Riftbound for Beginners: How to Start
The short version
- Riftbound is Riot Games' physical League of Legends card game, published in English by UVS Games — a real, official product, not a fan project.
- The cheapest way in is a ready-to-play product (a preconstructed deck or a Proving Grounds kit), not a booster box.
- Five sets are out so far: Origins, Origins: Proving Grounds, Spirit Forged, Unleashed and Vendetta — see every set in order for the full picture, including what's next.
- Coming from League of Legends itself rather than another card game? Here's how the two connect.
Riftbound is the League of Legends Trading Card Game from Riot Games (published in English by UVS Games). If you're brand new, here's how to start playing — and exactly what to buy first without overspending.
What is Riftbound?
Riftbound is a collectible card game set in the League of Legends universe. You build a deck around a Legend (your champion) using cards across the game's domains — Fury, Calm, Mind, Body, Chaos, Order and Colorless — and card types like Units, Spells, Gear, Runes and Battlefields. Five sets have released so far: Origins (OGN), Origins: Proving Grounds, Spirit Forged (SFD), Unleashed (UNL) and Vendetta (VEN) — see every Riftbound set in order if you want the full picture, including what's coming next. Coming from the video game rather than another card game? Here's exactly how Riftbound connects to League of Legends.
Want the full rules before you buy anything? The interactive learn page walks through a whole game step by step, domain by domain, free and with no signup.
The easiest way to start
- Grab a ready-to-play product. A preconstructed deck or a Proving Grounds kit gives you a complete, playable deck out of the box — the cheapest way in. Compare prices on the sealed products page.
- Learn the deck, then upgrade it card-by-card with singles — far cheaper than buying booster boxes hoping to pull what you need.
- Find the cheapest copies with RiftCompare — see our where to buy Riftbound cards guide.
What to buy first (on a budget)
- A preconstructed / Proving Grounds deck — instant playability.
- A handful of singles to upgrade weak spots — look up exact prices on the card database.
- Skip the chase cards at first — alt-arts and Signatures look great but aren't needed to play well.
Tips for new players
- Browse the meta on the decks page to see what top players run — and what it costs to build.
- Price it before you buy — drop a decklist into the deck pricer to see the full cost across stores before committing.
Ready to dive in? Browse the Riftbound card database or compare sealed products to get started.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to start playing Riftbound?
A single preconstructed deck or Proving Grounds kit is enough to play your first game — it comes complete and ready to play, no singles required.
Is Riftbound expensive to get into?
Not if you start right. A preconstructed deck is a fixed, modest cost, and you can upgrade it one card at a time with cheap singles rather than buying booster boxes hoping to pull what you need.
How many Riftbound sets are there for a beginner to worry about?
Five have released — Origins, Origins: Proving Grounds, Spirit Forged, Unleashed and Vendetta — but you don't need to know all of them to start. A single starter deck from any set is a complete, playable game on its own.
Do I need to learn the full rules before buying anything?
No — buy or borrow a starter deck first, then learn by playing. RiftCompare's interactive learn page walks through a full game step by step if you want the rules before you sit down.
Ready to buy?
Compare live prices for every Riftbound single across every store we track.