, 1, [HeaderComponent, DirectiveWithVCRef]);
+            createTemplate, updateTemplate, 4, 1, [HeaderComponent, DirectiveWithVCRef]);
         expect(fixture.html).toEqual('<header-cmp vcref=""></header-cmp><footer></footer>');
 
         createView('A');
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ describe('ViewContainerRef', () => {
 
         function rowTemplate(rf: RenderFlags, ctx: any) {
           if (rf & RenderFlags.Create) {
-            template(0, cellTemplate, 2, 1, null, null, ['cellTemplate', ''], templateRefExtractor);
+            template(0, cellTemplate, 2, 3, null, null, ['cellTemplate', ''], templateRefExtractor);
             element(2, 'loop-comp');
           }