*League of Legends* has just launched an exciting new minigame in its client, available through the end of April. If you're familiar with *Balatro*, you'll find the gameplay mechanics of the Demon’s Hand card game quite intuitive.
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. You'll be introduced to the game's narrative before jumping into your first round.
Screenshot by The Escapist
Your hand is displayed along the bottom row of cards. In the bottom right corner, you'll see your health, coins, and percent crit chance. Above that sits your Sigil box, which can hold up to six active Sigils, though you start with none. Remember, your health doesn't auto-restore after battles; instead, seek out tent locations on the map to replenish a percentage of your health.
The enemy card appears at the top, with its health shown in the bottom right and damage in the bottom left. An attack coin to the left of the enemy card indicates how many hands you can play before the enemy strikes. On the left edge of the screen, a book lists all playable hands and their base damage in a standard round.
How To Play Demon’s Hand in League of Legends
Screenshot by The Escapist
To inflict damage, you'll need to play poker hands, each with unique names in Demon’s Hand but following familiar poker rules. The ultimate hand, The Demon’s Hand, is equivalent to a royal flush. Here's a breakdown of the hands you can play, along with their poker equivalents 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 value of each card contributes to the total damage. If the enemy has a special ability that nullifies a specific suit, those cards will be marked and their value won't be added to the base damage, although you can still play them.
Spice Up Your Attacks with Sigils
Sigils add another layer of strategy to your gameplay. These are acquired during store phases, indicated by coins on the map, which you earn by defeating enemies. Each Sigil has 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 extra turns before enemy attacks or reduce incoming damage.
That's a comprehensive guide on how to play the Demon’s Hand card game in *League of Legends*. If this minigame isn't your cup of tea, keep an eye out for the upcoming April Fools skins to enhance your experience in Summoner’s Rift.
*League of Legends is available now on PC.*
