Riftbound Guide

Riftbound Unleashed is the third Riftbound set, releasing in English on May 8, 2026. Preview season is now open and this page is being updated as new cards, products, and mechanics are revealed. Bookmark it and check back as things develop.
For a full breakdown of everything confirmed before preview season began, see Riftbound Unleashed: Everything We Know So Far.

What Is Riftbound Unleashed?

Unleashed is Set 3 in the Riftbound TCG and the second English release of 2026, following Spiritforged in February. Based on what Riot has shared so far, the set’s flavour is built around timing and striking at the right moment, rewarding players who bide their time and hit when it counts. The development team has described it as “really special,” though the specifics are still under wraps until preview season begins.

If you are brand new to Riftbound, Unleashed is not the most obvious entry point. Origins and Spiritforged Champion Decks are the cheaper, lower-commitment way to learn the game first. That said, the new Unleashed Vault is specifically designed to help newer players kick-start their collection quickly, so it is worth factoring in when planning your first purchase around the May release.

If you want to start playing before Unleashed drops, Origins is the set to begin with. The Proving Grounds two-player starter set is the easiest entry point, and individual Champion Decks are a good next step once you know which legend you want to build around. You can browse current availability on TCGPlayer.

Key Dates

Unleashed Dev Drop

The Unleashed Dev Drop published on March 16 confirmed three new mechanics, six new tokens, a new Ultimate rarity tier, and additional champion details. The key confirms from the video were XP (a resource that tracks a unit’s level and unlocks new abilities at thresholds), Hunt (a keyword that grants XP when conquering or holding a battlefield), and Ambush (a keyword that allows a unit to be played as a Reaction to a contested battlefield). The Brush token was also confirmed, introduced by Ivern, replacing existing battlefields entirely, which is a new concept for Riftbound. A full breakdown of all new mechanics is in the What’s New section below.

What’s New in Unleashed

Set Size

Unleashed contains 219 cards in total, confirmed via the collector number on the Rengar Pridestalker card reveal (227/219).

Confirmed Legends

Twelve legends are expected in Unleashed, though Riot has not confirmed the total. All twelve have now been confirmed or revealed. The count will be updated if further legends are announced.

New Mechanics

Three new mechanics have been confirmed for Unleashed, all revealed during the Dev Drop and Unleashed Overview Article on March 16.

For a full beginner-friendly breakdown of how these mechanics work in practice, see the Riftbound Unleashed Mechanics Guide.

Baron Pit

Baron Pit is a new battlefield token mechanic confirmed for Unleashed. Six new tokens have been confirmed in total. The most notable is the Brush token, introduced by Ivern, which replaces existing battlefields entirely rather than adding to them. No previous Riftbound card has replaced a battlefield in this way, making Brush tokens a genuinely new concept for the game.

Dark Glow Showcase Cards

Dark Glow is the name of the Unleashed showcase card series, Riftbound’s premium alternate-art treatment for select cards in the set. The Dark Glow series was confirmed ahead of preview season. Specific cards in the series will be revealed from March 16.

Ultimate Rarity

Unleashed introduces a new Ultimate rarity tier. Ultimate cards appear in under 0.1% of packs. Only one Ultimate card exists in the set: an overnumbered Baron Nashor, making it the rarest card in Riftbound history. If you are a collector, this is the one to know about.

More Original Riftbound Art

Riot has committed to increasing the amount of original Riftbound artwork with each new set. Baron Nashor has already been shown with original Riftbound art, which is a notable step up in ambition compared to previous sets.

Unleashed Products

Three product types have been confirmed for Unleashed. For a full breakdown of which product is right for you, see the Riftbound Unleashed products buying guide. Preorder links will be added to this page as soon as they go live.

Vi Champion Deck

The Vi Champion Deck is a 56-card preconstructed deck built around an aggressive, unit-buffing strategy. According to the official product description, the deck is designed for players who want to pressure their opponent from the start and hit hard. It includes one Unleashed booster pack, a full-size paper playmat, a custom paper deckbox, and a rules and deck-building guide booklet. It is listed as suitable for new players jumping in for the first time.

Vex Champion Deck

The Vex Champion Deck takes the opposite approach to Vi, built around slow and steady control. The idea is to incrementally wear down your opponent while holding battlefields, forcing them into difficult decisions until you have the advantage. Same contents as the Vi deck: 56 cards, one booster pack, playmat, deckbox, and guide booklet.

Unleashed Vault

The Vault is a new product type introduced with Unleashed, designed specifically to help newer players build up their collection and get the accessories they need in one purchase. Rather than just being a bundle of packs, it includes the Runes you need to actually build and play decks, plus token cards and dividers for organising your collection. The full contents are confirmed as:

• 6 Unleashed booster packs
• 3 double-sided full-art token cards
• 2 punch-out art dividers
• 6 of each Rune type (36 Runes total)
• Custom card storage box

If you are thinking about jumping into Riftbound with Unleashed rather than starting with an earlier set, the Vault is probably the most practical single purchase. You get packs to open alongside the Runes and accessories you will actually need to play, without having to buy them separately.

Booster Packs and Displays

Standard Unleashed booster packs (14 cards each) and booster displays will be available at launch, following the same format as Origins and Spiritforged. Pricing and preorder links coming closer to release.

Where to Buy Riftbound Unleashed

Preorders are not live at major retailers yet. When they do go live, the main options for most players will be TCGPlayer for transparent pricing and singles, Amazon for convenience and Prime shipping, and local game stores for in-person pickup around the Pre-Rift event week. Preorder links will be added here as soon as they are available.

TCGPlayer is the best place to check for current Unleashed listings. Multiple sellers compete on price and stock updates quickly as preorders go live.

Amazon is worth checking for sealed product once listings go live.

Stay Updated as Previews Drop

Preview season runs from March 16 through March 26. This page will be updated throughout that window as confirmed information comes in. Here is what is still to come:

• Additional legend confirmations as card reveals continue
• Preorder links for Champion Decks, the Vault, and booster displays
• A beginner’s buying guide for Unleashed: which products make sense for which type of player.

You can also bookmark this page directly. The “last updated” note at the top will tell you whether there is anything new since your last visit.

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What’s Coming Next: The 2026 Riftbound Roadmap

Unleashed is not the end of 2026. Riot has already confirmed two more sets this year, with release dates, confirmed champions, and product details available for both. Here is what is on the horizon after May 8.

Vendetta: July 31, 2026

Vendetta is Set 4, releasing July 31, 2026. It is a large set with 9 champion legends and over 160 cards, including 50+ showcase cards. Seven champions have already been confirmed: Nasus, Renekton, Akali, Mel, Ambessa, Zed, and Shen. The Desert and Noxus themes are well represented, and the Shen vs Zed pairing for the Showdown Deck makes sense given their long rivalry in League of Legends lore.

Radiance: October 23, 2026

Radiance is Set 5 and the final Riftbound release of 2026, arriving October 23. It is the largest set confirmed so far, with 180 cards and 60+ showcase cards. Three champions have been confirmed: Seraphine, Ekko, and Evelynn. The Showdown Deck pairing of Seraphine vs Evelynn was announced at GAMA Expo on March 5, 2026, making it one of the earliest confirmed Showdown Deck matchups for a set still months away.