Riftbound Guide

What Is Riftbound Proving Grounds?

Riftbound: Origins Proving Grounds is the official starter set for Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game developed by Riot Games and UVS Games. It launched on 31 October 2025 and is designed to get two, three, or four players into the game with no preparation and no prior knowledge required from anyone at the table.

The original print run sold out almost immediately and has been hard to find since. The confirmed reprint is now arriving. The Riot Merch Store drawing price is $29.99 / EUR31.99. Local game store pricing may vary.

You want to introduce someone to Riftbound and you want to get it right. Maybe it is a partner, a group of friends, a sibling who plays League, or a family game night that needs something with a bit more bite than what is already on the shelf. You want one box that covers everything: decks, rules, tokens, boards, and you want to hand it to people who have never played before and have it work.

That is exactly what Proving Grounds is designed for. When I looked at everything Riot released alongside Origins, Proving Grounds was the only product that genuinely felt built for that moment. Not for players who are already in. For the people you are trying to bring in.

This guide covers everything you need before buying: what is in the box, how each deck plays, what makes the 24 exclusive cards matter, how Proving Grounds compares to the Champion Decks, and honestly where to find a copy right now.

What’s in the Box?

Here is everything included in a single Proving Grounds box set:

• 4 fully preconstructed decks (Annie, Master Yi, Lux, and Garen). Each deck contains 54 cards split between shared Origins cards and 6 exclusive cards unique to that champion.
• 24 exclusive cards found nowhere else in the Origins set. These are split across the four decks (6 per deck) and cannot be pulled from booster packs. Several have turned out to be genuinely useful in competitive play.
• 4 acrylic tokens. One per deck, double-sided with a happy face when you are winning and a grumpy face when you are losing.
• 4 game boards / battlefield mats. Printed boards that give each player a structured play area and help new players remember where everything goes.
• A step-by-step guided play rulebook that walks new players through turn order, energy, combat, and scoring, building complexity gradually rather than dumping it all at once.
• Deck upgrade suggestions. Guidance on which Origins booster cards slot naturally into each deck as a next step.

The box supports 2-4 players out of the box. Head-to-head duels, three-way free-for-alls, and team-based 2v2 are all viable formats with what is included.

Will It Be Too Complicated?

This is the fear that stops most people from pulling the trigger, and it is worth addressing directly.

Proving Grounds was built specifically for this problem. The rulebook uses a guided play format. It does not hand you the full rules and wish you luck. It walks each player through the first few turns step by step, introducing concepts one at a time rather than front-loading everything before the first card is played. By the time the gloves come off and you are playing a real game, everyone at the table understands what is happening.

I researched this product thoroughly before writing this guide and the consistent feedback from new players is that the guided play experience works. People with no TCG background were able to play a full game on their first attempt. The four decks are balanced against each other specifically so no one at the table has an unfair advantage just because they picked a particular champion.

If the concern is that someone in the group will already know how to play and find it boring, the four distinct playstyles in the box give experienced players something to think about too. Annie plays differently to Garen. Lux plays differently to Master Yi. The tactics are simple to learn and genuinely varied.

The Four Decks: Which One Should You Pick?

Each deck teaches a different core gameplay concept. They are balanced against each other so no single deck has a built-in win advantage, the matchups are intentionally close. Here is how to choose if you are picking one to focus on.

🔥 Annie: Dark Child (Aggression)

Annie is the most aggressive deck in the box. Low-cost units, fast spells, relentless early pressure. The plan is to get cards on the board quickly, chain spell combos, and end the game before your opponent can stabilise.

Start here if: You want to attack every turn, you like the idea of building combos, or you have played aggro decks in other card games and want something familiar. Annie also teaches energy management better than any other deck in the box. Spending too much too early leaves you exposed, and you will feel that lesson in real time.

⚔️ Garen: Might of Demacia (Durability)

Garen is the patient option. Durable units, efficient combat trades, consistent board presence. Where Annie tries to end things quickly, Garen grinds, developing the board turn by turn and applying pressure only when the position is right.

Start here if: You want to outlast your opponent, you find decision-making easier when you are reacting rather than attacking, or you are the kind of player who likes to have an answer ready before committing. Garen also teaches blocking and board trading better than any other deck in the box, which is one of the most transferable skills in Riftbound.

✨ Lux: Lady of Luminosity (Tempo and Spells)

Lux plays around spells and timing. The deck teaches players how and when to respond to opponent actions rather than just executing a plan. If you hold a spell and wait for exactly the right moment, Lux rewards that instinct.

Start here if: You want to hold spells in hand and pick your moments, you have played control decks in other games, or you find pure aggression or pure defence a bit one-dimensional. Lux has the highest skill ceiling of the four decks for casual play, there is always more to learn about when to react and when to pass.

🗡️ Master Yi: Wuju Bladesman (Aggression + Efficiency)

Master Yi hits hard and does not slow down. Like Annie he is aggressive, but Yi’s deck leans into single powerful units and efficient attacks rather than spell chains. He rewards players who can read when to commit and when to hold back.

Start here if: You want to build up one powerful unit and push with it, you prefer clean efficient decisions over complex spell timing, or you are a fan of Yi in League and want to feel that same energy at the table. Yi is also a natural second deck for someone who found Annie fun but wants a slightly different flavour of aggression.

The 24 Exclusive Cards: What Are They and Do They Matter?

This is one of the most important things to understand before buying, and it is something a lot of guides skip over.

The 24 exclusive cards are unique to this box set. They do not appear in Origins booster packs and cannot be opened in booster displays. Each deck contains 6 exclusives: the Champion Legend card plus 5 supporting cards built for the Proving Grounds gameplay experience.

Three things worth knowing:

• The Proving Grounds versions of Annie, Lux, Garen, and Master Yi are different cards from any versions in Origins boosters. This box is the only place to get them.
• Several exclusive cards have turned out to be genuinely useful in competitive play, not just beginner tools. Riot has confirmed that future starter products will not include mechanically unique cards, making these 24 cards permanently exclusive to this product.
• The exclusive support cards are legal for casual play. Check current Riftbound organised play rules if you plan to use them competitively.

PriceCharting tracks all 24 Proving Grounds exclusive cards individually if you want to check secondary market values.

Proving Grounds vs Champion Decks: Which Should You Buy?

This is the question most new players actually need answered before spending anything. The honest answer depends on your situation.

You cannot make a wrong choice here. Proving Grounds is the right answer if you are buying for a group. Champion Decks are the right answer if you are buying for one person or need something immediately. Either way you are getting into Riftbound with a solid foundation.

Do You Need One Copy or Two?

One copy handles 2-4 players without any issues. Two copies are worth considering if you want two players to each keep their own deck permanently, you are running an event or club and need two independent setups, or you want to experiment with the exclusive card pool across more varied builds.

At $29.99 per box via the Riot Merch Store drawing, that is a complete four-player game night for the price of a decent restaurant starter. Two copies at that price is still a very affordable way to equip a group compared to most TCG alternatives.

Where to Buy Riftbound Proving Grounds

Reprint stock is arriving now. Here is the honest picture as of May 2026.

Riot Merch Store (Drawing). The May drawing restock is live and includes Proving Grounds at $29.99 / EUR31.99. Enter the drawing at merch.riotgames.com. Note: this is a drawing system, not a direct purchase, you register for a chance to buy and are notified if selected. Fulfillment for selected orders begins mid-June. Limit one per Riot ID.

Local Game Stores (LGS). Reprint stock is confirmed arriving at US local game stores in May. This is the fastest way to get a copy if your local store receives it. The product code is UVSRB01PG02 for the reprint. Ask your store to reserve one. Use the UVS Games store locator to find your nearest stockist.

TCGPlayer lists Proving Grounds from third-party sellers. Check current listings and filter by condition and price, some sellers are charging well above MSRP for the original print run.

The best available option right now while retail stock confirms:

Chaos Cards – Previously listed at GBP29.99. Check current availability as reprint stock arrives in the UK.

Goblin Gaming – Previously listed at GBP26.99. Check current availability.

eBay UK has listings from third-party sellers. Be cautious of listings marked as the Chinese-language edition, confirm English language (UVSRB01PG01 for original print, UVSRB01PG02 for reprint) before buying.

Cardmarket (cardmarket.com) is Europe’s largest trading card marketplace and stocks Proving Grounds from verified European sellers. A solid option for UK buyers.

Not sure whether Proving Grounds is the right starting point for you? See our guide to which Riftbound deck to buy first for a full breakdown by player type.

Verdict: Is Proving Grounds Worth Buying?

If you want to introduce two to four players to Riftbound with no preparation and no prior knowledge required from anyone at the table, Proving Grounds is the right purchase. That is not a hedged recommendation, it is the only product in the Riftbound range built specifically for that situation.

At $29.99 via the Riot Merch Store drawing, you are getting four complete balanced decks, quality acrylic tokens, a guided rulebook that actually works for beginners, and 24 cards that will never appear in any other product. The value is strong. A complete multiplayer game night for under thirty dollars, the same price as two or three individual meals out, and something you will play more than once.

The box will not take you deep into competitive Riftbound, but that is what booster packs and the Origins Champion Decks are for. Proving Grounds is the on-ramp. It does that job better than any other product in the range.

If this describes your situation, buy it.

Ready to Go Further?

Once you have played through the decks, the natural next step is the Origins Champion Decks guide to see which Champion suits your playstyle. Or if you want to know what is coming next, our Riftbound Unleashed guide covers everything confirmed for the next set.

Get Notified When Proving Grounds Is Available to Buy

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Related Guides on RiftboundGuide.com

• How Combat Works in Riftbound
• Riftbound Origins Champion Decks – Jinx vs Viktor vs Lee Sin
• How to Upgrade Your Proving Grounds Deck with Origins Boosters
• Which Riftbound Starter Should You Buy?
• What is a Riftbound Showdown Deck?