Legends of Runeterra guide - Everything you need to know - Android

The long-awaited League of Legends card game — Legends of Runeterra — has arrived on Google Play. If you want to test your favorite champions on a new field of battle, there is no better time! Legends of Runeterra combines strategic depth with accessibility in one of the most fun card games released in recent years.

But like any other TCG, there are gameplay mechanics and rules you should know before jumping straight into matchmaking. This is why we have created an in-depth guide suitable for both beginners and card game enthusiasts.

Haven’t downloaded the game yet? Legends of Runеterra is free-to-play. Get it on Google Play by clicking the link below:

How to play Legends of Runeterra

If you’ve played games like Hearthstone and Magic the Gathering, Legends of Runeterra might seem pretty self-explanatory. However, while the Riot card game might share some key mechanics with other TCGs, there are some notable differences as well.

The usual applies: two players face off in a battle to the death, wielding mystical spells and utilizing the might of their allies. In Legends of Runeterra, each player has a Nexus with 20 health. The goal is simple — deplete its health before the enemy destroys yours.

Runeterra units

Like most card games, Legends of Runeterra units are summoned using mana. Each player starts the match with one mana, gaining an additional crystal every turn. The key difference is that there is no “summoning sickness” in Legends of Runeterra. This means units can attack on the turn you play them.

Another interesting deviation from the standard card game playbook is that there are two types of units: champions and followers. The former are your core cards: your deck is built around them. Champions level up when they meet certain conditions, transforming up to two times. For example, Garen levels up after attacking twice, gaining additional power and health, as well as a Rally effect at the start of the round. Once leveled up, all copies of the champion in your deck transform and level up too.

Nevertheless, there are some limitations. Decks can have up to 40 cards, but players can only include six champions in a single deck, with a maximum of three copies per champion. Additionally, you can only summon one copy of a specific champion to the board at the same time. This means that you can’t summon a Miss Fortune while there is another on the field, for example.

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What about followers? They are also limited to three copies per deck, but duplicates can be present on the field at the same time. Followers are weaker than champions in general, but you shouldn’t overlook them. They often have interesting interactions with champions and can turn the tide of battle in your favor if played correctly.

Runeterra spells

Turning the match in your favor is not just in the hands of your champions and followers. You can aid them with spells. Legends of Runeterra currently has four types of spells. Here is what each type does:

• Burst spells resolve instantly, without giving your opponent a chance to respond. They can be played at any phase of the match.
• Fast spells can be activated at any time, but enemy players are given a counter-play opportunity in which they can use their own fast or burst spells.
• Slow spells can only be played when not in combat.
• Fleeting spells need to be used by the end of the turn or they will disappear.

Another important thing to know is that you cannot attack while casting a slow spell or cast a slow spell once your allies are in position to attack. But there is some good news! Any mana you don’t use during a turn will be accumulated, up to three crystals, which can then be spent on spells. Use this to your advantage to surprise opponents when they least expect it.

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Legends of Runeterra regions

Before we jump into combat and how rounds are played, we need to have a look at regions — another unique Legends of Runeterra component. So, what are they exactly? They serve as archetypes or factions from which you can construct your deck. Currently, the game only allows you to mix two regions per deck, unless you’re playing in the draft format.

While that might seem limiting at first, it actually gives the game a lot of strategic depth and balances it nicely. Here are the six Legends of Runeterra regions and what they offer:

• Bilgewater is for those that love risky plays that can pay off big time. It offers an explosive and aggressive playstyle with its five champions Fizz, Gangplank, Miss Fortune, Nautilus and Twisted Fate.
• Demacia is a region of noble warriors. Demacia’s playstyle revolves around creating and maintaining board presence. Its champions complement each other well, allowing for safe and calculated plays. They are Fiora, Garen, Lucian, Lux and Quinn.
• Freljord is an icy region that’s all about control plays and late game devastation. With Anivia, Ashe, Braum, Sejuani and Tryndamere as your champions, you can freeze any enemy in their tracks.
• Ionia is the realm of stealth. This region is all about sneaky tactics and spells, with champions like Karma, Lee Sin, Shen, Yasuo, and Zed.
• Noxus is the glass canon archetype of Runeterra. This region is defined by non-stop aggression, with champions like Darius, Draven, Katarina, Swain, and Vladimir.
• Piltover & Zaun are the relentless spell-casters that flood the board with units. The region’s champions are Ezreal, Heimerdinger, Jinx, Teemo, and VI.
  
• Shadow Isles is a fearsome region with a playstyle that revolves around sacrificing and reviving units. Its champions are Elise, Hecarim, Kalista, Maokai, and Thresh.

Legends of Runeterra rounds and combat

Now that you know how units and spells work, it’s time to put them to use in battle. However, Legends of Runeterra deviates from the standard round and combat formula significantly. Rounds are the most complicated element of the game and it will take some time to get the hang of them.

Every match begins with both players drawing four cards, followed by a Mulligan phase. During that phase, you can swap any number of cards and redraw random replacements. Each player starts with one mana, which is replenished on the next turn. You also gain an additional mana crystal every round and draw another card. So far, nothing out of the ordinary for experienced card game players. But things pick up quickly from there.

In Legends of Runeterra, players are given a chance to react to almost any action their opponent takes. The roles of attacker and defender alternate between opponents every round.

When a turn begins, both can play cards by placing them in the outer boundary of the arena. Whoever is assigned the role of attacker can then choose to drag their allies into the middle of the arena, initiating combat. The defender has to react quickly and move blockers to the field. Placement matters! Unlike games like Hearthstone, players can’t aim their attacks at any card on the arena. Whatever ally is opposite the attacker will be the one taking damage from it.