League of Legends is expanding into physical trading cards with Project K, a new card game set in the world of Runeterra. The game supports both traditional 1v1 matches and unique 2v2 team battles, accommodating up to four players.

Project K uses a mana system called Runes, granting players two Runes per turn to cast spells and summon units. Unlike traditional trading card games that use player health, Project K implements a Battlefield points system, making it feel more like the MOBA experience while preventing early player elimination in team games.

Each deck must be built around a specific champion, with cards designed to reflect the champion's thematic identity rather than strictly copying their MOBA abilities. For example, champions like Darius and Viktor focus on building armies, while Volibear's cards incorporate defensive abilities similar to his League counterpart.

The game's complexity level sits between simpler games like Pokémon and Marvel Snap, and more complex ones like Yu-Gi-Oh or Magic: The Gathering. Games typically last about 20 minutes in 1v1 format, featuring distinct early, mid, and late-game stages familiar to TCG players.

Project K was developed rapidly, starting just last year as part of Riot's R&D department. The game garnered significant internal interest, with 150-200 Riot employees volunteering for playtesting sessions across their Los Angeles and Shanghai offices.

The game is scheduled for release in China in early 2025. Global release timing depends on finding suitable publishing partners who can handle printing, distribution, sales, and organized events. Players can try Project K at the Teamfight Tactics invitational tournament in Macao.

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