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

Today, we'll show you how to play Token Control Lux with Lux Lady of Luminosity.

This deck, in particular, was named the "Best of Lux" at the Dalian Regional Open. It surprised many players at this tournament because it plays what many of us consider one of the worst Legends in Set 1.

Because it also plays yellow control cards and Gold Gear Tokens from Set 2, this list is really similar to Viktor decks. However, instead of filling the board with Tokens constantly, this Lux list plays more removals and focuses on exhausting the opponent.

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:

CMAAAAAAAAAACAQAABM5MAIAAABAGAAANHIQDXIBAQBQARSQUQA2QAICAYAAAVK72QA5KAPAAH2QCAQDABIVIAQFAAAHE6UUAKPQFJYCAIAQADQVAEAQCAAPAEAQGAFCAEAQGAAAPPQAD5ABAEAQADQ

The main idea behind this list is to remove all enemy win conditions and kill enemy units constantly. Because of Vanguard Armory, you'll always have Tokens in the mid-game and will thus always be able to hold and conquer points.

This list might virtually have answers to any threat, but it is slow, as it centers around answering enemy units in battlefields. So, you're forced to let your opponent conquer a battlefield first and only then use most of your removals.

Like so, you might find yourself fighting against lethal plays constantly quite early on, and will have to answer them every turn. This will force both of you to fight for resources all the time. It will be your removals against their units.

Your end-game is extremely powerful because by this point your Legend will draw a lot of cards, and you'll never run out of gas. Nonetheless, as your cards are a bit expensive, if your opponent manages to set up small threats and conquer battlefields constantly, you'll often lose. You'll also lose if your opponent sets up attacks with several units or fills the board very easily.

Lux Lady of Luminosity is extremely simple. Her passive effect draws cards whenever you play a spell that costs 5 energy or more.

She is incredible in the mid-to-late game because, with her in play, you'll hardly run out of gas.

Lux - Crownguard is essential because she allows you to pick up the pace and gives you the resources you need to play your incredibly expensive spells.

With her in play, you'll often play more than one removal per turn in the mid-game, or simply play cheap spells for free early on so that you can start controlling the board as soon as possible.

This Lux must remain on your bench throughout the entire match, away from any sort of combat, and get into play as soon as turn 2 so that you can start playing your spells.

Because this list is quite slow, all battlefields in it center around stalling or preventing your opponent from getting ahead by conquering both battlefields before you even start playing properly.

Aspirant's Climb is a staple in slow decks. It delays the game by one turn, which can be essential depending on the matchup. Since this list only puts units in play from turn 3 onward, you'll need it.

Sigil of the Storm prevents your opponent from creating a huge advantage early on by conquering both battlefields.

Vilemaw's Lair essentially doesn't let units escape, so they'll always be vulnerable to your removals if they're on this battlefield. It also encourages your opponent to not conquer both battlefields early because they can't save units they put in Vilemaw's Lair by returning them to their base.

Early Game

Early on, you must try to get Seal of Unity or Forge of the Future and play them as soon as turn 1.

This deck also plays the Jayce - Man of Progress + Vanguard Armory combo, which isn't a consensus among players because you need a very specific set of cards on turn 2 to make it work. Nonetheless, if you have that set of cards, you'll create a huge advantage. If you don't, Jayce is a dead card in your hand.

As this deck draws lots of cards, you won't struggle as much in the mid-to-late game. Your Legend can (more or less) make up for the fact that your hand won't be that valuable at this time. So, we can say that, unlike Viktor lists, this Lux list can deal with the consequences of not being able to play this combo consistently.

Still early on, always play Lux - Crownguard on turn 2 (if you don't have the Jayce combo).

Card Sharp can go into play on turn 1 if you're second to play.

Mid Game

At this point of the game, you'll naturally give up some space to let your opponent conquer battlefields. After that, you can play your removals on their units.

Drag Under, Wages of Pain, and Falling Comet are your main removals.

Singularity is your most important removal because it is one of the few removals that can hit the enemy base. Save it for your opponent's key units or for enemy support units that make their deck work, like Ezreal - Prodigy.

You must play Vanguard Armory as soon as possible so that you can fight for the battlefields and start scoring points. Without this card, you can't really stabilize, and it is also your main win condition.

You must also play Progress Day as soon as possible. The longer the match, the more expensive it will become because of the tempo your opponent will gain.

End Game

This list has a finisher, Time Warp, but it needs to "set up" a winning game estate on the board with Tokens to actually win.

You can do that by exhausting your opponent's resources, that is, by removing their entire board. Then, you can put your Tokens to work.

Another alternative is drowning the opponent by putting several Tokens on just one battlefield. They won't be able to deal with them every turn.

Don't forget that Hidden Blade is only decent at the end of the game, as it lets your opponent draw cards.

As for Imperial Decree, it is excellent with Bellows Breath in the last turns of the game, particularly if you want to remove the opponent's board entirely. This combo might be expensive, but it is very powerful and can win the game on its own.

This deck theoretically has an advantage over any orange meta list. However, in practice, it struggles against most meta decks, including a few orange lists.

It struggles the most against Ezreal, which can protect and return its units constantly. Furthermore, Ezreal draws lots of cards and puts a lot of pressure on you, even if you manage to remove its units.

Theoretically, this list can deal with Draven lists. However, in practice, these matchups are even harder because Draven sets up attacks with several units and fills the board quite fast. You'll often only be able to remove one of their units per turn, so they'll always be ahead.

Despite Irelia's counters and Deflect, you will be able to deal with her. However, you might get unlucky and lose value-based skirmishes if your opponent manages to answer all your removals. Each player in this matchup has a 50% chance to win.

Any deck that can remove Vanguard Armory can beat this list quite easily. Without this card, you can't win. This is one of the main reasons why this is not a high-tier list. You can't protect your main win condition, and you only play 3 copies of it.

This sideboard improves a few matchups, particularly against fast decks. You may remove any of these cards for more copies of Jayce - Man of Progress.

Blood Money is a great way to remove enemy units early on. In fact, this card is great against most purple decks.

Another copy of Salvage is essential against Equipment decks, like Irelia and even Ezreal.

Recruit the Vanguard can "put you back in the game" as soon as turn 3. It is great against other slow decks.

Divine Judgment can work as a finisher and replace Time Warp. It literally exhausts the opponent's resources, particularly if you build a well-established board with one Vanguard Armory or more.

Likewise, Unchecked Power is a "comeback" card, but it is stronger against holding lists.

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!