Tempo vs Value in Legends of Runeterra, and Spell Mana

Most games of Legends of Runeterra come down to two ideas. Tempo means using your mana efficiently to control the board right now, putting your opponent on the back foot. Value means getting more out of your cards than your opponent gets out of theirs, so you win the long game. Knowing which one your deck plays for, and which one each round asks for, is what separates good players from beginners. Spell mana, a mechanic that is special to LoR, ties the two together.

What tempo means

Tempo is about using each round's mana well and acting before your opponent:

• Spending your mana every round on cards that affect the board.
• Playing units that pressure your opponent so they must react to you.
• Trading efficiently: using a low-cost card to deal with an expensive one.

A player ahead on tempo decides how the game goes. The opponent spends their turns answering instead of building their own plan.

What value means

Value is about getting more from each card:

• Card advantage: one of your cards deals with two of theirs, or a card draws you more cards.
• Units that keep giving, such as champions who level up and dominate the late game.
• Patience: accepting a weaker board early in exchange for a stronger position later.

A value deck often loses the early rounds on purpose, then overwhelms the opponent once they run out of cards.

How spell mana fits in

Spell mana stores a little of your unused mana for spells in later rounds. That gives you a choice each round:

• Spend all your mana on units now (tempo), or
• Hold some mana to have spell mana next round, so you can play a unit and still cast a spell (flexibility).

Holding mana is not always wasted. If you know your opponent will attack next round, keeping spell mana for a combat spell can win that fight. But holding mana every round while your opponent builds a board loses tempo.

Which one to play for

Ask these questions each round:

1. Is my deck built for speed or for the long game? Aggressive decks lean on tempo; control decks lean on value.
2. Who is ahead on the board? If you are ahead, keep pressing. If you are behind, look for a move that swings value back.
3. How many cards does each player have? If your opponent is running out, a value plan gets stronger. If you are running out, you may need to end the game fast.
4. Does my opponent have mana open? Open mana means a possible spell; playing into it can cost you tempo and value at once.

Common mistakes

• Holding mana every round "for a spell" while the opponent builds a board.
• Trading a strong card for a weak one just to clear the board.
• Playing a slow value card when you are about to lose to pressure.
• Ignoring card counts in the late game.

Practising both

Play a few games with an aggressive deck and a few with a control deck. You will feel the difference: the aggressive deck teaches you tempo and mana use, the control deck teaches patience and card advantage. Most good decks mix both, and knowing each side helps you decide in every round.

For the basics, read our Legends of Runeterra beginner guide, and for your opening hand, the mulligan guide.

Frequent questions

What is tempo in Legends of Runeterra?

Using your mana efficiently to control the board now and force your opponent to react.

What is card advantage?

Having more useful cards than your opponent, for example when one of your cards deals with two of theirs.

Should I always spend all my mana?

Not always. Holding some for spell mana can win a key fight, but holding every round loses tempo.

Is tempo or value better?

Neither always. It depends on your deck, the board and how many cards each player has.

Riot Cash codes on Mas4Games

Good decisions are free. For cosmetics, Mas4Games sells Riot Cash codes for Legends of Runeterra in lira for Riot accounts of the Türkiye region, redeemed in the game's own store. The code is shown on your order's page and sent by e-mail, and the help center has live support.