Quick Answer
If you play League of Legends, you already know the champions. Now Riot has turned them into a physical trading card game, and Australia is officially part of the competitive scene. Here is everything you need to know to get started with Riftbound without wasting money or buying the wrong thing. See current prices at /cards/riftbound.
If you play League of Legends, you already know the champions. Now Riot has turned them into a physical trading card game, and Australia is officially part of the competitive scene. Here is everything you need to know to get started with Riftbound without wasting money or buying the wrong thing.
What Is Riftbound?
Riftbound is the official League of Legends trading card game, developed by Riot Games and published by UVS Games. It launched in English in October 2025 and has already run Regional Qualifiers across the US, France, Belgium, and Canada, with the first Australian RQ landing in Sydney in May 2026.
The game is built around Champion Legends, iconic LoL characters like Jinx, Ahri, Draven, Annie, Irelia, and Fiora, who each lead a 40-card deck. The goal is not to reduce your opponent's life points. Instead, you win by scoring 8 points through controlling Battlefields across the table. It is closer to the zone-control of League than it is to traditional TCG combat, which makes it different from Pokemon, MTG, or YuGiOh.
How the Game Works
Each player chooses a Champion Legend before the game. Your Legend determines which two Domains (colours) your deck can use, and gives you a unique ability you can activate during play.
The six Domains are: Fury (Red), Calm (Green), Mind (Blue), Body (Orange), Chaos (Purple), and Order (Yellow).
Every deck is 40 cards plus a 12-card Rune deck. Runes generate the Energy and Power you use to play cards each turn. Maximum three copies of any card.
A turn goes: Beginning phase (ready cards, gain Runes), Main phase (play units, attach equipment, cast spells), Attack phase (send units to Battlefields), End phase (draw up to hand limit). You score a point when you conquer a Battlefield. First to 8 points wins. Games typically run 20-30 minutes.
The Three Sets Available Now
Origins (Set 1), Released October 2025. The base set. 160 cards, the original 8 Legends including Jinx, Viktor, Lee Sin, Draven, Annie, Ahri, Rek'Sa, and Ezreal.
Spiritforged (Set 2), Released February 2026. Introduced 12 new Legends including Irelia, Fiora, Azir, Kai'Sa, Darius, Lucian, and Yasuo. Added Equipment cards and Gold tokens. Considered the set that made Riftbound a serious competitive game.
Unleashed (Set 3), Released May 8, 2026. Over 220 cards, 30+ alternate art variants, and a new Ultimate rarity. Introduces Rengar, Vi, Poppy, and LeBlanc. New mechanics: XP, Hunt, and Ambush.
What to Buy First
To learn cheaply: Start with a Preconstructed Champion Deck. These are ready-to-play 40-card decks. Jinx, Viktor, and Lee Sin decks are commonly available. Expect to pay AU$25-35 each.
To compete at local events: The competitive meta as of May 2026 has LeBlanc, Fiora, and Irelia as the top-performing Legends. A competitive list costs roughly AU$80-150 in singles depending on which Overnumber cards you include.
To open packs: Unleashed booster boxes contain 24 packs, each with 14 cards. Expect to pay AU$110-130 per box at Australian retailers.
Where to Find Riftbound in Australia
Cherry Collectables, Gameology, Good Games, and Collectible Madness all stock Riftbound. For singles, our eBay store carries Riftbound singles with Australian shipping. See our Shop page for sealed product affiliate links.
Not affiliated with Riot Games or UVS Games. Riftbound and all associated marks are property of Riot Games.
The Core Loop: What You Do Each Turn
Each turn in Riftbound follows a consistent structure:
- Draw: draw cards to refill your hand
- Energy: gain Energy for the turn (Energy resets each turn, unlike MTG mana)
- Main Phase: spend Energy to play cards, equip items, use abilities
- Combat Phase: your Champion and creatures attack or defend
- End Phase: discard down to hand size, resolve end-of-turn effects
The XP your Champion accumulates persists across turns. Equipment attached to your Champion also persists. Your hand is the variable; your Champion's level and Equipment are the constants.
Reading a Riftbound Card
Every Riftbound card has:
Cost: Top left. Energy required to play. Type: Character, Spell, Equipment, or Location. Stats: Power (attack) and Health (damage it can absorb before being removed). Ability Text: What the card does. Triggered abilities (happens when a condition is met) and activated abilities (costs Energy or another resource to use). XP Value: Some cards grant XP to your Champion when played or when certain conditions are met.
Champions and How They Level Up
Your Champion starts at Rank 1. Gaining enough XP advances them to Rank 2, then Rank 3. Each rank has:
- Increased base stats (more Health, more Power)
- New or improved abilities
- Access to higher-tier Equipment
Most decks have a clear "hit Rank 3 as fast as possible" objective because Rank 3 Champions are significantly more powerful. The speed at which you reach Rank 3 while keeping your opponent from doing the same determines most games.
Where to Play Riftbound in Australia
Local game stores across Australian cities run regular Riftbound nights. Since RQ Sydney in May 2026, interest has grown significantly. Riot Games supports Australian Organised Play through Official Store events and the Regional Qualifier circuit.
Find Riftbound players through the Riftbound Australia Facebook group, Discord community, and by checking with your local game store.
The C3 Release Calendar tracks upcoming Riftbound events in Australia, including RQ Singapore (September 2026) and the Riftbound Melbourne event (October 2026).
Your First Steps in Australia
The Australian TCG community is welcoming to new players at all levels. Whether you are starting a new game or returning to one you played before, the best first step is finding a local game store and asking when they run beginner events.
All major Australian cities have multiple active game stores running weekly nights for the TCGs covered on this site. The C3 Release Calendar tracks upcoming events so you can find one near you.
For pricing on specific cards before you buy, the C3 Card Compare tool shows current AUD pricing from eBay AU sold data. For tracking your collection as it grows, the free C3 Collection Tracker works across all 8 TCGs on this site.
The C3 Take
The decisions you make with your TCG collection matter more than most guides suggest. Whether you are buying, selling, or holding, the difference between a good outcome and a poor one almost always comes down to checking current AUD prices before you act. Use the live data at /cards/riftbound to make price-informed decisions every time.
What to Read Next
- Browse Riftbound card prices at /cards/riftbound
- Find your Riftbound champion at /quizzes/riftbound-champion
- Calculate booster box expected value at /tools
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to start playing Riftbound in Australia?
The minimum entry cost depends on the game. Most TCGs have starter or preconstructed decks in the AU$20-90 range that give you everything needed for your first games. See the specific cost breakdown in this guide.
Is Riftbound popular in Australia?
Yes. Australia has active local game store communities for all major TCGs in major cities. Regional qualifier events run regularly and online communities on Facebook and Discord are active. The specific size varies by game.
Where can I find other Riftbound players in Australia?
Local game stores run regular events. Facebook groups for Australian TCG players are active. Check the C3 Release Calendar for upcoming events near you.
Riftbound releases new sets roughly every three months. The C3 Release Calendar tracks Australian release dates for Vendetta (Set 4, July 31, 2026) and beyond.