A · Fundamentals · §6
Keep functional configurations — an early body, an outlet, and a bridge — not individual cards.
A strong opening hand normally has three components: an early body, an engine or conversion outlet, and a bridge between the two.
Small unit + Karthus + Sacrifice — strong when the early unit has a relevant Deathknell. Develop normally, deploy Karthus shortly before the conversion, use Sacrifice as a protected outlet, translate the body into cards, a rune and doubled Deathknell value.
Two early bodies + Fragmented curve — because Fragmented starts in the Champion Zone, a hand with two functional early units and interaction can be perfectly acceptable without Hook or Karthus. Especially on the play, where scoring tempo may matter more than immediate engine assembly.
Karthus without a Deathknell or outlet: Karthus is not an on-curve three-drop. It is an engine piece whose floor is mediocre when it produces no value during the next action cycle.
Unsupported Mirror Image: it requires a worthwhile unit already in play, sufficient Power, a positional use for the ready Reflection, and a plan for its Temporary death. Rarely a reason to keep an otherwise weak hand.
Multiple top-end threats: Harnessed Dragon, Rift Herald and Watcher are excellent Hook outputs but weak opening-hand density. One expensive card is often acceptable in a structurally strong hand; two or more should usually be recycled unless the remaining cards form an unusually complete curve.
Duplicate Hook: the first Hook is an engine, the second is frequently a liability until the game is already functioning. Usually return the second copy unless the matchup is extremely attritional and the other three cards are independently strong.
On the play, prioritize: early units; Fragmented pressure; Hook plus Dragon Form; Vi or Kennen lines that preserve initiative; hands capable of conquering before installing the full engine.
On the draw, prioritize: multiple bodies; interaction; Sacrifice as a protected conversion; Vi against early battlefield pressure; Hidden Blade when the matchup contains a true must-answer unit. The draw makes speculative engine hands less attractive — the opponent is more likely to establish the first stable scoring position.