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Legends of Runeterra Best Decks – Meta Report

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The Best Meta Decks for Legends of Runeterra (Fates’s Voyage Onward)

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 Galio Morgana (Demacia + Runeterran)
  • S-tier: Gwen Zed (Ionia + Shadow Isles)
  • A-tier: Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)
  • A-tier: Jinx Kennen (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)
  • A-tier: Ashe LeBlanc (Freljord + Noxus)
  • B-tier: Elder Mordekaiser Viego (Runeterran + Shadow Isles)
  • B-tier: Karma Sett (Ionia + Piltover/Zaun)
  • B-tier: Elder Norra (Bandle City + Runeterran)
  • B-tier: Lurk (Bilgewater + Shurima)

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)

Elder Morgana Shyvana lor deck

Deck code: CUDACAIADIAQKAAMAEDAAMABBABQGAQDAABAWAQIAAGRSBABA4AAKAQDAABQQAQIAAIRUAQIBEBR4AQBBAAAUAIIBQHA
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. It’s finally time for the Dragons to shine!

👌 Strong Against: Jinx Kennen, Elder Norra, Annie Jhin, Karma Sett
👎 Weak Against: Ashe LeBlanc, Elder Mordekaiser Viego

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 Galio Morgana (Demacia + Runeterran)

Elder Galio Morgana lor deck

Deck code: CUDQCAIADUAQMABQAEDQAEABBAEQGAIIAMBQECAABIKAGBIABQJBIAYBAYACYAIIBECQEBIABEFAEAIFAIKACCAMBY
General info

Elder Galio Morgana is a midrange deck that combines its powerful raw stats with pesky curses to tax its opponents while it takes over the board. Thanks to Elder Dragon’s Origin, it has access to strong removal-like threats plus card draw from Sai’nen; making it a force that can contest almost everything thrown its way!

👌 Strong Against: Ashe LeBlanc, Karma Sett
👎 Weak Against: Lurk, Elder Mordekaiser Viego

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for early Formidable units and Mageseeker Inquisitor. Keep Mageseeker Junior against spell-based decks, and Sai’nen against slower matchups to ensure sustainability in the long game.
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💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Time your taxes. Playing Inquisitor when they can easily pay the curse and contest the board won’t accomplish much. If you can, combine Suppression with Mageseeker Junior, or Magical Fettering for a second copy. This will put your opponent in a tough spot, and make your Shackles feel unbearable. If your opponent ever taps out on their attack token, giving them Suppression guarantees safety for your follow-up open-attack. Punish their mistake!
  • Galio is essentially an “I win” button, so consider your attacks and board position on the turns leading up to him. While this won’t come up often, if you get the Deathless boon, you can set up an attack where if Galio dies mid-combat you’ll resummon him for a board-wide buff and threaten an extra +3 damage with your Formidable units.
  • Gentlemen’s Duel and Shield of Durand are your only forms of fast/burst speed interaction. Prioritize challengers and the dragon-boon units to deal with most threats in order to save fast interaction for more critical scenarios.
Gwen Zed (Ionia + Shadow Isles)

Gwen Zed lor deck

Deck code: CEDACAYFAQAQIAQOAIAQEBQJAIAQKFIWAIDAEAYJAUDAKDAOCATCSAABAEDAEDI
General info

Gwen Zed is an aggressive combo-like deck that creates powerful, difficult-to-block boards of quick attack, elusive, and ephemeral units. With Dragon Ambush, its opponents always have to be ready for a surprise attack during their own turn!

👌 Strong Against: Lurk, Elder Mordekaiser Viego
👎 Weak Against: Elder Norra, Jinx Kennen, Annie Jhin

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for champions, Boisterous Host, Redeemed Prodigy, and Shark Chariot. Greenglade Duo and Shadow Apprentice are best kept for bigger attacks during the mid game. One Mark of the Isles is a solid pickup alongside a good hand. Keep Stalking Shadows against slower matchups.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Try to have at least one ephemeral unit each time you attack in order to maximize Shark Chariots.
  • The Stagehand should almost always be used offensively. It’s rarely worth halting an opponent’s attack. Take the damage and threaten twice as much next turn!
  • Arrange your attacks properly to ensure perfect hallowed buff placement. The ideal target is your elusive units with Mark of the Isles as backup.

A-tier LoR Decks

Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)

Annie Jhin lor deck

Deck code: CUEQCAIDFAAQEBR4AECASDIBAUAQMAIGAIBQCBQMAIAQOAYOAIBAGAYEAMDAGDAPFEBACAIEBUAQMAQPAA
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!

👌 Strong Against: Ashe LeBlanc, Gwen Zed, Elder Mordekaiser Viego, Lurk
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Kennen, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Norra, Karma Sett

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for multiple 1-drops to threaten a wide aggressive start, or Jhin to help proc additional free damage.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 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.
Jinx Kennen (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)

Jinx Kennen lor deck

Deck code: CQCQCBAECAAQMCQ2AEDQIBIEAECAYKBNGQCAKCR2JZKJCAICAECQUWYBA4FASAQBA4CASAQBAQASM
General info

Jinx Kennen 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!

👌 Strong Against: Annie Jhin, Elder Mordekaiser Viego, Lurk, Gwen Zed, Ashe LeBlanc
👎 Weak Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana, Karma Sett

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for 1-drops to start pressuring early. Always keep Flame Chompers alongside Zaunite Urchin or Squeaker.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 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.
  • Electro Harpoon can often remove blockers pre-combat, so consider whether it’s worth using before just launching an open-attack.
  • 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.
Ashe LeBlanc (Freljord + Noxus)

Ashe LeBlanc lor deck

Deck code: CECACBADAQBACAIWEYBACAY7EEBAQAITDADACBQAAYAQMAISAEDQCEABBABQYAQBAECB4AQEAMEA6AQBAQAQUAQBAEASU
General info

Ashe LeBlanc is the classic Freljord Noxus midrange deck. It looks to play big five power units in order to enable Reputation and powerful cards like Trifarian Assessor.

👌 Strong Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana
👎 Weak Against: Annie Jhin, Elder Mordekaiser Viego, Elder Norra, Elder Galio Morgana, Jinx Kennen

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Ashe LeBlanc’s weakest point is its early game. Omen Hawk helps patch up the early turns, so prioritize it early on. Trifarian Gloryseeker can be kept against unit-based decks that lack cheap removal. Brittle Steel and Elixir of Iron are great early pickups, and LeBlanc can be kept alongside Elixir or Sky Splitter.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Keep track of your Reputation count. It’s often worth trading Trifarian Gloryseeker before it inevitably dies to a removal spell, even when its target isn’t the best.
  • Ashe and LeBlanc can be fragile to play early on. Try to have a protection spell ready to keep your valuable champions alive.
  • Bloody Business is the only main removal outside of challenger. Use it wisely!

B-tier LoR Decks

Elder Mordekaiser Viego (Runeterran + Shadow Isles)

Elder Mordekaiser Viego lor deck

Deck code: CUCACAIFGEBAIBIDG4BAMBIUDMBAQBIHFECACCAFFIBACBIBCQBQIBIEGU3AGBQFCMTS4AIBBAGA4
General info

Elder Mordekaiser Viego is a Shadow Isles control deck that combines Mordekaiser and Viego to generate insane late game value. Its late game potential alongside the SI removal suite makes it a huge threat against any board-centric matchups

👌 Strong Against: Ashe LeBlanc, Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Galio Morgana
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Kennen, Gwen Zed, Annie Jhin

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Keep cheap units like Warden’s Prey, Ceaseless Centry, Fading Icon, and Camavoran Soldier. You can also keep 1-2 applicable removal spells.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Against slower matchups, Viego is the ideal target for Legion of the Severed’s Deathless. Against more aggressive matchups, Camavoran Soldier makes a nice target.
  • Hold up mana for Glimpse Beyond or Hate Spike when Mordekaiser is in play. This turns both spells into protection spells for your other units thanks to Mordekaiser’s revive effect.
  • While the deck can occasionally have some aggressive draws, it’s generally best to play reactively and let your opponent commit their mana first.
Karma Sett (Ionia + Piltover/Zaun)

Karma Sett lor deck

Deck code: CQDACAICFEAQCBBUAEBAEBIBAUBAMAIHAQEQIBYCBMIRGFAEAEBQEEYBAMCAWAIGAQEQCCAEBECQCAICGEAQGAQUAEDAEIABAYCBEAIIBIDA
General info

Karma Sett is an Ionia PnZ control deck that aims to survive until turn ten, then win the game with a combo finisher. Coins double up their effect and Place Your Bets turns into four cards plus eight additional mana. The grand finale is glorious, but it’ll take careful planning in order to make it to the end!

👌 Strong Against: Jinx Kennen, Annie Jhin
👎 Weak Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Galio Morgana, Lurk

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Keep cheap removal against aggressive decks, or proactive value units against slower matchups.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Take proactive passes and let the opponent develop into you. There’s really no cards that “must be played” to meet our game plan. Simply survive and win via Karma.
  • Sett is a useful tool to remove threatening units, but be careful not to get completely blown out by stuns or shackles.
  • Try to save your Coin for the Karma turn unless you need it to survive. Similarly, keeping a Place Your Bets for the Karma turn is important to ensure you have the fuel to continue popping off.
Elder Norra (Bandle City + Runeterran)

Elder Norra lor deck

Deck code: CUDACAIEAYAQGBQRAEDAGGABA4FASAQFBIUDCAQGBIHRCBQBAIDBYAIFBLKQCAIGBITQCBYKB4AQQCQGAEEAGAYDAECQEBYBBAGA4AQFBIA4MAI
General info

Elder Norra combines Bandle City’s cheap spells with the Elder Dragon Origin to create a flexible and potent machine. The Origin allows Lord Broadmane, Wiggly Burblefish, and Plaza Guardian to all be included in the same deck! Whether you want to play control or tempo, it’s got a bit of everything; a perfect deck for skill expression!

👌 Strong Against: Gwen Zed, Annie Jhin, Ashe LeBlanc
👎 Weak Against: Elder Morgana Shyvana, Elder Galio Morgana

How to play

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

  • This deck offers a ton of tempo, value, and removal. However, it can lack definitive ways to close the game. Be cautious with your resources!
  • Don’t waste Lord Broadmane if you don’t have to. Broadmane is best played when you can remove at least one important threat, and even better when it can stick around for a while longer. If your opponent passes with a lot of mana available, hold onto Broadmane until the time is right.
  • Burblefish + Plaza Guardian + Portals can set up for a big open-attack and often threaten lethal out of nowhere. It’s very possible to expend most of your mana, drop a handful of 0-cost threats, then open-attack the following round. Surprise!
Lurk (Bilgewater + Shurima)
Lurk lor deck
Deck code: CMCACBQGFUAQMBYFAQCAMAIDAUHQMBAHCMLECRCKKAAQCBAHAEAQEBAHHNCQ
General Info 

Lurk is an aggressive deck that grows more threatening every turn. It’s not just the units in play that get stronger.. It’s the entire deck! Aim to stack as many Lurk triggers as possible, then overwhelm the opponent with a swarm of powerful monsters!

👌 Strong Against: Elder Galio Morgana, Karma Sett
👎 Weak Against: Gwen Zed, Jinx Kennen, Annie Jhin

How to Play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
We’re trying to trigger Lurk as much as possible so prioritize a good early curve. Snapjaw Swarm is an excellent keep in order to proc Lurk on defending turns.

💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

  • Save Call of the Pack to place Pyke or Rek’Sai on top for a guaranteed bonus.
  • We want to avoid playing Rek’Sai unless we can level her that turn, or on a turn we also want to cast Pyke’s Bone Skewer.
  • Predicts are perfect in order to ensure we have a Lurker on top of our deck or to grab key cards when we need them for a matchup.

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. 

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