If you're a fan of *League of Legends*, you're in for a treat with the new Demon's Hand card game minigame, available until the end of April. If you've played *Balatro*, you'll find the gameplay mechanics familiar. Let's dive into how to set up and start playing Demon's Hand in *League of Legends*.
League of Legends Demon’s Hand Set-Up and Getting Started
To begin your adventure with Demon's Hand, ensure your *League of Legends* 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 kickstart the introductory story and lead you into your first round of the card game.
Screenshot by The Escapist
On the game screen, your hand of cards is displayed along the bottom row. In the bottom right corner, you'll find your health, coins, and critical hit percentage. Above this, you'll see your Sigil box, which can hold up to six active Sigils at a time, though you'll start with none. Remember, your health doesn't automatically restore after battles; instead, you'll need to visit tent locations on the map to recover a portion of your health.
Your opponent's card appears at the top of the screen, with its health shown in the bottom right and damage in the bottom left of the card. To the left of the enemy card, you'll see an attack coin indicating how many hands you can play before the enemy strikes back. On the left edge of the screen, there's a book listing all possible hands you can play for attacks, along with their standard base damage.
How To Play Demon’s Hand in League of Legends
Screenshot by The Escapist
To inflict damage on your opponent, you'll need to form poker hands, which are creatively renamed in Demon's Hand but follow the same principles. The pinnacle of hands is The Demon's Hand, akin to a royal flush. Below is a comprehensive list of hands you can play, along with their corresponding poker terms and base damage:
- 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)
In addition to the base damage, the numerical value of each card contributes to the total damage dealt. However, if the enemy has a special ability that nullifies a particular suit, cards of that suit will be crossed out and won't add their value to the base damage, though you can still use them in your hand.
Spice Up Your Attacks with Sigils
Sigils add an extra layer of strategy to the game. You acquire Sigils during store phases, marked by coins on the map, which you earn by defeating enemies. Each Sigil comes with a unique ability, visible when you hover over them in the store or during a round. Some Sigils enhance specific hands, like boosting the damage of Dyads, while others might grant additional turns between enemy attacks or reduce incoming damage.
That's everything you need to know to get started with the Demon's Hand card game in *League of Legends*. If this minigame isn't your cup of tea, be sure to check out the upcoming April Fools skins for a fun twist in Summoner's Rift.
*League of Legends is available now on PC.*
