Riftbound is Riot’s upcoming physical trading card game, built entirely in-house and set in the League of Legends universe. Unlike Legends of Runeterra, this one’s made for tabletops—with booster boxes, promo packs, regional tournaments, and even 5v5 gameplay formats.
It’s launching first in China this August 2025, with a global English release following in October. All future releases will eventually sync up globally.
Fresh Mechanics, Same Riot Polish
The base game uses 40-card decks anchored around “Champion Legends,” which determine your deck colors and archetype. Every champion has three special cards: a Legend (your deck’s core identity), a Champion Unit (their battlefield presence), and a Signature Spell (a thematic power move).
Riftbound is played across multiple battlefields, where players try to dominate zones through combat and clever positioning. Sealed and draft formats are supported at launch, and a 5v5 MOBA-style team battle mode is in development.
Resource generation uses a consistent “energy” system, reducing mana screw and ensuring you always have plays each turn.
Champions and Archetypes
The Origins set features 12 Champion Legends with diverse playstyles. Jinx brings discard and trick mechanics, while Viktor focuses on going wide with tokens. Lee Sin specializes in buff strategies, and Darius serves as a combo finisher. Kai’Sa excels as a spell slinger, while Teemo sets up trap mechanics. Volibear provides ramp strategies, and Yasuo emphasizes mobility. Leona offers stun and control options, while Ahri handles battlefield defense. Miss Fortune brings aggro and trick elements, and Sett operates as a buff-spender tempo champion.
Deckbuilding rules are tight and intuitive: each deck must include one Champion Legend and a matching Champion Unit. The remaining 39 cards must match the Legend’s colors.
Products and Prices
The launch lineup includes several product options at different price points. Booster Packs will retail for $4.99 each, containing 14 cards with seven commons, three uncommons, two rares or better, one guaranteed foil, and one token or rune. Champion Decks are priced at $19.99 and include preconstructed decks for Jinx, Viktor, and Lee Sin, each packaged with one booster pack. The Proving Grounds Box Set costs $29.99 and features four beginner-friendly decks, full-art playmats, and acrylic champion standees. For in-store demonstrations, Trial Decks will be available featuring Jinx, Viktor, Yasuo, and Volibear.
Alt-art and foil variants exist across rarities. The rarest pulls include overnumbered cards and signed signature spells, with the chase rate being one per 30 boxes.
Organized Play & Competitive Plans
Riot’s commitment to organized play is evident from launch day. Weekly Nexus Nights give players 3-card promo packs with chances to pull foil or alt art runes. Summoner Skirmish events happen twice per set, offering promo cards, playmats, and byes for regional qualifiers as prizes. Regional Qualifiers begin in December 2025, featuring cash prizes, promos, and Championship invites that scale based on attendance.
Regional Championships start in October 2026 with two planned per region, offering Worlds invites and last-chance qualifiers. The World Championship details are still being finalized, but it’s expected to integrate with Riot’s major esports calendar. They’re also developing a judge program and have hinted that best-of formats will include sideboard options.
Will There Be a Digital Version?
Not yet. Riot says they’re exploring digital options, but for now Riftbound remains strictly physical. Players can expect an online card gallery, deckbuilding tools, and support materials in the meantime.
Spoiler Season and Upcoming Events
Preview season runs from June 9 to July 18, with new card reveals every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from creators, press, and the community.
Several major events are planned to showcase the game. MSI Vancouver in July will feature live trial deck demos, while GenCon Indy from July 31 to August 3 will host a full Riftbound showcase. The first global post-launch spotlight happens at Worlds in China this October. Additional hands-on experiences are planned for PAX Unplugged in Philadelphia this November and the TFT Paris Open in December.
A Few More Confirmed Details
The first rotation is scheduled for 2028, giving players plenty of time to enjoy the Origins set. While buy-a-box promos aren’t confirmed yet, pre-release promos will definitely exist. The judge program is currently in development, and Riot remains open to eventual crossovers with skin universes like Star Guardian. When it comes to champion representation, Riot says every League of Legends character is on the table for future inclusion.
The Next Big Thing?
Riftbound isn’t just a cool LoL collectible—it’s a serious competitor to Magic, Lorcana, and Flesh and Blood. Between polished mechanics, competitive structure, and deep champion identity, it’s shaping up to be a game with real legs.
Get your sleeves ready!
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