The Best Meta Decks for Legends of Runeterra (Heart of the Huntress)

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

As always, these deck recommendations will be provided by our experts, Kuvira, Shugo, and Scarzig!

Note that our experts update the tier list often so there may be some lag time between this blog version and the one on our site.

When in doubt, use the LoR Meta Tier List feature for the most up-to-date tier list.

Best Runeterra Decks

• S-tier: Fizz Samira (Bilgewater + Noxus)
• S-tier: Heimer Jayce (Piltover/Zaun + Shadow Isles)
• S-tier: Nasus Veigar (Shadow Isles + Shurima)
• A-tier: Illaoi Swain (Bilgewater + Noxus)
• A-tier: Aatrox Quinn Vayne (Demacia + Runeterran)
• A-tier: Puffcaps (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)
• A-tier: Sump Elusives (Piltover/Zaun + Targon)
• A-tier: Lurk (Bilgewater + Shurima)
• A-tier: Jax Ornn (Freljord + Runeterran)
• A-tier: Jinx Samira (Noxus + Piltover/Zaun)
• B-tier: Gnar Jhin (Bandle City + Runeterran)
• B-tier: Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)
• B-tier: Ekko Jinx (Piltover/Zaun + Shurima)
• B-tier: Karma Sett (Ionia + Piltover/Zaun)

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

Fizz Samira (Bilgewater + Noxus)

Deck code: CEDAGAQGBYKC4BAHAMBQOCIOAIDQMGQ3AEDAMKIBAUDAWAIDAYIQCAIHAYMQEAIHAMEACAQGCI

[See Fizz Samira deck details]

General info

Fizz Samira returns to its roots post Powder Pandemonium nerf, and bringing back its Burblefish + Shelly core. Play cheap and efficient spells early as you build up your spell count, then combo off by playing multiple cards in one turn!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Nasus Veigar, Gnar Jhin, Annie Jhin, Karma Sett, Ekko Jinx, Jax Ornn, Lurk
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Samira, Sump Elusives, Puffcaps

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for cheap units like Samira, Father Fury, and Coral Creatures. Stylish Shot is an excellent Plunder enabler, but Warning Shot is a reliable second option. Always keep Fizz alongside Stylish Shot.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Play cheap spells in order to maintain tempo and buy time to discount Wiggly Burblefish.
• Pirouette is our only reliable answer for halting big attackers or denying challengers. Use it wisely.
• Playing Barbed Chain early (turn 3-4) is perfectly acceptable so long as you have some mana banked to utilize those cards next turn and minimize odds of losing value.

Heimer Jayce (Piltover/Zaun + Shadow Isles)

Deck code: CECQCBAEBYBQKBAWDAOQEAIEGQ4ACBQEFYAQCBIBAYAQIBAPAEDQIDYBAUCBSAIGAUQACBYFAIAQGBALAMAQKBIDAICQIGY7AEAQKDY

[See Heimer Jayce deck details]

General info

Heimer Jayce is a slow control deck that looks to set up a champion, then start gaining incremental value by casting spells. Alternatively, unlike most control decks, it is able to apply pressure with an early Production Surge + Hextech Handler. This gives the deck some unique flexibility in gameplay, and allows a skillful pilot many opportunities that reward good decisions.
‎
👌 Strong Against: Annie Jhin, Sump Elusives, Jinx Samira, Illaoi Swain, Puffcaps, Jax Ornn
👎 Weak Against: Fizz Samira, Lurk

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for Forge Chief, Ferros Financier, and applicable removal. Only Keep Heimer/Jayce if you have at least 2 of the cards mentioned before. Keep cheap removal versus aggressive decks.
There are a lot of variants of this deck. If you are playing a Hextech Handler version, prioritize Handler + Production Surge in the mulligan.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Don’t pass with too much mana. It’s important to play your six mana spells in order to level Jayce before turn seven.
• Have some spell mana available when you play Heimer in order to ensure at least 1-2 turrets if the opponent removes him.
• Shock Blast can be used on the enemy Nexus when you have a leveled Jayce on the board to push six damage and find lethal.

Nasus Veigar (Shadow Isles + Shurima)

Deck code: CEDQEBQHAUZQEBQFCQXACBYFAIAQGBIJAECQUXIBAQDS6AQBAUARIAYBAYCSAAQEA4ETWAIFAUFAEAIEA5WQCBQHHA

[See Nasus Veigar deck details]

General info

Nasus Veigar is a deck that uses Vaults of Helia to progressively gain value each turn, all while simultaneously growing Nasus. Due to the nature of Vaults of Helia, this deck can play very consistently, as you’re almost guaranteed to summon the specific units each time. Nasus into Rekindler is a very powerful play!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Gnar Jhin, Ekko Jinx, Jinx Samira, Jax Ornn, Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Illaoi Swain
👎 Weak Against: Fizz Samira, Sump Elusives

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Hard mulligan for Vaults of Helia. The only other card worth considering is Forsaken Baccai in order to help find Vaults of Helia. If you already have Vaults of Helia, Rockbear Shepherd is an excellent card worth keeping. Applicable removal can also be kept alongside Vaults of Helia.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• You may notice the lack of 4-drops in this deck, and that’s because we want to play Vaults of Helia on four each time. Rockbear Shepherd into Vaults of Helia is a very strong play that quickly makes up for the tempo loss of playing a landmark on four.
• Think before trading your units. It’s important to consider how Vaults of Helia will affect each turn.
• If you have Rekindler on board you can plan certain attacks or blocks with the knowledge of having Dess & Ada next turn. It may not be necessary to trade when you can leave a unit at two health and pick it off for free the following turn.

A-tier LoR Decks

Illaoi Swain (Bilgewater + Noxus)

Deck code: CECAMBQGAYDRYHRCEMAQKBQBAEDQGDQCAIBQCBYCAIBAMERNAEDAGDQDAEBAGAYBAMBQ2AQGAYIBK

[See Illaoi Swain deck details]

General info

Illaoi Swain takes the traditional control package of Swain and adds the midrange power of Illaoi. Watchful Idol goes with Swain just like Bilgewater goes with Noxus. It’s the perfect match.
‎
👌 Strong Against: Puffcaps, Sump Elusives, Jax Ornn, Jinx Samira, Ekko Jinx, Annie Jhin
👎 Weak Against: Gnar Jhin, Nasus Veigar, Lurk

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Prioritize Watchful Idol to quickly progress Swain’s level-up. Heavy Metal and Make it Rain can be kept against relevant aggressive matchups, while The Sea’s Voice and Illaoi are great keeps when you need a proactive game plan.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Avoid trading your tentacle whenever possible. It’s important to keep a healthy Spawn in order to ensure Illaoi is always a threat.
• Watch out for Soul Harvest. Illaoi folds to it, as does Swain pre-flip.
• Swain + The Leviathan can offer inevitability against a lot of decks, but be careful not to overcommit at the wrong time.

Aatrox Quinn Vayne (Demacia + Runeterran)

Deck code: CECAKBQABIIRKHJCAECQADABAYCAQAIGAEJAIAYGAAFRQMABAYDQIAIHAACQCBQMDICACAIADIAQMCIGAEBAABQBAYABE

[See Aatrox Quinn Vayne deck details]

General info

Aatrox Quinn Vayne is a midrange Demacia deck that excels in combat thanks to its powerful equipment. Attack favorably into the enemy board, then end the game with Aatrox or extra attacks.
‎
👌 Strong Against: Annie Jhin, Gnar Jhin, Lurk, Karma Sett, Puffcaps, Sump Elusives
👎 Weak Against: Ekko Jinx, Jinx Samira, Jax Ornn, Nasus Veigar, Lurk

How to play

Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Keep your 1-drops, Petricite Broadwing, and one equipment card. Always keep Vayne, never keep spells, Quinn, or Aatrox since he’s naturally drawn with his origin effect.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Do not over commit to Vayne’s level-up. Early game tempo is much more important.
• Always keep a scout unit alive in order to Rally on defending turns with Vayne’s Tumble.
• Aim to play three weapons to draw Aatrox before turn six for guaranteed consistency.

Puffcaps (Bandle City + Piltover/Zaun)

Deck code: CEDAEBIKUQA5KAIFAECAQGJUGU5ACBYKB4AQIBAHAIDQICINAECQIDQBAECQUBACAEAQIHABAUFEM

[See Puffcaps deck details]

General info

Puffcaps is a combo deck that looks to create a ton of puffcaps in the enemy deck, then stall long enough so that you can detonate them for an explosive victory!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Karma Sett, Jax Ornn, Gnar Jhin, Annie Jhin,
👎 Weak Against: Illaoi Swain, Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Lurk, Jinx Samira, Ekko Jinx, Heimer Jayce

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Hard mulligan for Puffcap Peddler, then keep cheap spells alongside it. You can even keep two Puffcap Peddlers if you find them. While other cards can be useful to have early, this deck can’t win unless it creates enough puffcaps, so ensure you find that Puffcap Peddler!
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Save Puffcap Peddler for a turn where you can at least pop a few spells at once. Ideally, have access to at least two Mushroom Clouds. If the opponent doesn’t threaten the Peddler, just play for tempo and maintain the board. Once at risk, fire off those burst spells to load up their deck with puffcaps!
• Corina is the most important card in the deck once enough puffcaps have been placed. Even on a moderately low puffcap count, Corina + Condense can often push enough direct damage to finish them off.
• Sump Monument allows you to buy enough time and hopefully finish them off with puffcaps. Most importantly, it allows a free window to drop Corina without fear of immediately dying on the backswing. If you foresee yourself drawing multiple cards in the coming turns, avoid playing it early. Once you’ve got the pieces assembled, feel free to drop it down and prepare for some explosions!

Sump Elusives (Piltover/Zaun + Targon)

Deck code: CECQCBQECQBQCBAICQ2AMBQJAYHRAHJLGQAQGCK6AEDQICIBAEDQIDICAECQSCABA4CAK

[See Sump Elusives deck details]

General info

Sump Elusives is an aggressive deck that plays cheap elusive units, buffs them up, then swings in for lethal. The combination of hard to block units and burn spells lets the deck outpace its foes while Sump Monument allows it to cheat death and survive an extra turn or two!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Jax Ornn, Gnar Jhin, Ekko Jinx, Fizz Samira, Lurk
👎 Weak Against: Annie Jhin, Illaoi Swain, , Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Heimer Jayce, Jinx Samira, Karma Sett

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for a 1-drop plus Lodestone to try and get an early lead. Esmus and Celestial Blessing can help keep units alive long enough to grow.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎

• Avoid committing The Darkin Lodestone if you’re prone to possible removal. Its best played when we’re able to quickly follow up with an attack.
• Consider holding onto a couple cheap units instead of flooding the board wide. It’s often better to keep extra 1-drops for Purifying Flames.
• Targonian Tellstones is a valuable flexible tool. Hush can help stop the opponent (or potentially protect your unit), Blessing of Targon can bolster up an elusive, and Behold the Infinite could find you an answer or win condition in desperate times.

Lurk (Bilgewater + Shurima)

Deck code: CECACBQHAUCAIBQBAMCQ6BQEA4JRMQKEJJIACBQGFUAQEBAHHNCQA

[See Lurk deck details]

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: Puffcaps, Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Jax Ornn, Illaoi Swain, Heimer Jayce
👎 Weak Against: Jinx Samira, Fizz Samira, Ekko Jinx, Annie Jhin, Sump Elusives

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 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Cast Bloodbait on the turn you hit a Rek’Sai trigger. Then you can proc it again with Snapjaw on the following round.
• 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.

Jax Ornn (Freljord + Runeterran)

Deck code: CECQGBQBAQFQYAQGAADBCAIGBQEAEBYBBEIACBQGDUCQCBQADABACAIEFIAQIAIKAEDAEHABAYDBWAIBAYARC

[See Jax Ornn deck details]

General info

Jax Ornn is a midrange Freljord deck that looks to play decent-sized units, forge them, then end the game with a huge overwhelm unit. The deck is packed full of combat tricks, making it excel at board-based interaction, but fragile to spells like stuns and recalls.
‎
👌 Strong Against: Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Gnar Jhin, Karma Sett
👎 Weak Against: Sump Elusives, Puffcaps, Nasus Veigar, Jinx Samira, Fizz Samira, Lurk, Illaoi Swain

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for early units to curve out and get a head start on board. Weaponsmith’s Apprentice into Jax is the ideal turns 1-2. All spells are situational and usually not worth keeping early on.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Aim to build a unit up to 8+ power and ensure it strikes before turn seven. We want Ornn to come down flipped and threatening lethal.
• If you have the attack token and think your opponent wants to play an important champion or unit on curve, consider passing or playing something else before attacking. You may be able to punish them with Entrancing Lure.
• Three Sisters into Entomb can remove a blocker to push through lethal damage with overwhelm.

Jinx Samira (Noxus + Piltover/Zaun)

Deck code: CEDACBQDFECACBAMDQUC2AQBAMTSQAIFAMDACBYDA4AQOBAFAIAQKAYEAQAQIAINEY2AA

[See Jinx Samira deck details]

General info

Jinx Samira is the latest iteration of the old classic Discard Aggro. This deck swarms the board by using efficient discard fodder and aims to push damage with free spells like Vision. And if that doesn’t work, Jinx and Augmented Experimenter come down to refuel back into the game!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Lurk, Fizz Samira, Annie Jhin, Sump Elusives, Jax Ornn, Aatrox Quinn Vayne
👎 Weak Against: Nasus Veigar, Gnar Jhin, Heimer Jayce, Illaoi Swain

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Keep discard fodder such as Jury-Rig and Flame Chompers in order to have an efficient target. Zaunite Urchin is the best early discarder.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Crimson Pigeon works great with Flame Chompers as you’re usually going to be sacrificing them anyway during your attack.
• While we ideally want to combine discard units with discard fodder, don’t be afraid to discard something else in order to maintain reasonable pressure, or to dig for better options.
• Don’t forget, discarding to Zaunite/Physician/Dredger is optional. You can simply play the unit and pass in order to avoid discarding if you don’t want to.

B-tier LoR Decks

Gnar Jhin (Bandle City + Runeterran)

Deck code: CEDQEBYKBEHQEBIKGGQQCAYGBIIRKJYBA4DQSAIGBQBACBQDDAAQEBQ4AIBAKCVWAHDACAIEBEGQCAIFBLKQC

[See Gnar Jhin deck details]

General info

Gnar Jhin is a Bandle City control deck that takes advantage of Jhin’s Origin to combine cheap pings and Condense with powerful skills with cards like Riptide Rex and Lord Broadmane.
‎
👌 Strong Against: Illaoi Swain, Jinx Samira, Lurk, Karma Sett, Ekko Jinx
👎 Weak Against: Nasus Veigar, Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Fizz Samira, Puffcaps, Sump Elusives, Jax Ornn

How to play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Look for early value units such as Junk Construct and Conchologist to help sustain the early game. Pie Toss and Drop the Bomb can be kept against matchups with priority 1-2 health targets. Keep Jhin to proc free damage over time with his passive effect.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• A timely Drop the Bomb can help proc Plunder for Riptide Rex on curve. Riptide Rex is also the best Condense target.
• Riptide Rex + Jhin can completely clog the stack, preventing the opponent from being able to respond.
• Be patient with Lord Broadmane. This is our only form of reliable hard removal, and it shouldn’t be wasted. We’re often better off chump blocking and slowly trading off the board in order to save Broadmane for high priority targets like enemy champions.

Annie Jhin (Noxus + Runeterran)

Deck code: CEEQGBQDBQHSSAICAY6ACAIDFABAEAYDAQAQOAYOAECASDIBAYBAGAIFAEDACBQMAIBACBQCB4AQCBANAA

[See Annie Jhin deck details]

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: Sump Elusives, Lurk
👎 Weak Against: Ekko Jinx, Heimer Jayce, Puffcaps, Gnar Jhin, Illaoi Swain, Jinx Samira

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.

Ekko Jinx (Piltover/Zaun + Shurima)

Deck code: CECAKBAHAEOE2T2TAMCAIAIEA4AQMBYFAIAQIKBUAIBAIBZ3NUAQOBAJAEAQKBAZ

[See Ekko Jinx deck details]

General Info

If there’s ever been deck that feels unbeatable whenever it draws perfectly, it’s Ekko Jinx. Both champions are a massive threat once leveled, and with an abundance of Predict cards, it’s pretty hard to miss. As a rule of thumb, if Ekko strikes, your chance of winning the game immediately skyrockets. Voice of the Risen turns its all those weak Dropboarders into actual threats, and if you ever find a Chronobreak it’s game over. To top if all off, if you ever need those final points of damage, Jinx is here to burn down the opponent. High rollers rejoice!
‎
👌 Strong Against: Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Lurk, Annie Jhin
👎 Weak Against: Sump Elusives, Nasus Veigar, Illaoi Swain, Fizz Samira, Gnar Jhin, Jinx Samira

How to Play

🃏 Mulligan 🃏
‎  ‎‎‎ ‎
Plan your mulligan so that you can ideally Predict once each turn from 1-4.
‎ ‎ ‎‎‎
💡 Tips 💡 ‎ ‎ ‎

• Ekko should be able to come down flipped on-curve, so aim to find at least one Predict per turn.
• Try to avoid trading units early when its not necessary. Having a board, even a weak one, can be quickly bolstered by a Voice of the Risen draw. Additionally, having more units makes Chronobreak all the more powerful.
• The difference between Ekko striking or not striking is HUGE. Managing to obtain a free Time Trick drastically increases your likelihood to win, so focus your game plan on making this happen.

Karma Sett (Ionia + Piltover/Zaun)

Deck code: CEDQCBQECIAQCBBUAUDQECYRCMKCWAIDAQFQCBYEBEAQEAQFAEAQEKICAEDQEDIBAEBDCAIDAYCASIRO

[See Karma Sett deck details]

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: Sump Elusives
👎 Weak Against: Aatrox Quinn Vayne, Gnar Jhin, Jax Ornn, Puffcaps, Fizz Samira

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. Pirouette is Sett’s worst nightmare, and will waste your entire turn if you play him on-curve.
• 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.

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. 

The post Legends of Runeterra Best Decks – Meta Report appeared first on Mobalytics.