The Nature of the Game
Let's first dispel any rumors about the game. Riftbound: League of Legends is not Runeterra. It's neither a physical adaptation nor the same game.
The goal of Riftbound is to accumulate eight victory points by controlling battlegrounds. To do this, you'll have two decks. "But what? Two decks?" you might ask. Rightly so, it's quite unusual, but the truth is, it's a method that makes sense. The creators addressed a recurring problem found in major games like Magic, namely the "mana screw"—the lack of mana generation—and came up with the solution of splitting the deck into two parts. Your main deck, with your heroes and abilities, and your rune deck, which will serve as your mana that you will draw each turn.
Card Types
In keeping with the League of Legends (LoL) theme, Riftbound features cards with plenty of references that will certainly appeal to fans of Riot's video game. Let's dive into its content:
- Legends: This is a unique and powerful card that defines the game plan and provides passive abilities from the start. Each deck is built around an iconic character from the game.
- Champions: These are super-powerful units that can be played at least once per game. Think of champions as your right-hand man, your...commander.
- Units: These are the creatures and beasts you send into battle to conquer the battlefields. And believe me, the references are crazy!
- Spells: There are several types of spells (Base, Action, Reaction) that allow you to act at different times of the turn, and, unlike Lorcana, some spells can be played during the opponent's turn.
The Collection and Products
The first edition is called Origins and will feature over 300 unique cards. Like most TCGs, there are different levels of rarity, including common, uncommon, rare, and epic. BUT! Special cards can be included in your packs, and that makes all the difference! These cards, called "Overnumbered," are not only very rare, but are also unique, will never be reprinted with this art, and will also be signed by the artists. Enough to attract serious collectors or create unforgettable opening memories.
Each booster contains 14 cards (7 common, 3 uncommon, 2 rare/superior foil, 1 random rarity foil, and 1 token).
This first edition will also feature pre-built decks based on characters you'll likely recognize if you've even heard of the Arcane series: Jinx, Lee Sin, and Viktor. These decks will serve as an easy introduction for new TCG players or simply for veteran players who want to learn the game at a leisurely pace.
For our large group players, a Proving Grounds starter pack will help you learn the basics with 2 to 4 players.
The Competitive Scene
If you're like me, the arrival of a new game can lead to some hesitation about whether the competitive scene is well managed, but Riot has partnered with publisher UVS Games, a veteran of the industry.
UVS Games owns the UniVersus game, which has been around for almost 20 years. They stand out for their expertise in publishing competitive games based on popular intellectual properties. Whether it's Critical Role, Mortal Kombat, Star Trek, Solo Leveling, or Attack on Titan, it's only natural to see Riot partner with this publisher for their new game.
Thank you for reading this far for the first editorial in the store! We hope we can keep you informed about other current topics in the industry! If you have a TCG-related topic you'd like us to cover, let us know by leaving a comment or by following us on social media! In the meantime, pre-order your Riftbound products in-store now! And join us for our Riftbound: Origins launch event on October 31st!