United Front - Runeterra Labs

The Rules

Quote From Lab Description

I'm positively thrilled about this latest group experiment! Ordinarily, this predicates more work for me… but their loss is my scientific gain!

It's time for an experiment in cooperation! Join forces with another player to repel a Noxian invasion!

- Partner with a random ally or recruit a friend using Friend Challenge

- At the start of the match, each player will select a premade deck

- You and your ally will share a board and any units summoned

- Each round, players will switch roles, with one player acting and the other observing

- Use special cards to aid your ally on their turns

- Watch out for surprises… Noxians don't fight fair!

Notes:

• At the start of the game, you'll be assigned a role -- either control on attack or control on defense -- and be asked to pick 1 out of 3 random champions.
  • The champion you pick will determine your deck.
• Your team will always start with the Attack Token. That means the player in control of attack will "own" odd-numbered rounds and the player in control of defense will "own" even-numbered rounds.
• Mechanically, the game mode behaves as if 2 players were alternating turns. Any mana at the end of your turn will go towards your partner's spell mana. Any units on the board will be theirs to attack or block with. Cards with conditions like Deep Meditation and Eye of the Dragon will depend on what your partner did during the previous round.
  • The one exception to this is your hands and decks. Each player has their own hand and draws from their own deck.
  • At the start of each round, the active player will be given a fleeting 0-mana burst "Gift" spell with the ability to pass a card from your hand to your partner's. These will always include a boon, such as reducing its mana cost or giving it +2|+2 stats.
  • In addition to the "Gift" spell, the defending player will also be given a 2nd fleeting 0-mana burst spell that will give a buff to a unit currently in play.
• Your opponent is an AI controlled mono-Noxus deck with several advantages
  • Each round, the AI will be given a fleeting 1-mana slow "Warband Recruit" spell which summons a random 1-3 cost Noxus unit
  • At the start of round 4, the AI automatically summon either Draven, Swain, or Darius and instantly levels them up
  • The AI also has access to some outrageously powerful spells  

At any time, you can view your partner's hand by clicking the player icon in the top-right corner. This will be critical for successful gameplay -- if you're paying attention, you can fill a open gap in your partner's curve or give them a much-needed disruption spell. Conversely, if they have an immediate game plan, you can pass a power card back and forth to stack mana reduction and bonus stat buffs.  

Champions and Decks

These are the champions and corresponding decks currently in this mode.

• Zoe gives a mono-Targon deck focused on celestials
• Garen gives a mono-Demacia deck focused on elites
• Miss Fortune gives a mono-Bilgewater deck focused on pirates
• Braum gives a mono-Freljord deck focused on buffs and regeneration
• Quinn gives a mono-Demacia deck focused on scouts
• Vi gives a mono-P&Z deck focused on burn spells and elusives
• Lee Sin gives a mono-Ionia deck focused on control and spells
• Shyvana gives a mono-Demacia deck focused on dragons
• Aurelion Sol gives a mono-Targon deck focused on control
• Trundle gives a mono-Freljord deck focused on Beholding 8+ cards
• Thresh gives a mono-SI deck focused on control
• Riven gives a Ionia+Noxus deck focused on Reforge

Strategies

This is an extremely difficult game mode, especially compared to the previous AI modes. The biggest differentiator is the champion selection -- simply put, Zoe and Lee Sin dominate. Both will usually carry the game if you can successfully level them, and they are both very easy to progress due to the additional 0-mana burst spells. On the other end of the spectrum, Quinn, Aurelion Sol, and Thresh, and Shyvana are much slower and much more difficult to pilot in this game mode.

Remember that the free opposing champion comes on Round 4 -- it that champ is an L2 Swain and you don't have a valid fearsome blocker, you will lose your entire board. The AI does seem reluctant to Open Attack so you should at least get a chance to develop.

When We've Seen United Front