Landmark Units

Landmark Units

Explore the unique strategic role of Landmarks in Legends of Runeterra. These persistent board elements offer powerful ongoing effects, trigger at specific times, or provide unique win conditions, fundamentally altering the flow of gameplay.

Landmarks are a distinct card type in Legends of Runeterra that, once played, remain on the board and exert their influence over time or at specific triggers. Unlike units, they cannot attack or block, but their persistent effects can dramatically shape the game's tempo, provide crucial advantages, or even serve as the primary win condition for certain decks. Understanding how to play, interact with, and counter Landmarks is essential for advanced play.

How Landmarks Work: When a Landmark card is played, it occupies a dedicated Landmark slot on the board. Each player has a limited number of these slots. Landmarks typically have a countdown timer, represented by a number. At the start of your turn, this timer counts down. When the timer reaches zero, the Landmark's primary effect often triggers, or it might be destroyed. Some Landmarks have effects that trigger immediately upon play, while others have ongoing effects that persist as long as the Landmark is on the board.

Types of Landmark Effects: Landmarks can have a wide variety of effects, broadly categorized as:

• Ongoing Effects: These effects are active as long as the Landmark is on the board. For example, The Great Temple grants all your units +1/+1 at the start of your turn.
• Triggered Effects: These effects activate when a specific condition is met, often when the Landmark's countdown reaches zero. The Rekindler, for instance, summons a dead ally when its countdown ends.
• Summon Effects: Some Landmarks have effects that trigger immediately upon being played, such as Bouncing Blade which deals 2 damage to an enemy unit.

Strategic Importance: Landmarks can be game-changers. They can provide consistent resource generation, buff your units, disrupt your opponent's plans, or create powerful combo opportunities. For example, a deck built around Sunstone Keepers might aim to survive until the Keepers activate, granting a significant mana advantage. Conversely, an opponent might use a Landmark like The Box to debuff enemy units.

Interacting with Landmarks: While Landmarks cannot be directly attacked like units, many cards can interact with them. Some spells can destroy enemy Landmarks, effectively negating their effects. Other cards might have abilities that trigger when a Landmark is played or destroyed. For instance, Boomcrew Rookie gains +1/+1 when you play a Landmark. Understanding which regions have access to Landmark removal or synergy is crucial for both offense and defense.

When building a deck, consider how Landmarks can fit into your strategy. Do you want to leverage their persistent effects for long-term advantage, or use them as a stepping stone for a powerful combo? Conversely, when facing an opponent's Landmark-centric deck, prioritize finding ways to disrupt their Landmark plays or remove their key Landmarks before they can establish a dominant board presence. The careful deployment and management of Landmarks can be the difference between victory and defeat.