Riftbound - Riot Games makes a TCG and doesn't include Teemo?

What & Who

• Developer / Publisher: Riot Games, in collaboration with UVS Games (the publisher/distributor).

• Franchise / Setting: Set in the League of Legends universe (Runeterra). Many of the same champions, spells, runes, items etc. familiar from LoL appear in card form.

• Physical Trading Card Game: This is meant to be a tabletop, physical TCG, not just digital.

Release & Sets

• First Set: “Origins” is the debut/launch set. It contains over 300 cards.

• Launch Schedule:

  • In China: Summer 2025.

  • In many English‑speaking countries: around October 2025.

• Products at Launch:

  • Booster packs (14 cards)

  • Preconstructed Champion Decks (56 cards) built around specific champion legends like Jinx, Viktor, Lee Sin.

  • Starter/introductory set (“Proving Grounds”) for new players or groups of players.

Key Components & Card Types

Here are the important parts of the game:

• Champion Legends: Each deck is built around a Champion Legend card. This card determines which domains (colors) you use and gives unique strategic direction.

• Domains: The colors or “domains” you choose define what type of cards you can include, what strategic strengths you have. Champions/Legends define the domains for a deck.

• Rune Deck / Runes: Runes are a resource mechanic. You have a separate rune deck (12 cards) from which you get resources each turn. You pay card costs with runes. There are different ways to use them (exhaust for cheaper plays, or return for more powerful cards, etc.).

• Battlefields: Spatial locations that players fight over/control. Owning a Battlefield gives points; holding control over turns gives more. Capturing and controlling Battlefields is central to victory.

• Other card types: Units, Spells, Gear, etc., in addition to Champions / Legends. These support your champion and help you fight for battlefields.

Game Play & Victory Conditions

Here’s roughly how a game of Riftbound works:

1. Deck Construction:

   • You build a Main Deck (40 cards), choose a Champion Legend, a Rune Deck (12 runes), and a Battlefield card.

   • There are limits like how many copies of a card, matching domains, etc.

2. Turn Structure / Progress:

   • At the start of your turn you ready your cards (unexhaust), draw runes into your rune area, draw main deck cards, handle any start‑of‑turn effects.

   • Use runes to play cards: units, spells, gear, etc. You move units or champions onto Battlefields to try to capture them.

3. Battlefields & Scoring:

   • Capturing or controlling a Battlefield gives you points. You can score one point for capturing, and then more points each turn you maintain control.

   • The goal is to reach a certain threshold of points: typically 8 points in 1v1, or 11 points in team games.

Rarity / Collectibility

• Cards come in various rarities: common, uncommon, rare, epic, legendary, etc.

• There are also special “alternate art” versions, and “over‑numbered” cards (cards with collector numbers higher than the main set size) which are rarer.

• Some cards (rare, epic, over‑numbered) come foil by default.

Formats & Modes

• Plays support 1v1 (one opponent), 2v2 (team games), and free‑for‑all multiplayer (every player for themselves).

• “Proving Grounds” is an introductory product meant to help new players get into the game with balanced decks.

Learning Curve & Accessibility

• Riot and the developers appear to have put effort into making the game approachable for new players: starter sets, guided learning, simpler decks to begin with.

• At the same time, there’s strategic depth: resource management via runes, control of multiple battlefields, choice of champion & domains, etc.

What Makes Riftbound Stand Out

A few factors that give Riftbound its distinct flavor:

• League of Legends IP: Lots of recognizable characters, lore, and fanbase already exist. That helps both in art/visual appeal and in attracting existing LoL players.

• Physical card focus: Riot already has strong digital card game presence (e.g. Legends of Runeterra), but Riftbound aims for the physical collectible / tabletop experience.

• Multi‑player Formats: Having support from 1v1 up to 4 players gives flexibility. Many TCGs are strictly head-to-head; Riftbound being more flexible could appeal more broadly.

• Collectibility & Rarity Layers: With alternate art, over‑numbered cards, etc., there’s incentive for collectors beyond just playing competitively.

Potential Challenges / Things to Watch

• Balancing dual‑domain champion decks so no single combination becomes overpowered.

• How fast will the meta evolve, especially as new expansions are released.

• Distribution and cost: booster pack costs, availability in local stores, how well the Proving Grounds starter set performs as an entry point.

• Organized play & tournament infrastructure: locals, regionals, etc. These are important for a TCG’s longevity. There are plans, but success depends on execution.