head to head

Legends of Runeterra cover artvsMagic: The Gathering Arena cover art

Legends of RuneterravsMagic: The Gathering Arena

Legends of Runeterra leans Reads (Mind & Math); Magic: The Gathering Arena leans Optimization (Grand Arena).

EXECUTION1 /10READS7 /10VARIANCE5 /10OPTIMIZATION7 /10
Legends of RuneterraMagic: The Gathering Arena

Axis by axis

Execution1 vs 1

Even - both lean on execution about the same.

Reads7 vs 7

Even - both lean on reads about the same.

Variance5 vs 7

Magic: The Gathering Arena leans harder on variance: Mana screw and topdecks remain decisive

Optimization7 vs 8

Magic: The Gathering Arena leans harder on optimization: Deepest sequencing, deckbuilding, and stack puzzles

Two games can score the same on an axis and still test it in very different ways - read each rationale, not just the number.

full breakdown

Legends of Runeterra

full breakdown

Magic: The Gathering Arena