*League of Legends* has launched an exciting new minigame within its client, available until the end of April. If you're familiar with *Balatro*, you'll quickly grasp the mechanics of *League of Legends*' Demon’s Hand card game.
League of Legends Demon’s Hand Set-Up and Getting Started
To dive into Demon’s Hand, ensure your *League* client is updated to the latest version. Once updated, click the Play button, navigate to the game type menu, and select Demon’s Hand. This will kick off the story introduction and lead you directly into your first round of the card game.
Screenshot by The Escapist
Your hand is displayed as the bottom row of cards on the screen. In the bottom right corner, you'll find your health, coins, and percent crit chance. Above that is your Sigil box, which can hold up to six active Sigils, though you start with none. Note that your health doesn't regenerate after each battle; instead, visit the tent locations on the map to restore a percentage of your health.
The enemy card sits at the top of the screen, with its health and damage displayed in the bottom right and left corners, respectively. To the left of the enemy card is an attack coin, indicating how many hands you can play before the enemy strikes. On the left edge of the screen, there's a book listing all possible attack hands and their base damage for a standard round.
How To Play Demon’s Hand in League of Legends
Screenshot by The Escapist
To inflict damage, you'll play poker hands, each with a unique name in Demon’s Hand but following traditional poker rules. The pinnacle hand is The Demon’s Hand, equivalent to a royal flush. Here’s a breakdown of the hands and their corresponding poker terminology:
- Solo = High Card (10 Base Damage)
- Dyad = Pair (20 Base Damage)
- Dyad Set = Two Pair (40 Base Damage)
- Triad = Three of a Kind (80 Base Damage)
- Tetrad = Four of a Kind (100 Base Damage)
- March = Straight (125 Base Damage)
- Horde = Flush (175 Base Damage)
- Grand Warhost = Full House (400 Base Damage)
- Marching Horde = Straight Flush (600 Base Damage)
- The Demon’s Hand = Royal Flush (2000 Base Damage)
The damage dealt includes the base damage plus the numeric value of the cards. If the enemy has an ability that negates a specific suit, those cards will be marked, and their numeric value won't contribute to the base damage, though you can still play them.
Spice Up Your Attacks with Sigils
Sigils add another layer to your strategy. You can purchase them during store phases, indicated by coins on the map. Earn coins by defeating enemies, and use them to buy Sigils, each offering unique abilities. Hover over a Sigil in the store or during a round to see its effect. Some Sigils enhance specific hands, like boosting the damage of Dyads, while others can extend the time between enemy attacks or reduce the damage you receive.
This guide should give you a solid foundation for playing the Demon’s Hand card game in *League of Legends*. If card games aren't your thing, look forward to the April Fools skins coming to Summoner’s Rift.
*League of Legends is available now on PC.*
