The Foundations Set in Legends of Runeterra does what its name implies: it sets the groundwork for the card game and building a solid deck with cards using the full range of mechanics. There are cards from every region and every type represented in the roughly 300 cards in this set, 24 of which are Champions.

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Since there are so many cards available in Foundations, it may seem daunting to pick the best of the best, and like with all expansion packs, how you intend to use your cards and build up your deck will affect what you want. Still, there are some that can be universally welcome in all decks.

10 Deny

Deny is a Spell card from the Ionia region, and while it is a Rare card, it’s worth trying to nab for your deck. It costs a fair four mana to use, and it’ll stop either a Fast or Slow Spell, or hinder a Skill being used against you.

The biggest thing to remember with the Deny card is to time using it, because it doesn’t stay on the field afterward. You don’t want to throw it out there just because you can afford it; you’ll be using this specifically to counter an incoming attack from your opponent.

9 Anivia

Anivia is a Champion from the Freljord region that costs six mana to use. Despite setting you back a significant amount of mana, she offers three health and three attack damage, and a few different functions on the field.

When you use her to attack, you’ll hit all of your opponent’s on-field cards, as well as their Nexus. Once she’s killed, she transforms into Eggnivia, which in turn will revert back to Anivia if it’s active when you gain ten mana total. As long as you wait to use Anivia later in the game, you’ll basically get her twice for one price, while inflicting maximum damage against your opponent.

8 Phantom Prankster

This Follower from the Shadow Isles region is a Rare card but low-cost mana. The Phantom Prankster has three hhealth, but doesn’t offer any damage until one of their allies die in battle. When that happens, the Prankster is triggered and attacks your opponent’s Nexus with one damage.

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Even though this doesn’t seem significant, having a card that can attack straight to the enemy Nexus strengthens your chances of winning while giving you a way to bypass your opponent’s cards on the field. Make sure to use the Prankster when your other cards can protect it from being destroyed so that it’ll be effective in the long run.

7 Zed

Zed is a Champion from Ionia that deals three attack damage, but only has two HP. He only costs three mana, though, so using him isn’t a major drain on your resources. When used to attack the opponent, he’ll summon a Living Shadow with his same 3/2 stats, so in a way, he’s a two-for-one deal.

Zed is a great card for your deck because unlike a lot of the others, he doesn’t need to played strategically. The effects of this card will work regardless of when he’s played, and his Level Up goes into effect after Zed or the Living Shadow have hit the opposing Nexus twice, so he can only get stronger the longer he’s in play.

6 Kindly Tavernkeeper

Coming from the Freljord region, this Follower is Common and is a cheap card to use in the game. In use, he can heal either an ally or your own Nexus by three health, and he’ll stick around with +3/+3 stats of his own.

When you use the Kindly Tavernkeeper can be totally up to you; if you need to heal one of your cards already in play, he’s there to help. Or, if you play the long game, waiting until later in the game when your opponent has attacked your Nexus can be the perfect time to put the Tavernkeeper in play. Regardless, it’s always a good idea to have healers in your hand.

5 Augmented Experimenter

The Augmented Experiementer is from Piltover and Zaun, and costs a steep six mana to use on the field. This card is an Epic of the Follower type, so playing it may depend on what else is in your hand.

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Another reason the Augmented Experimenter is a risky card to play is because using it will completely scrap your hand and cause you to draw three new cards, though you do get to hit one of your opponent’s cards with three damage. The card also has 3/3 stats, so if you’re a gambler the Experiementer can be as high reward as it is high risk.

4 The Harrowing

The Harrowing is a strong Spell card from the Shadow Isles. Since it costs ten mana to even use, you really only have the very end of the game to use it. But that goes in your favor, because it also summons six of your fallen allies with the highest power back into the game with Ephemeral.

This means that you’ll be able to use each of your strongest cards one last time towards the end of the game, so if you’re falling behind with attacking your enemy or if you just want a quick and sufficient win, playing The Harrowing is a sure-fire way to get there.

3 Withering Wail

Another Spell from the Shadow Isles, Withering Wail is a Common card that costs five mana to put in play. This card is beneficial for your deck because it inflicts damage as well as heals your Nexus by three health.

Similar to the Kindly Tavernkeeper, when you play Withering Wail will depend on your needs in the moment and your endgame. Chances are likely you’ll want to hold onto this card to use later in the game when there’s a higher chance your Nexus has been attacked. However, if you’ve already had it attacked, or if you need to inflict damage to all of your opponent’s cards at once to level out the playing field, using it sooner can also give you a boost.

2 Laurent Bladekeeper

The Laurent Bladekeeper is from Demacia and is a Rare Follower type. He’ll set you back four mana, but he offers three HP and three attack damage while on the field, making him worthwhile to have in hand.

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Once you’ve put him down, not only does the Bladekeeper have decent stats of his own, but he beefs up one of your other cards with additional +2/+2 stats. This makes the Bladekeeper a great card to play throughout the game, but especially if you have a weaker card in play that could use an extra boost.

1 Puffcap Peddler

There are a few different cards that use Puffcaps, and all of them are great in their own way, but this Piltover and Zaun Follower is Common, so getting it shouldn’t be difficult. The Puffcap Peddler is cheap to play and has decent stats of 3/3.

The only requirement to playing the Puffcap Peddler is to play him in conjunction with a Spell because this will trigger him to plant three Poison Puffcaps at random in your opponent’s deck. Once any of those three cards are played, their Nexus will get hit with one damage. Though this leaves the damage up to chance, it is three hits total that you know are coming eventually.

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