Legends of Runeterra is the new card game from the League of Legends developer Riot Games. It has many parallels to Hearthstone, the card game from Blizzard, but also notable differences. We have gathered the biggest of them for you.
What is Legends of Runeterra? Legends of Runeterra is a card game that was announced for the 10th anniversary of League of Legends.
The rules of the card game are relatively simple and less complex than in Magic. The duration of a round is also shorter, which is why LoR is more in direct competition with Hearthstone. The new game from Riot Games has already been very well received on Twitch.
We have specifically looked at these two card games and selected the 5 biggest gameplay differences and what Legends of Runeterra does differently.
1. Differences in Gameplay
Where do LoR and Hearthstone differ the most? While in Hearthstone players have individual rounds for themselves and can perform an unlimited number of actions, both players in Legends of Runeterra perform actions in one round.
Although actions are still alternate, they occur after every major action. If a player plays a card, their opponent is up for an action before they can attack with that card.
This adds more dynamics to the game because each action can be immediately reacted to. This also applies to attacks.
What are the differences in attacks? Each round, one player is the attacker and the other is the defender. The defender can decide with which champion to block attacks or whether to let the attacks go directly to the health points.
A big difference because in Hearthstone, the attacker controls what happens on the field and which cards are attacked. Additionally, spells can be used to prevent attacks or defenses.
2. Differences in Spells
What are the differences in spells? While in Hearthstone only traps can react to the actions of opponents, there are different types of spells in Legends of Runeterra that have varying speed effects on the game:
- Burst – The spells activate immediately, and the opponent cannot react.
- Fast – The spells also activate during combat, but the opponent has a phase to react.
- Slow – The spells can only be activated outside of combat, and the opponent can react.
This difference also increases the dynamics and allows for more strategic depth.
3. Mana and Spell Mana
How does mana work in card games? In Hearthstone and Legends of Runeterra, you start with 1 mana and gain one mana crystal each round.
In LoR, however, there can be up to 3 spell mana. You gain this if you have leftover mana at the end of the turn. If you have 3 mana but only spend 1 mana, you passively accumulate 2 spell mana. This can only be spent on spells.
Skilled players can manage their mana better and also use more than 10 mana in one turn.
4. Deck Building
How do the decks of card games differ? In Legends of Runeterra, you can use 40 cards for your deck, while in Hearthstone, only 30. But there are also differences beyond just the numbers:
- In Legends of Runeterra, you can have a maximum of 6 champions in a deck. In Hearthstone, theoretically, 30 individual legendaries are possible.
- In LoR, each card can be in your deck three times. In Hearthstone only twice, with legendary cards allowed only once.
- In Hearthstone, you can use one class and also rely on neutral cards. In LoR, you must choose two factions from which to assemble your champions and cards.
Additionally, in Legends of Runeterra, you cannot buy card packs for real money. This eliminates a significant criticism that Hearthstone often faces.
5. Leveling Champions in the Game
What makes champions special? In Hearthstone, there are many well-known characters like the Lich King or Ragnaros in the game. They often have cool effects but otherwise function like other cards.
In Legends of Runeterra, champions have a unique feature. They can level up during a match and unlock additional abilities. However, certain prerequisites must be met, as shown in the example of Draven:
- Draven generates a Spinning Axe (a spell) when played and when attacking.
- To level up, Draven must have attacked twice while carrying a Spinning Axe.
- Draven at a higher level receives additional stats (+1/+1), creates 2 Spinning Axes per attack, and gains the effect “Overwhelm,” which means that damage remaining after killing a champion is dealt to the nexus.
Additionally, there are often cards that support the champion’s playstyle. The card “Draven’s Biggest Fan” ensures that Draven is placed on top of the deck.
However, not all players are satisfied with the new LoL card game. The card game pro Andrey “Reynad” Yanyuk calls it “a worse version of Gwent”:
