Hello, Riftbound players!

Last week, we mentioned that TCG news was starting to take its time arriving. It seems UVS Games and Riot have decided to prove me wrong by dropping a bombshell on the meta. If you felt your decks were going in circles or that certain cards were currently impossible to find, this editorial is for you. The competitive landscape of Riftbound has just changed.

The Great Cleanup

For the first time since its release in October, Riftbound has decided to implement bans in Standard Constructed. The focus seems very specific regarding the cards (or decks) targeted.

Miracle Deck

You can say goodbye to the Miracle Engine. The cards Called Shot and Scrapheap are now banned. These cards allowed players to draw almost their entire deck for free and very quickly, leaving no room for fair combat and, more importantly, creating endless turns that detracted from the enjoyment of the game.

Draven Vanquisher

Some adjustments have been made regarding the power of Draven decks. His Vanquisher version is banned, leaving his Showboat version from the Origins set to take the champion slot. With its very intense start on turn 2, Vanquisher was considered too suffocating for opponents, and Riot preferred to remove it from the game.

The Fight or Flight card

This card is also being banned to give other colors some breathing room. It was simply the best defensive option in the game, but players will have to learn to defend themselves differently.

Battlefields

We can also say goodbye to Reaver's Row, the Dreaming Tree, and Obelisk of Power, which were found in too many decks and homogenized the gameplay.

New Promotional Card

The Flash Card is coming to the store as a promotional card! We know its accessibility has been a source of frustration for many of you, so good news! Riot is launching Flash Promos at the end of April!

We'll be able to distribute them by following their instructions as soon as we receive them. To get one—one per day—you'll need to either:

• Participate in Riftbound events, such as Nexus Nights and Summoner Skirmishes;
• Mentor and teach Riftbound to new players;
• Bring a new player to the store; or
• Purchase a Riftbound product.

Reprints

If you've been desperately trying to complete your core collection, reprints of Origins and Proving Grounds sets are coming! For us in Quebec, stock should arrive after the launch of Unleashed in May.

In short, the game is becoming healthier in terms of deck composition, rare cards are becoming more accessible, and the meta is opening up again, much to the relief of many. Whether you're a veteran who needs to rethink your Draven deck or a new player who's been waiting for stock to arrive, now's the time to come back and see us in store on Wednesday evenings to test your ideas with other players!

See you at the counter to discuss your ideas!

See you soon!