Project K - Runes: Everything We Know So Far

Today, we'll examine the colors, or Runes, in Project K, the newest physical TCG created by Riot Games.

Just like most TCGs, including Legends of Runeterra, Project K uses a color system to categorize its cards.

These colors will help you identify which cards you can use in each champion deck:

For instance, the image above clearly shows that you can only use red cards and purple cards in Jinx decks, that is, Fury Runes and Chaos Runes.

Each Rune also represents a game style, similar to how colors and color combinations in Magic: The Gathering, and Regions and Region combinations in Legends of Runeterra represent game styles. Let's go through each of them in detail!

Please note: the first Project K set is yet to be revealed and released, so everything written below was based around the starter decks revealed at the TFT Macau event. So far, everything we have is subject to change, and Riot hasn't officially described what each Rune represents. This is just what the Project K community (which plays the game on Tabletop Simulator) understands the Runes are.

Color: Red.

Main traits: Aggression, Conquering, Speed, Power.

Cards that use this type of Rune are explosive and extremely powerful, as well as possibly the fastest of them all. However, all this power comes at a price: to get the most out of these cards, you need to pay a cost. You might have to discard your cards or Recycle your Runes.

Conquer Battlefields before your opponents, and set up powerful Ganks to destroy enemy defenses. No one will be more powerful than you on the first few turns, but be careful, or you'll run out of cards.

Main keywords:

Accelerate: You can pay an additional Rune cost to play a unit on the board and ready it for combat straight away.

Assault: Units with this Keyword are more powerful when they're attacking. Assault 2 means they'll have +2 power, for instance.

Ganking: Units with this Keyword can move from a battlefield to another without going back to base first.

Color: Purple.

Main traits: Versatile, Rulebreaker, Jack-of-All-Trades.

Cards that use this type of Rune are the most versatile cards around, and fit any strategy. Their effects are powerful, but making them work is a bit difficult - you'll need a bit of finesse to truly get the most out of them. If you can control chaos, you'll be rewarded handsomely.

Steal cards and break a few fundamental game rules. Play units and spells that change the course of the match, and don't ignore great opportunities.

Main Keywords:

Deathknell: When a unit with this Keyword dies, it activates a certain effect.

Tank: During combat, units with this Keyword must be targeted before all other cards.

Ganking: Units with this Keyword can move from a battlefield to another without going back to base first.

Color: Orange.

Main traits: Ramp, Giant units, Slow, Combat-focused.

Cards that use this type of Rune are very powerful, and their effects are great in combat. However, they're extremely expensive. You'll need extra Runes to play them.

Get more Runes, Conquer Battlefields with brute strength, and watch as your opponents tremble before your gigantic allies. Force them to fight you, and turn the game to your favor - after all, you will always be more powerful than them at the end of the match.

Main Keywords:

Deflect: Your opponent will have to Recycle a certain number of Runes before they target units with this Keyword with spells and effects.

Tank: During combat, units with this Keyword must be targeted before all other cards.

Shield: Units with this Keyword gain a certain amount of power when they're defenders.

Color: Yellow.

Main traits: Killing units, Killing allies, Gigantic armies.

Cards that use this type of Rune are all about building a formidable army. Use them as you wish, both to Conquer enemies through numbers alone, and to sacrifice your units for the greater good.

Defend your Battlefields like no one else can, and kill enemy units by merely snapping your fingers. You'll have the best soldiers at your disposal - they remain loyal even in death.

Main Keywords:

Deathknell: When a unit with this Keyword dies, it activates a certain effect.

Legion: If you play another card before you play a card with this Keyword, you'll get a bonus effect.

Hidden: You can play cards with this Keyword face down on a Battlefield you Conquered. Later on, you can play this card as an answer for an X number of Runes.

Color: Green.

Main traits: Reactive, Dynamic plays, Extensive combat, Powerful spells.

Cards that use this type of rune are perfect if you're patient and prefer to wait until the right moment to attack. Play with very few allies that, even when they're alone on your Battlefield, are worth an entire army when combined with your spells.

Your units have incredibly powerful effects, but they're a bit too specific. They only Conquer enemy space if you know the right time to use them with your spells. Wait for the right time to play your cards and lead your opponents to your traps. No one will know which weapons you're hiding under the table.

Main Keywords:

Reaction: Cards with this Keyword can only be played as an answer to another spell or ability.

Color: Blue.

So far, only 4 cards that use this type of Rune have been revealed, and that's why we're still not sure how this Rune works. Apparently, this Rune will work with a lot of card draw and removals.

If you read this far, thank you! I hope you had fun, and enjoyed reading this article.

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See you next time!