Legends of Runeterra Best Decks – Meta Report

The Best Meta Decks for Legends of Runeterra (Dreamlit Paths)

Hey everyone!

Welcome back to our Meta Decks Report for Legends of Runeterra.

As always, these LoR meta decks will be provided by our expert, Shugo

Best Runeterra Decks

• S-tier: Elder Morgana Shyvana (Demacia + Runeterran)
• S-tier: Elder Norra Vex (Bandle City + Runeterran)
• S-tier: Elder Braum Gnar (Freljord + Runeterran)
• A-tier: Hecarim Ephemerals (Ionia + Shadow Isles)
• A-tier: Poros (Piltover/Zaun + Runeterran)
• A-tier: Jinx Lulu (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)
• A-tier: Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)
• B-tier: Gnar Nidalee (Bandle City + Shurima)
• B-tier: Jack Sett (Bilgewater + Ionia)
• B-tier: Morgana Norra (Bandle City + Demacia)

LoR Meta Decks

Whether you like to play aggro, midrange, control, or combo, we’ve got meta deck archetype for you. Enjoy!

S-tier LoR Decks

Elder Morgana Shyvana (Demacia + Runeterran)

Deck code: CUEACAIADIAQMABQAEDQABIBBAEQGAIIAMBQCCAHBYBAGAACBABAQAANDEBACCAAAYBQGAADAYFQEAIIAANACCAMBY

General info

Elder Morgana Shyvana is a Demacia Dragon tribal deck. It takes advantage of Dragon Boons to bolster its units and fight spells to combat the board.
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👌 Strong Against: Morgana Norra, Annie Jhin, Jinx Lulu, Jack Sett, Gnar Nidalee, Poros
👎 Weak Against: Elder Braum Gnar, Hecarim Ephemerals

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for an early curve of units. You can keep one piece of interaction alongside a good curve.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Challenger is one of our key forms of removal. If you know your opponent wants to develop their backline champion that turn, perhaps consider holding off attacks in order to force their hand. Either they miss playing it, or risk playing it into your Challenger.
• Don’t forget to factor in Fury when calculating damage. You may be able to cast a strike spell mid-combat, gain +1/+1 from Fury, and push a surprise lethal.
• Save strike spells for the biggest threats whenever possible. We have a limited amount of answers and almost no card draw to dig into more.

Elder Norra Vex (Bandle City + Runeterran)

Deck code: CUBQCAIBD4BAQCQGCQBQMCQPCEKQOAIFAIKACBYKBEAQQAYDAEEAKKABBECQ4AQFBIAROAQJBIARIBABAQBQOAIFBIYQCCAADEAQQDAO

General info

Elder Norra Vex combines Bandle City’s cheap spells with the Elder Dragon Origin to create a flexible and potent machine. The Origin allows for a very flexible top-end, so feel free to adjust to your own preferences.
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👌 Strong Against: Morgana Norra, Jack Sett, Hecarim Ephemerals
👎 Weak Against: Elder Braum Gnar, Poros

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for Norra, Junk Construct, Conchologist, and any cheap spells to help maintain the early game. Keep Portalpalooza against slower matchups.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Look to accrue incremental advantages via portals and cheap removal.
• Use Early Bird to scout the opponent’s hand and gain important information.
• Capitalize on the 6+ drops to swing tempo with an ED-buffed threat.

Elder Braum Gnar (Freljord + Runeterran)

Deck code: CUDACBIKUEAQCBQBFAAQOAIQAEEAAGIBBAARQAQBAELB6BYBAYAAMAIGAESACBYCF4AQQAAGAEEACEYBBEAQUAQBAEESUAYBBABQGAIIBQHACCAHBY

General info

Elder Braum Gnar is the modern Warden deck that adds in ED Origin for extra versatility.
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👌 Strong Against: Morgana Norra, Jack Sett, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Norra Vex, Gnar Nidalee
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Lulu, Annie Jhin

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Prioritize Omen Hawk, Yadulski Snowdog, and Ancient Yeti for a nice early start.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Trade efficiently as you aim to stat check your opponent on board.
• Removal is very limited, so use it sparingly.
• On later turns, try to keep as many units alive as possible to enable Warden.

A-tier LoR Decks

Hecarim Ephemerals (Ionia + Shadow Isles)

Deck code: CEDACAICFIAQIAQOAEDAKJQBBECQ2AQGAIBQSBABAUDRKFZKAMAQGBIEAIAQKCQMAIDAKAZJAA

General info

Hecarim Ephemerals is an aggressive deck that threatens a TON of damage with its ephemeral fiends. The Iron Conquest brings this age-old archetype to a whole new level.
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👌 Strong Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana, Jack Sett
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Lulu, Morgana Norra, Annie Jhin, Elder Norra Vex

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for Shark Chariot, Redeemed Prodigy, and Soul Shepherd. Mulligan 1-drops to save them for mid-game combo turns.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Shadow Apprentice + The Iron Conquest can be set up to push lethal through clogged board states.
• The Stagehand should almost always be used offensively to push maximum damage, unless defending is absolutely necessary.
• Don’t be afraid to take a bit of damage. Dragon Ambush can help swing back the life disparity.

Poros (Piltover/Zaun + Runeterran)

Deck code: CUEACAIECQAQEAIDAEBQIEYBAYFCWAIGAQXACBYMB4BACAIICABAQBAIDEBACAIEDMAQKBAZAYAQCAZCAEAQINABAQCAOAIGAEKQCCAEAIAQSAIK

General info

Poros is an aggressive midrange deck that looks to build up an unstoppable board of adorable fuzzballs. When well-fed, these little fellas become monstrous!
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👌 Strong Against: Morgana Norra, Elder Norra Vex, Jinx Lulu
👎 Weak Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Hard mulligan for Poro Snax. Maryam and The Poro King can be kept alongside at least one Snax.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Don’t develop any 1-drop Poros until you can hold up mana for Poro Snax. The only exception is when needing to trade or block against hyper aggressive decks.
• Be mindful of hand size. Poro Stories, Aurora Porealis, and Formula can refill and clog a hand quickly!
• Don’t play The Poro King if you can’t flip him.

Jinx Lulu (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)

Deck code: CQDACAYCAIAQIBAQAEDQIBIBBEFAWAYBAQGCQNAEAUFESVC3SEAQEAIFBKEACAQBAQOCMAIBAECAC

General info

Jinx Lulu is a Bandle + PnZ discard aggro deck that looks to swarm the board and end the game with burn. This deck will punish opponents who don’t respect its units and late game burn potential!
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👌 Strong Against: Annie Jhin, Hecarim Ephemerals, Elder Braum Gnar, Gnar Nidalee
👎 Weak Against: Morgana Norra, Poros, Elder Morgana Shyvana

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for 1-drops to start pressuring early. Always keep Flame Chompers alongside Squeaker.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Flame Chompers is an excellent way to push damage with a wide board. Time your attacks appropriately to make the best use of it.
• Lulu + Chompers will dominate an early board for a huge tempo swing.
• Know when you’re no longer able to push damage in combat. Then buy yourself enough time by blocking in order to draw into burn lethal.

Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)

Deck code: CUEQCAQGHQAQIAYKAEDAEAYBAYGAEAIHAMHACCIKAQBACAZIFMBAEAYDAQBAMAYMB4BACBQDBEAQOAZAAA

General info

Annie Jhin is an aggressive burn deck that pressures the opponent with a ton of direct damage. Flood the board wide early and stun any blockers that get in your way, then sling spells for lethal!
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👌 Strong Against: Hecarim Ephemerals, Morgana Norra, Elder Braum Gnar
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Lulu, Elder Morgana Shyvana

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for multiple 1-drops to threaten a wide aggressive start, or Jhin to help proc additional free damage.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Taking damage is okay, as you usually want to keep your stun cards for attack turns.
• Be okay with sacrificing Annie to push burn damage especially if you have another one in hand.
• Playing Jhin before attacking can help combo multiple stuns and push through lethal damage.

B-tier LoR Decks

Gnar Nidalee (Bandle City + Shurima)

Deck code: CQCACBQKFIAQSCQNAICQVIIBUIAQIBYHAUGSOKADAECAO3IBAUFDCBAHA4CASKZMAQAQIBZ3AECQU7YBA4FASAIHA4BQ

General info

Gnar Nidalee is a tricky midrange deck that uses ambush and transform shenanigans to mess with the opponent.
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👌 Strong Against: Morgana Norra
👎 Weak Against: Jack Sett, Elder Braum Gnar, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Jinx Lulu

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for an early ambush plus a transform-support 3-drop.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• The Wingsgiving doubles down on value thanks to transform synergies. Use this to create huge surprise tempo swings.
• Utilize Gnar’s and All-Terrain Trooper’s vulnerable effects when possible. Save Quicksand for critical moments.
• Towering Pairofant + Curious Changelings can set up surprise open-attack lethals.

Jack Sett (Bilgewater + Ionia)

Deck code: CQCACBQCBMAQQCQGAMDQECYRCQCAOBQCAQUSWBIBAUFGUAIGAIPACCIGCYAQSARTAIDQMERIAEAQOAQX

General info

Jack Sett is a deck that starts off slow in order to invest for the late game. Save up your Coins for a splashy pay-off!
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👌 Strong Against: Gnar Nidalee
👎 Weak Against: Elder Braum Gnar, Hecarim Ephemerals, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Norra Vex

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for attune units, Tidal Invocation, and Jack to help survive the early game. Keep Barknuckles alongside a 2-drop.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Buy time and play reactively on the early turns. It’s okay to take a bit of damage, as Jun can help lifesteal later.
• Pass proactively in order to let your opponent either develop into Sett, or make less ideal plays.
• Don’t be too greedy with your Coins. It’s easy to get out-tempo’d, so allow yourself to buy back into the game.

Morgana Norra (Bandle City + Demacia)

Deck code: CQEQCBQKB4AQMABQAEDQUCIBA4AAQAIIAAFACCAJAMBACAAEDIBASCQDBUBQKCRRMB7QAAIBBEACQ

General info

Morgana Norra is a midrange deck built around The Wingsgiving and Altar to Unity. Once enabled, it turns otherwise “bad cards” into extremely cost-efficient threats!
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👌 Strong Against: Jinx Lulu, Hecarim Ephemerals
👎 Weak Against: Poros, Elder Braum Gnar, Elder Norra Vex, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Gnar Nidalee, Annie Jhin

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Hard mulligan for The Wingsgiving and/or Altar to Unity.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Highly prioritize getting The Wingsgiving and/or Altar to Unity online. Without these cards, the deck hits like a wet noodle.
• When without an enabler, try to stall with normally efficient units such as Conchologist, Norra, and Blocking Badgerbear.
• Don’t play Silverwing, Tenor, or Rissu without a combo piece.

Conclusion

So there you have it! We’ll be updating the decks regularly so check back here. See you next time.

Thanks for reading! To explore all the cards in LoR, check out our Card Gallery or jump straight into our Deck Builder if you already got some ideas from our article. Show us your best decks in the comments below.