Riftbound’s Jungle-Themed ‘Unleashed’ Expansion Wants to Be the TCG for People Who Don’t Play TCGs

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I’m a big fan of trading card games, ever since I started collecting the very first Pokémon cards back in 1998. However, because none of my friends shared my interest, it was difficult to actually find people to play with. I mostly ended up just collecting the cards. It’s also a bit nerve-wracking walking into a card shop looking to play when you’re new to the game. I wouldn’t want to hold back someone who’s more experienced and make the game less enjoyable for them.

Things are looking up for newcomers to trading card games. While it used to be difficult to get started, 2026 promises more opportunities with lots of “learn to play” events and friendly communities eager to help new players. Plus, with so many options – from classics like Pokemon and Magic: The Gathering to many others – it’s easier than ever to find a game you’ll enjoy.

Riftbound feels like the answer for me. 

I recently had the chance to play a full game of Riftbound at PAX East 2026 with Jon Moormann, a Senior Game Designer at Riot Games. We used two pre-built decks from the new Riftbound: Unleashed expansion – the third set for League of Legends‘ trading card game. I played with a Vi deck (focused on powerful attacks and boosting units), while Jon used Vex (a more defensive strategy centered on control and slowly wearing down the opponent). I ended up losing, but it was a really fun match!

Early in my first playthrough, I managed to skillfully use up several resources to get a unit into play, and it felt great – especially since I had been completely lost just fifteen minutes before. It turns out that feeling of quickly learning the game and becoming engaged is exactly what the designers were aiming for.

Learning in Real Time

I hadn’t played a card game in years – just a little Pokémon as a child – and I went into my Riftbound appointment knowing very little. I only watched a short tutorial beforehand. Luckily, Moormann explained the rules as we played. He showed me how a turn works – Awaken, Beginning, Channel, then Draw – and how you score points by both taking and holding battlefields. He also explained that some cards work better depending on how you earn those points. It didn’t take long before I started to understand the flow of the game.

It’s totally intentional! After we finished playing, the developer, Moormann, explained that they really love both multiplayer card games and super competitive experiences. They started with the goal of making something you could easily play with friends. Because they’re building this game around League of Legends, they knew not everyone who loves League already plays card games, so they wanted to make sure it was easy to pick up and play right away – super accessible for everyone!

Riftbound is a game that learns and adapts as you play it. Instead of long explanations, the game’s creator, Moormann, simply answered questions about card usage with a quick ‘yes’ or ‘no’ and a brief explanation. The rules are well-designed, making most decisions feel natural after just a little experience.

Pre-order your Riftbound: League of Legends TCG Unleashed Booster Display from Amazon | $179.95 (Reg. $209.99)

The Jungle Comes to Runeterra

Okay, so I’ve just checked out Unleashed, the third set in the Riftbound universe, and it’s a really cool dive into a lush jungle setting inspired by the world of League of Legends. The playable Champions this time around – Kha’Zix, Lillia, Diana, and Ivern – definitely emphasize sneaky tactics, ambushes, and powers rooted in nature. What’s really interesting is the introduction of three brand new mechanics that shake things up quite a bit.

  • Ambush, which lets certain units crash into a combat mid-showdown as a surprise reaction
  • XP, a resource you accumulate and spend for unique benefits (and which also feeds a Levels system that evolves cards as you earn more)
  • Hunt, a keyword that rewards conquering and holding battlefields with XP gains

The experience point system really enhanced my game, letting my Moss Stomper unit grow stronger as I played. He began as a relatively weak unit, but by earning XP through my Hunt cards, he evolved into a more powerful threat with a defensive ability. This forced my opponent to invest more effort to deal with him, and it was incredibly satisfying to see that progress unfold organically during the game, all without needing to manually track anything.

Moormann was clearly enthusiastic when discussing Ivern, his favorite champion added to the game. He shared that he’s a dedicated Ivern player in League of Legends – he’s reached Mastery Level 7 and played him almost exclusively for several seasons. The biggest challenge was bringing Ivern’s unique gameplay – a peaceful, passive style in the jungle – to a fast-paced card game. They solved this by focusing on Ivern’s personality. “Ivern is a friend to the forest and cares about all living things,” Moormann explained. As a result, Ivern’s deck in Unleashed focuses on building a team of forest creatures – dogs, cats, birds, and other animals – all working together. “I really love how it turned out,” Moormann said with a smile.

Mechanical Depth Without the Walls of Text

What really stood out to me during the game was how the difficulty increased naturally. It didn’t throw everything at me at once. The beginning was straightforward – playing units, moving to a battle, and trying to win. But as the game went on, things became more complex with abilities like Vex’s stuns, the Hidden mechanic where you secretly place spells, and units that could ambush battles I thought were already decided.

During a match, Moormann cleverly used Skywood Strike to quickly reposition my Vi and stun my Lord Broadway. This unexpectedly triggered Vex’s ability, moving her into a vulnerable spot and creating two simultaneous fights. I only had one reaction card remaining and faced a tough choice. That feeling – a clear situation with a difficult decision – is what makes a competitive game truly well-designed.

The game aims to be easy to pick up but offer a lot of depth for skilled players, according to Moormann. He believes they’ve successfully struck that balance – it’s accessible to beginners, but has complex elements for those who want to master it.

The latest expansion, Unleashed, introduces new tokens that add more strategic depth to the game. When you play Baron Nashor, Baron Pit tokens appear. Bird tokens come with the Deflect ability, Reflections create copies of units already on the board, and Sprites are short-lived creatures that disappear at the start of your next turn, forcing players to think carefully about when to use them. The set also features a new, incredibly rare card tier called Ultimate Rarity, appearing in less than one percent of card packs. The only Ultimate Rare in this expansion is Baron Nashor himself, guaranteeing exciting moments when opening packs.

You Don’t Have to Know What a Mana Curve Is (But it’s OK if You Do!)

When I asked Moormann who the game was designed for, his answer was surprisingly straightforward: everyone. But it’s particularly aimed at players of League of Legends who’ve always wanted to try trading card games but didn’t know where to begin. Riftbound is designed to be easy to learn – you can open one of the pre-constructed decks and enjoy a good game with a friend (or even with a developer at a convention) in just a few minutes.

Experienced trading card game players will find plenty of strategic depth in Riftbound. They can focus on building decks with powerful Champion combinations, mastering the timing of Ambush and stun effects, and carefully managing their XP resources. To support competitive play, Riftbound will host an Organized Play circuit. This includes Summoner Skirmish constructed tournaments – with opportunities to compete on May 25th and June 22nd – which will lead to Regional Qualifier events.

I asked Moormann which champion he’d suggest for someone completely new to the game, and he immediately recommended Jinx from Set 1. He explained that her ability is simple: if you have only one or no cards in your hand, you automatically draw an extra one at the beginning of your turn. It’s a straightforward strategy – play your cards, empty your hand, and get more! For players looking for a more challenging champion, he suggested LeBlanc. Her ability creates mirror copies of other units, but without their special effects, allowing for complex and strategic turn combinations.

I Came to Lose a Card Game and Left Wanting to Build a Deck

I tried the demo for Riftbound: Unleashed thinking it might be confusing, but instead, I immediately wanted to start creating card combinations. That’s a great sign for a game trying to attract people who don’t usually play card games! The jungle setting is enjoyable, the new gameplay elements fit in well, and the entire experience – even while learning as I played – was consistently fun. Riftbound: Unleashed comes out on May 8, 2026, and you can pre-order it now. Local game stores have already started hosting English Pre-Rift sealed-play events, beginning May 1.

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2026-05-04 19:43