The Elder Scrolls: Legends CCG
Online Strategy Card Duel Game
Ratings
Age
9+
Category
Card
Languages
English
Tue Jun 22 2021
The latest version of The Elder Scrolls: Legends is live! This release includes security updates to ensure long-term stability of the game.
The Elder Scrolls: Legends is a deep, strategic collectible card game set in the universe of the acclaimed RPG series. It introduces the innovative Two-Lane system, dividing the battlefield into the 'Field Lane' and 'Shadow Lane,' adding a layer of positional strategy rarely seen in the genre. Players can build decks combining two of the five attributes (Strength, Intelligence, Willpower, Agility, and Endurance), allowing for unique class-based archetypes. The game also features a high-stakes campaign mode that rewards players with cards and lore, alongside competitive ladder play. Even with its retired status, its mechanics like Runes and Prophecies remain influential in the digital CCG space.
Dinsun Expert Review
Our Expert Score
The Elder Scrolls: Legends was, in many ways, the thinking person's Hearthstone. It brought a level of strategic depth that was missing from other CCGs, primarily through its unique two-lane system. One lane was standard, while the 'Shadow Lane' granted creatures cover for one turn, allowing for clever setups and protecting glass-cannon units from immediate retaliation.
The lore integration was top-notch. As a long-time fan of Morrowind and Skyrim, seeing iconic characters like J'zargo or Paarthurnax turned into viable cards was a treat. The 'Prophecy' mechanic—which allowed you to play a card for free if a rune was broken during an attack—offered a brilliant comeback mechanic that kept matches tense until the very last health point. While development has ceased, the game remains a masterclass in how to adapt an RPG IP into a card game without losing its soul.
Features
Unique Two-Lane battlefield mechanics
Rune and Prophecy comeback systems
Single-player story campaigns with choices
Deep deck customization with 5 distinct attributes
Rich Elder Scrolls lore and art style
Ranked ladder and Arena modes
Tips & Walkthrough
Combat is split into two lanes. The left lane is usually the 'Field Lane' (standard), while the right is the 'Shadow Lane.' Creatures played in the Shadow Lane gain 'Cover,' meaning they cannot be attacked for one turn. Use this to protect your utility creatures or prepare for a big strike next turn.
Every player has 30 health and 5 Runes. For every 5 damage taken, a Rune breaks, drawing you a card. If that card has the 'Prophecy' keyword, you can play it immediately for free! This can completely turn the tide of a battle if you're being played aggressively.
Gameplays
Decks are built using 'Attributes.' You can mix up to two attributes (e.g., Strength and Agility) to create a specific class (e.g., Archer). This allows for deep synergy and hundreds of viable deck combinations.
Positioning is everything. Since creatures can generally only attack others in the same lane, managing your presence in both the Field and Shadow lanes is key to controlling the board state.
Screenshot
Q&A
No, development for The Elder Scrolls: Legends has been put on hold indefinitely, meaning no new expansions are planned, though the servers remain active for play.
Runes are health milestones. When your health drops below 25, 20, 15, 10, and 5, a rune breaks, giving you a card draw and a chance to play a Prophecy card.
Ratings & Reviews
Invalid Date
Very good, but flawed
Fri Nov 09 2018 Siris111TESO: Legends is a very good game, very time consuming and a little tricky to get the hang of. The gameplay is fun and is very reminiscent of Card games such as MTG and little bit of hearthstone. The cards are super awesome and any of you who have play TESO: 3 Morrwind all the way to Online will see MANY references to previous games, he’ll you can even get some key characters from the aforementioned games as cards to play, Cicero, Vivec and Aela to name a few. Some pointers: Play through the main campaign! It will get you cards you will need to start out and will teach you how to play the game. Save soul gems, they will let you craft the legendary you want or maybe 2-3 epics that you want. Try not to focus on more than 1-2 decks your first couple hours of play, figure out what play style you have and stick to that. Complaints: this game HEAVILY relies on in app purchases, everything from $20 for the dark brother hood or clockwork city storylines to booster packs. The game is buggy but that’s to be expected as it’s fairly new, the morrowind House card backs are glitched and I have yet to receive 2 of the ones I have unlocked. Other than that this game is worth the time and maybe the money if you’re willing or capable to put either of those things into it.
A great entry for fans of CCG's and TES
Sat Aug 26 2017 SamderrAt first I had thought this game was a knock-off of Blizzard's Hearthstone, but as I played and built my collection I found that it is a beautiful game with lots of great art and references to the Elder Scrolls universe as well as a CCG that introduces some great new mechanics to the mix. My first caveat is that I have not gotten around to Gwent, so I'm not sure if any similarities could be drawn. I do know that the game's color system will be immediately familiar to MtG players, and that most of the card's individual mechanics will be immediately recognizable to veterans of HS. My second caveat is that I am a huge Elder Scrolls nerd, but I feel that Legends provides all the nostalgia and excitement that Hearthstone did for Warcraft veterans, albeit that Blizzard's entry still feels a little more stylishly designed and smooth-running. That said, Legends plays smoothly and the mechanics that may seem familiar are still presented in new and surprising ways. The new lane, rune, and prophecy systems inject new considerations to the control of deck meta and can dramatically alter the pace of a game. All in all, I haven't been this excited about an app since HS and I was surprised and delighted to see such a strong competitor in the mobile CCG arena- I will definitely be playing this more over the coming months if only to see the direction it goes.
Great game and ideas for new games.
Sun Dec 09 2018 RockuSanPlease read to the end it would mean alot. Great game I truly love this game I have restarted it many times just to eat the full experience it meets my expectations, I don't have anything to complain about in this game or any ideas for it but I have a great idea for another mobile game for you guys and the very vast fanbase. I would love to see a port of the original first 2 elder scrolls games Arena and Daggerfall. It has been done with RuneScape this year and seeing Sega put their classic games on the app store I think it would be do able. It would introduce many newer fans to the original games and show more people about the story of the elder scrolls universe since most of the elder scrolls fans started at Skyrim. I would love to see this become reality and not just a dream of mine I feel like not only me but others would truly enjoy. Please consider this game idea. To all of those who have read this far thank you it truly means the world to me if you like the idea of Arena and Daggerfall coming to mobile please find ways to get the word to others and Bethesda themselves I would greatly appreciate it. Again thank you it truly means the world to me thank you and have a great day or night or whatever time it is when you are reading this.
Way too much of a grind.
Sat Aug 08 2020 Squiggle9000I like this game’s mechanics. It’s a pretty fun card game that requires strategy. However, it is a painfully slow process to get new cards. 6 cards cost 100 gold. You get 15 coins per level up and per every 3 victories. You also get a SINGLE card for each of those as well. And that card can be a repeat of something you already have. Story mode was a reliable method, but once you finish it (and the challenges) progress grinds to a slow trickle at best. You can buy more campaigns and challenges... but it cost 3000 coins for a full set (acts 1, 2, and 3 are 1000 each). Challenges are 1500 per set. Again you get money agonizingly slow in this game. There are daily quests too but the most I’ve gotten is 60 coins. Arenas are a solid option, BUT you need tickets to play them. The game gives you some, but you will run out leaving you going back to the slow grind. Now comes my biggest problem.... the micro transactions. Everything that is hard to unlock can be bought. Of course it can. And with how tedious it is to unlock these things in game, I can only conclude they WANT you to buy them. Not to mention that you can simply buy themed decks that have cards that would normally be difficult to get otherwise. They want your money. This is a fun game that has unfortunately been reduced to a greedy cash grab. I am very disappointed.
I don’t write reviews but.....
Sun Sep 30 2018 sensikidI’ll try to keep this short and sweet.....to those with negative reviews-I’m sorry but ur just wrong. I neither have the time nor desire to explain why each is either full of sh%t or just plain not good at CCG’s. A lot of work and thought went into the mechanics so that this wouldn’t b another cookie cutter CCG. There is more than enuf in this game to satisfy someone wanting a serious option to MTG or HS. As in both afore mentioned games the AI is what it is so u can become a GOOD player. There is no AI imbalance that is out to get u-just get better,and if that means spending a couple bucks for expansion packs or even pre built decks( for those that just don’t get the concept of meta) then so be it. I mean geez u don’t really think the Devs made this game cause they felt like being nice do u? Anyone else remember the days of going to the store to buy packs of MTG cards? Cause I do.....and while on that point-PLEASE-I beg u all,if I’m wrong,someone intelligently point out why. Ok I’m done ranting,if u dig CCG’s and u already play MTG or HS or both and want another cool one to dive into then u won’t b disappointed with Bethesda’s entry.
Rigged
Wed Aug 08 2018 R3Qu3rdoFirst of all it is a great game except for a few things. The art is spectacular and the layout really addictive. But I just can’t help but feel like a lot of matches are rigged. For example, against the AI, only two or three rounds into it you get lucky and draw a high - power card with no other cards in play (you are set to do a lot of damage next turn when he is available to attack). Well it so happens that once it’s the opponent’s turn he so happens to draw a card that scraps yours immediately without you getting the chance to use your high-power card. It was the only one the opponent had in its deck and it so happens that he drew it then. This type of stuff happens in almost EVERY match against the AI. They just seem to have the card that counters yours. Kinda frustrating. Also, often you are set against opponents that you don’t stand a chance against. They have many of the cards you would have to pay to get and unless you pay you would not stand a chance. Of course, if you pay to get nice cards they would just match you against someone with even better cards so you still don’t stand a chance. This game would be great if card draws were really random and player matchups were more balanced. I unfortunately has to delete the game to stop myself from falling into the endless pay-to-win trap. It’s really too bad because other that that this game would be great.
Broken game
Sat Nov 03 2018 Jaycrabtree83This used to be a great game. I used to play it every single day. For hours on end and into the night. After the Sparkpants update, many problems arose that I never had in the past. For one, you have to open the app after you “update” it from the AppStore, and let it “update” again? So, instead of the app completely updating in the background before, now you have to watch a loading screen for sometimes half an hour. And holy crap, if it gets interrupted for any reason whatsoever you have to start all over again. I guess hope no one tries to call you or text while you are doing it. Seems like a step into the past. The graphics are wonky now, they were fine before. Everything is jumpy and not fluid. I guess the only selling point for the upgrade is that it “takes up less space” on your phone now. But, if the lame backwards updates keep coming, it will end up taking zero space on my phone. I’ve just been logging in and collecting my rewards for each day, but until they get it fixed I see the game as unplayable. If they could go back to the way things were before SparkPants, I would play the game like I did before. I feel kind of ripped off, as I have quite a bit of real money tied up in this game. Maybe they will fix it, or maybe they will just let it die.
Too frustrating
Sun Nov 25 2018 DragonflyMoonAs a new player, trying to figure out how to navigate this game when doing something like setting up a new deck, is just too frustrating. I deleted the app. When trying to set up the deck for the first time, all these pop up instructions come up and you can’t get rid of them or figure out how to set up your deck. I ended up accidentally deleting a deck and not even having enough cards to play with because I was trying to get the pop up instruction to move so that I could edit my deck and nothing on the page was working right. In fact, I couldn’t move the pop up instruction, it was in the way of reading some of the cards. I couldn’t figure out how to look at all of the cards because there was no way to flip through them so that I could choose the ones I wanted. If there was an over arrow to do this, I couldn’t get to it because of the pop up instruction. Game designers need to have a better idea for levels of frustration for new players when trying to set up or navigate the set up for the game and no new player should be able to delete their deck so they can’t play by accident in a way that they can’t be recovered. Some people pay for these decks. There should always be a way to recover them. I am just not going to play. It isn’t worth the headache.
