Riftbound
A League of Legends trading card game with rune-based resource system.
Riftbound: League of Legends Trading Card Game is a physical card game from Riot Games, set within the League of Legends universe. Development started in 2023 under game director Dave Guskin, who previously worked on Riot’s digital TCG Legends of Runeterra, and executive producer Chengran Chai. The game was first teased in September 2024 when a trailer for a project called Rune Battlegrounds leaked on Twitter. At that time, it was planned only for a Chinese release in early 2025. In December 2024, Riot officially announced the game under the working title Project K, confirming both a Chinese launch and a future global release—though no global publishing partner had been secured yet. UVS Games became the English-language publisher in February 2025, with other regions planned for 2026. The following month, Riot revealed the final name, Riftbound, and set a Chinese launch for Summer 2025. Shining Soul handled the Chinese release.
The first set, Origins, arrived in China in August 2025 and in English on October 31, 2025. The launch faced three issues: insufficient supply, cards with rough or blurred edges, and a collation error that caused some booster packs to contain fewer rare cards than intended. This collation problem also affected the second set, and Riot offered replacement cards (limited to three per person, six per household). The fourth set, Vendetta, was the first to release simultaneously in English and Chinese—a practice continued for all later sets. In June 2026, Riot announced a Korean release of Origins for September 2026.
In a typical game, two or more players each control a Champion from the League of Legends universe. Each player brings a main deck, a rune deck (12 rune cards used as resources), a Champion Legend, and a number of Battlefields chosen by the game mode. The main deck must have at least 40 cards, including spells, units, and gear. Players score points by capturing and holding Battlefields; the first to reach the target score wins.
Reviewers noted the game’s accessibility for newcomers while praising its tactical depth. However, some expressed concern about its longevity in a crowded market dominated by Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon, and Disney Lorcana.
Quick Facts
- Cardback caption
- Riftbound cardback
- Publishers
- UVS Games (WW), Shining Soul (China)
- Date
- 31 October 2025
- Players
- 2+
- Related
- League of Legends
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Development of Riftbound began in 2023 under game director Dave Guskin, who previously directed Legends of Runeterra, and executive producer Chengran Chai. In September 2024, a trailer for a TCG called Rune Battlegrounds was leaked on Twitter, and in December 2024 Riot officially announced the game under the working title Project K, confirming a China-first release. UVS Games was announced as the publishing partner for English-speaking countries in February 2025, and the title Riftbound was revealed the following month.
The first set, Origins, launched in China in August 2025 and in English on October 31, 2025. The launch faced supply shortages, card edge quality issues, and a collation error that caused some booster packs to contain fewer rare cards than intended. The collation problem also affected the second set; Riot offered replacement cards limited to three per person and six per household. The fourth set, Vendetta, was the first to receive simultaneous English and Chinese releases, a practice continued for all subsequent sets.
Reader's Guide
Riftbound entered a competitive market dominated by Magic: The Gathering, Pokémon TCG, and Disney Lorcana. Its gameplay involves two or more players each bringing a main deck of at least 40 cards, a rune deck of 12 cards, a Champion Legend, and Battlefields. Points are scored by capturing and holding Battlefields, with the first player or team to reach the target score winning. The rune deck serves as a resource system for playing spells, units, and gear cards from the main deck.
Reception highlighted the game's accessibility for newcomers while retaining tactical depth, though concerns were raised about its longevity in a saturated market. The game's staggered global rollout—starting in China, then English-speaking regions, with Korea planned for September 2026—reflects a deliberate regional strategy. The collation errors in early sets and subsequent replacement program indicate growing pains typical of a new physical TCG launch. Riftbound's connection to the League of Legends intellectual property and its experienced development team from Legends of Runeterra gave it a strong foundation, but its long-term success will depend on sustaining player interest against established competitors.
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