Riftbound: Deck Tech - Best of Jax (Dalian Regional Open)

Jax is one of the most unpopular Legends in the Eastern competitive meta, and no one can agree on what does a competitive, consistent Jax list looks like nowadays. However, recently, a Jax deck finished 8th at the Dalian Regional Open, and surprised many players with a concise build that is well-prepared for the current meta. Let's see how it works.

Before we begin, however, let me introduce myself. My name is Total, and I used to cast Legends of Runeterra tournaments professionally. I covered all the official tournaments, including Worlds, and I am known for creating deck guides for LoR as well. Now, I am a part of the Riftbound community!

Deck Code:

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The main idea behind this list is to put pressure on the opponent with small combos and synergies that will gradually create value for you until your victory is guaranteed. You'll simply have more resources in play than your opponent.

This deck also goes around Riftbound's Attach rule and can move equipment cards from one unit to another. This means you can activate Brutalizer's effect consistently throughout the game, and, consequently, also activate Aphelios -Exalted's effect.

To make this game plan work, this deck plays a lot of buffs and some early game units that expand your board.

With an extensive board full of buffed units and equipment cards, you'll strangle your opponent bit by bit until they can't deal with the amount of value on your side of the board.

This list is quite versatile in terms of conquering and holding mechanics, as it can use both pretty well. However, in most matchups, it performs better as a conquering list because of the battlefields it plays and the number of spells that target battlefields and see play nowadays.

You'll equip this Legend for 1 energy instead of 1 power, which will be great as you play because you'll save a lot of runes early on.

However, his main effect is the one that lets you move Gear Equipments from one unit to another. This means you can reactivate Brutalizer's effect consistently, and also activate Aphelios -Exalted's effect pretty easily.

This card is essential in this list because of its aura effect. Just like your Legend's effect, this aura lets you save runes when you equip your units.

Because this unit is critical and costs 4, you must always go second when the game starts. This way, you'll have 5 energy on turn 2, and you'll be able to play your Jax - Unmatched straight away. He must enter play early on. Considering his effect, you may start combining your equipment cards with your units in the following turn.

The Dreaming Tree, just like all battlefields in this list, is supposed to fix its card draw issue. Always play around your battlefields so you don't run out of gas in the middle of the match.

You'll activate The Dreaming Tree's effect, most times, with Discipline and your Legend's signature spell, Counter Strike.

Sunken Temple also helps with card draw, but you'll need to spend some time setting it up because its effect costs 1 energy. So, usually, you'll only be able to use it in the mid game.

Monastery of Hirana is the weakest battlefield out of these three because it forces you to spend a buff to draw a card. This is often harmful because you'll essentially be trading strength for value and create windows your opponent can explore quite easily. So, leave this battlefield for your third match and use its effect only when extremely necessary.

Early Game

The main idea early on is to mulligan after your equipment cards and a low-cost unit, like Lonely Poro.

Play your equipment on turn 1, or Lonely Poro.

As we mentioned, you must try to play after your opponent once the game starts so that you can put your main Champion in play on turn 2.

If you end up going first, Aphelios - Exalted and Wizened Elder are great options to kickstart your game plan on turn 2 as well.

Mid Game

This is when you'll shine. This deck starts out pretty slow but is quite explosive in the mid game.

After you put at least 2 units in play, it's time to put Brutalizer in action.

Use your Legend's effect to reactivate Brutalizer's effect on the following turn, and attack the opponent again.

Moving Brutalizer around will allow you to put pressure on both battlefields. You'll be able to attack a battlefield and then retreat your units in the other.

Always use Aphelios - Exalted's effect to ready two runes instead of the other effects so that you can keep playing your combo. If you don't have other equipment cards to do that, channel 1 exhausted rune instead. Buffing cards is strong, but the other effects are even better. Only pick this effect if you have a lot of runes lying around.

At this time, Akshan - Mischievous will enter play. He is one of the strongest cards in this list because he is incredible against most meta decks. With him, you can steal RAT Ezreal's Cull, Irelia's equipment, and even destroy orange strategies.

In the mid game, you can also combine your Buff cards with Wizened Elder and turn it into a 6 Might threat for just 4 energy.

Furthermore, you'll usually play Pit Rookie at this moment, not early on.

Use Discipline and Counter Strike on your units to protect them. And keep in mind that, if you lose your key units, like your main champion, Aphelios, or Akshan, you'll hardly be able to win.

End Game

Unlike most meta decks, this list doesn't play any specific finishers, like Watcher or Time Warp. Instead, the goal is to set up a winning game state in the mid game and keep that advantage until you can score your 8th point.

To do that, you'll have to transition from a conquering game plan to a holding game plan, hoarding a lot of stats on a single battlefield (or filling that battlefield with equipped units).

You can also use First Mate to try to conquer both battlefields.

Most times, this deck loses to itself because it tends to brick easily. That's why the mulligan is crucial.

This list's biggest counter is Unchecked Power, which blue decks play. So, you'll struggle against these lists. Nonetheless, this sideboard is built to answer this spell, as we'll explain soon.

Other than that, this deck has an advantage against Kai'Sa lists because of the number of counter spells it can play and its big units, which often have more than 6 Might. This will be enough to escape Kai'Sa's spells and win showdowns against her as well.

Draven and Annie are complicated opponents. You'll struggle to find space after Draven fills the board and the same goes for Annie. Nonetheless, if your opponent is playing a slow list, centered around control and removals, you'll often have an advantage because of your counter spells.

Miss Fortune and Sivir are bad matchups because they're similar to Draven but play more combat spells. They're also combo lists. You must keep some spells in hand to counter their spells.

Even if you manage to deny a few spells, these decks can match your stats by putting several Rhasa in play. And, unlike you, they can revive cards from the graveyard and keep playing their combos. Overall, you'll always struggle in the end game against these decks. Your best shot is ending the game quickly early on or in the mid game. Otherwise, Miss Fortune and Sivir will create an unbeatable board in the late game.

Your worst matchup is Irelia because removing her easily is almost impossible. The Irelia player takes advantage of your slow start to build a strong board, and will be able to simply ignore your battlefield to conquer other battlefields several times.

Yellow decks are complicated if you can't find Guardian Angel, Not So Fast, and Defy.

This sideboard centers around improving the Kai'Sa and the Ezreal matchup, as they play spells like Unchecked Power, Emperor's Divide, and Zhonya's Hourglass.

Another copy of Defy is extremely useful against red decks and Annie.

Thwonk! stands out against orange lists in general, particularly against Lucian, but it's also interesting against Draven.

The third Akshan is a must against Irelia, RAT Ezreal, and Blue Ornn lists.

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

Don't forget to share.

See you next time!