Contrary to some unpopular opinions, there can never be too many card games in this day and age. When Riot Games announced Legends of Runeterra, the fans were ecstatic. There was Magic: The Gathering, then came Hearthstone, followed by Gwent: The Witcher Card Game, and many other smaller card games that kept popping up.
Legends of Runeterra struck the perfect middle ground, being a free-to-play game that had no hidden pay-to-win mechanics. Many claim to be fully free-to-play, but very often you’ll find yourself hitting an invisible wall and reaching for your wallet in frustration. Riot Games have stayed true to their word and Legend of Runeterra offers a completely free experience, which means that everyone can unleash their creative energies and come up with some unique and powerful Runeterra decks.
This time we’re focusing on exactly this – Legends of Runeterra decks. There’s many Runeterra decks out there, and it’s nearly impossible to cover all of them. We’ll list the main four deck types that have gained popularity, and point out some Runeterra decks tailored more towards newer and less-experienced Legends of Runeterra players.
1. Aggro Deck
You like to play aggressively in your card games and finish your opponent before they can even react? This is the deck for you!
What makes a Runeterra deck an Aggro deck? Well, the most important thing that makes an Aggro deck viable and effective is it’s speed. To achieve this, Aggro decks utilize low cost units and spells that can be played quickly one after the other, effectively overwhelming the opponent and preventing them from executing their strategy.
This makes Aggro decks perfectly suited for newer players as they can just follow this simple rule of adding low cost cards into their deck and they’ll be fairly successful. However, this can be a double-edged sword in some cases. If you don’t have cards with low cost, and sometimes have to substitute them with higher cost cards, you risk your strategy falling apart. The other three Runeterra deck types will survive your initial rush and recover, in which case they’ll gain more power as the game progresses, and will eventually win.
All in all, this is a very simple way of building your deck, and as such, it’s quite good for new players who don’t have the knowledge required to create more advanced decks and strategies.
2. Midrange Decks
You’ve heard about the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none”. Well, this is what a Midrange deck is. To put it simply, Midrange decks gamble on versatility. You have the flexibility to adapt to all situations, but you’re not as fast as Aggro decks nor do you have the stamina of a Control deck to drag out the game.
So why would you pick a Midrange deck? First of all, having the flexibility to do anything and not having any clear restrictions is liberating in a strange way. When you play an Aggro deck, you know you must play a certain type of card at all times or else your strategy falls flat. Midrange decks don’t have to worry about that. Being flexible means that you can change the cards in your Runeterra deck whenever you want.
You can create your own unique Midrange deck that nobody else has. On top of that, this versatility also means that your opponents will have a harder time predicting what you’ll play. Yes, they might know that you’re a Midrange deck and will be expecting you to shine during mid game, but what type of card you’ll be pulling will still be shrouded in mystery.
All of this also means that this deck will be slightly more difficult to play, as your decision making and the type of card you play will decide whether you’re ahead of the game or if you’re slowly drifting towards an inevitable loss. This, however, shouldn’t be viewed as a con but should instead be looked at as an opportunity to constantly improve and gain new knowledge. Every mistake you make is another step towards success, so for all of you who wish to try a Midrange deck – do not be discouraged. Take it slow and learn as you go, and in time you’ll be a force to be reckoned with.
3. Combo Decks
Combo decks are probably the most complex decks of Runeterra. A good Combo deck, as the name suggests, relies on combos between different cards and different regions. As such, this type of deck is most suited for veteran players who are already very familiar with the game. Even then, a successful Combo deck player will have to be on their toes at all times and thinking one step ahead.
Unlike Control decks who aim to slow down the pace of the game in order to set up their strategy, Combo decks need to make snap reactions and can’t afford to make mistakes since they risk wasting their combo potential. Although not as slow as a Control deck, Combo decks do aim to stall their games in order to prepare their combo. This also means that games will usually last longer because Combo decks truly shine in the late game.
If you’re the type of player who enjoys building up towards a grand finale, then Combo decks will be right up your alley. It’s extremely satisfying when you pull off a combo, or a chain of combo moves, and end up destroying your opponent. This type of deck also has a lot of customization options, and as you progress through the game and learn more, you’ll start theorycrafting more and more potential combo decks that you’ll be eager to test as soon as possible.
If we take into consideration the fact that Legends of Runeterra will constantly be updated with new cards, then we get a deck that has a potentially unlimited number of combinations in the long run. If you’re willing to master a Combo deck, you’ll most certainly be rewarded for your efforts.
4. Control Decks
There’s something extremely satisfying about control in a card game. Having the power to plan your next moves, while simultaneously messing up your opponent’s plans is quite addictive. It’s a slow and methodical playstyle that rewards those who are patient. As such, Control Decks are some of Runeterra’s best decks.
Like with the Combo deck, Control deck also shines in the late game. Stalling your opponents and outlasting them is the name of the game. Your goal is to outlive your opponent and finish them in the late game. If played correctly, Control decks usually end up with a card advantage by the time late game comes, and they usually have several strong options saved up and ready to be played.
Despite having longer games, Control decks players tend to enjoy their every move throughout the match. Those of you who are patient enough and can survive this war of attrition, will be rewarded in the late game. All in all, this is an excellent deck that both new and veteran players can enjoy.
Conclusion
These four main Runeterra deck types are all diverse and different from one another, so it’s up to you to test and see which one you like the most. Don’t be pressured to lock yourself into a single deck type, but try to experiment with all of them. If you ever find yourself growing bored of that Aggro deck you’ve been playing for a month, consider trying out a Combo or a Control deck. The slower pace might be just what you’ve been looking for.
Legends of Runeterra esports has been slowly on the rise, and we can expect more and more tournaments in the future as the game keeps growing. That also means that there will be more chances to bet on Legends on Runeterra. For now, enjoy the game and experiment with these four deck types. You can even test your creative side and come up with unique decks of your own that might become meta some day, you never know.
