Introduction
Riot Games has introduced The Demon’s Hand, a new roguelike card-battling minigame in League of Legends with Patch 25.06. This turn-based strategy game challenges players to build powerful hands and defeat enemies while navigating a branching map.
The game isn’t just a standalone experience—it ties into League of Legends lore. At its core is Atakhan, a powerful entity freed by LeBlanc after a thousand years of imprisonment. Now unleashed, Atakhan finds itself drawn to a strange table, facing an unknown figure for a high-stakes card duel.
How to Play The Demon’s Hand
The mode is accessible by going to League and then selecting “The Demon’s Hand” tab.
The Goal
Your objective is simple: build the strongest five-card hand to deal damage and defeat your opponents before they defeat you.
Basic Gameplay
- You start with a fixed amount of health, which depends on your progression in the game.
- Each round, you draw 8 cards from a 52-card deck.
- You can discard up to three times per round, choosing up to five cards per discard.
- Your attack damage is based on poker-like card combinations.
- After each battle, you earn currency to buy Sigils, which enhance your abilities.
Opponent Mechanics
- Your enemy is represented by a single large card at the top of the board.
- The Attack Coin determines when the enemy strikes—each attack you make reduces the coin’s value, and when it reaches zero, your opponent attacks back.
Map and Progression
- The game features a branching map, allowing you to choose different paths.
- There are three main stops along the way:
- Battles – Face new opponents.
- Shops – Spend currency to buy Sigils (power-ups).
- Campfires – Restore health before tougher fights.
- At the end of each area, you'll face boss battles with unique mechanics and increased difficulty.
Dyad Attack Example - Demon’s Hand game
Card Types and Hand Combinations
The Demon’s Hand follows a poker-inspired attack system. Your damage output depends on the strength of the hand you assemble each round. The stronger the combination, the more damage you deal.
Attack Types and Their Damage Values
Here’s a breakdown of all possible hands in the game:
| Attack Name | Poker Equivalent | Description | Base Damage |
| Solo | High Card | Single high-value card | 10 |
| Dyad | Pair | Two cards of the same number | 20 |
| Dyad Set | Two Pair | Two sets of Dyads | 40 |
| Triad | Three of a Kind | Three cards of the same number | 80 |
| Tetrad | Four of a Kind | Four cards of the same number | 100 |
| March | Straight | Five sequential number cards | 125 |
| Horde | Flush | Five cards of the same suit | 175 |
| Grand Warhost | Full House | Three cards of one number and two of another | 400 |
| Marching Horde | Straight Flush | Five sequential cards in the same suit | 600 |
| The Demon’s Hand | Royal Flush | Five highest-value cards in the same suit | 2000 |
Your strategy should revolve around assembling the strongest possible hand each turn. Lower-value attacks like Solo and Dyad are useful early on, but as you progress, you'll need to aim for hands like Grand Warhost or Marching Horde for major damage.
Sigil System Overview
Sigils are powerful modifiers that enhance your attacks, alter battle mechanics, or provide strategic advantages. After each battle, you earn currency that you can use to buy Sigils at shops.
Sigil Mechanics
- You start with a capacity of 6 Sigils.
- You can sell unwanted Sigils for extra currency.
- Rare Sigils can only be unlocked by playing League of Legends matches or completing missions.
Common Sigils & Their Effects
Here’s a list of some of the most useful Sigils in The Demon’s Hand:
| Sigil Name | Effect | Cost |
| Alignment | Attacks containing a March deal +70 damage | 7 |
| Alignment+ | Attacks containing a March deal +140 damage | 20 |
| Authority | +70% damage if Attack has only Command Cards | 14 |
| Conformity | +70% damage if Attack has only same-rank cards | 15 |
| Conversion | Grants 2 Gold per unused Discard at battle end | 11 |
| Dismissal | Each discarded card grants +5% damage to next attack | 6 |
| Dismissal+ | Each discarded card grants +10% damage to next attack | 15 |
| Dyadic | Dyad attacks deal +30 damage per Dyad | 7 |
| Flow | Horde attacks deal +100 damage | 8 |
| Fortification | Reduces enemy’s first attack damage by 50% | 9 |
| Heroism | Command cards are never removed from attacks | 6 |
| Isolation | Solo Attack deals +40 damage | 6 |
| Meditation | Restores health equal to 40% of damage taken after battle | 10 |
| Rage | +30% damage when below 50% health | 14 |
| Reckoning | +25 damage; defeating an enemy permanently grants +5 damage | 12 |
Each Sigil allows for different playstyles, whether you prefer aggressive damage boosts, defensive strategies, or economy-focused effects.
Rare Sigils
Rare Sigils provide even stronger effects but are harder to obtain. You can unlock them by playing League of Legends matches and completing missions. Playing Arena mode speeds up progress by 30% compared to other game modes.
Unlocking Rare Sigils
- Hard Mode Unlock: Collect 8 Rare Sigils and complete Story Mode.
- Demon Mode Unlock: Collect 16 Rare Sigils and complete Hard Mode.
Known Rare Sigils & Their Effects
| Sigil Name | Effect | Cost |
| The Stone | Stone suit cards deal +10% damage | 10 |
The list of Rare Sigils is still growing, and Riot Games may add more in future updates.
Difficulty Levels and Unlockables
Higher difficulty modes unlock exclusive rewards. Here’s how each mode works:
| Difficulty | Unlock Conditions | Rewards |
| Story Mode | Default | Emote, 500 BXP |
| Hard Mode | Collect 8 Rare Sigils + Clear Story Mode | Illustrative Icon, 250 BXP |
| Demon Mode | Collect 16 Rare Sigils + Clear Hard Mode | The Demon’s Hand Icon, 250 BXP |
| Full Completion | Collect all 24 Rare Sigils | "The Demon’s Hand" Title, 250 BXP |
Each difficulty level offers more challenging battles, requiring better card strategies and Sigil combinations. Completing Demon Mode won’t make you an Unkillable Demon King (Faker), but it will earn you a rare icon!
Best Tips and Strategies for Winning
Winning in The Demon’s Hand requires smart decision-making and adapting to the randomness of each run. Here are some key strategies to maximize your chances of success:
General Tips
- Think Ahead: Your discards are limited per round, so don’t waste them too early. Plan around possible future hands.
- Use All Five Cards in Solo Attacks: If your hand is weak, still play all five cards. This lets you cycle unwanted cards without wasting a turn.
- Stack Sigil Effects: Combining synergistic Sigils will massively increase your damage. For example, pairing Dyadic (boosts Dyad attacks) with Harmony (boosts Grand Warhost attacks) can create powerful combos.
- Prioritize Map Choices: Shops are great for upgrading your build, but campfires help you survive long enough to reach bosses.
Strategy Example
One of the strongest builds focuses on Dyad-based attacks:
- Stack Dyadic & Dyadic+ Sigils → Every Dyad attack gains bonus damage.
- Combine with Conformity Sigil → If your hand contains only same-rank cards, you gain +70% extra damage.
- Use Dismissal+ Sigil → Every discarded card boosts your next attack by 10%.
This approach ensures consistent high-damage attacks while minimizing reliance on rare hands like Marching Horde or The Demon’s Hand.
Game Lore and Contextual Background
While The Demon’s Hand is a strategic card game, it also expands League of Legends lore. The game’s narrative revolves around Atakhan, a powerful entity freed by LeBlanc after 1,000 years of imprisonment.
Atakhan’s story is developed each time you Rest during your rouge adventure.
Atakhan’s Story
- After being released, Atakhan wanders across Runeterra, searching for a purpose in a world it no longer recognizes.
- It eventually stumbles upon a mysterious, out-of-time location where a lone figure waits at a card table.
- Drawn by an unknown force, Atakhan sits down, and the game begins.
This cryptic setup hints at future League of Legends lore updates. With LeBlanc’s upcoming rework and deeper explorations of Noxian history, The Demon’s Hand may be teasing more significant events in Runeterra.
Event Rewards – Limited-Time Missions
Completing the game’s different modes will grant exclusive rewards, so make sure to participate before they expire!
| Milestone | Reward |
| Complete Story Mode | Exclusive Emote + 500 BXP |
| Complete Hard Mode | Illustrative Icon + 250 BXP |
| Complete Demon Mode | Demon’s Hand Icon + 250 BXP |
| Collect All 24 Rare Sigils | "The Demon’s Hand" Title + 250 BXP |
Completing Demon Mode will earn you a pretty sweet icon.
Conclusion and Additional Resources
The Demon’s Hand is a fresh and strategic addition to League of Legends, blending roguelike gameplay with a poker-inspired combat system. Whether you're aiming to collect all Rare Sigils, master powerful hand combinations, or push through Demon Mode, success requires planning and adaptability.
Key Takeaways
- Build strong five-card hands to deal maximum damage.
- Manage your discards wisely to avoid wasting potential combos.
- Invest in Sigils that enhance your preferred attack style.
- Choose your map route carefully—shops, battles, and campfires all matter.
- Progress through higher difficulty levels to unlock rare rewards.
Stay Updated & Join the Community
Want to learn more and discuss strategies? Check out these resources:
- Official Riot Games Patch Notes – LoL Patch 25.06
- Community Discord & Forums – Share strategies and ask for advice. Join our Discord to discuss!
- Reddit & YouTube Guides – Find the latest builds and meta strategies. Follow our youtube!
With time-limited rewards available, now is the best time to jump into The Demon’s Hand. Good luck at the table! 🎴🔥
