If you are stuck on which Riftbound deck should I buy, here is the short answer: if you have never played before, buy the Proving Grounds Starter Set. If you already know which champion you want, buy their Champion Deck. If you are buying as a gift, buy Proving Grounds. You do not need the rest of this article to act on that. But if you want the reasoning behind your specific situation, read the section that matches you below.
Page last updated: 21 May 2026.
Unleashed is now live. All seven new Champion Decks including Vi and Vex are available now.
I have never played a card game before
Get the Proving Grounds Starter Set. It is the only Riftbound product built for someone starting from zero. Here is what is in the box:
- Two complete 40-card decks (Jinx and Viktor)
- A double-sided game mat
- All tokens, markers, and counters you need to play
- A rulebook covering everything from setup to win conditions
At $40, that covers both players completely. You open it, read through the rulebook, and you are playing the same session. Nothing else to buy, nothing to figure out first. The two decks inside are well-matched against each other, which means your first games feel like actual games rather than one person winning easily. The Starter Deck Comparison breaks down how Jinx and Viktor differ if you want to know what you are getting before you commit.
The decision here is not complicated. You have never played. Get Proving Grounds. Everything else comes after.
I already know which champion I want to play
If you have watched gameplay footage, followed along with the preview season, or you have a favourite League of Legends champion and you know who you want to build a deck around, skip Proving Grounds and go straight to a Champion Deck. At $15 to $20 each, you are getting a complete 56-card deck designed around one champion’s specific playstyle, ready to open and play. The only catch: Champion Decks are single-player, so you need an opponent who already has their own deck.
One thing worth saying clearly before you look at the options: there is no wrong choice here. Every Champion Deck is a complete, playable product. None of them are traps. The differences are about play style, not quality. Pick the champion you like the most and you will be fine.
We have full guides for all seven pre-built Champion Decks:
| Champion | Play Style | Approx. Price | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jinx | Fast and relentless. Jinx wants the game over before your opponent figures out how to stop her. If you want to feel like you are always one step ahead and your opponent is always reacting to you, this is your deck. | ~$15 | Guide |
| Viktor | Patient and compounding. Viktor builds a board that gets harder to deal with every turn. If you like watching your plan come together while your opponent runs out of answers, Viktor is your champion. | ~$15 | Guide |
| Lee Sin | Flexible and unpredictable. Lee Sin uses positioning and combat tricks to win fights he probably should not win. Good if you want to feel clever and keep your opponent guessing. | ~$15 | Guide |
| Fiora | Precise and methodical. Fiora wins through efficient trading rather than overwhelming force. If you want to feel like a player who picks exactly the right moment to engage and comes out ahead, this is your deck. | ~$20 | Guide |
| Rumble | Aggressive and relentless. Rumble applies constant pressure through area damage and direct hits. If you want to be on the front foot every turn and feel like your opponent is always scrambling to catch up, Rumble delivers that. | ~$20 | Guide |
| Vi | Hard-hitting and momentum-driven. Vi rewards dealing excess damage in combat. Every time you hit harder than you need to, you get to ready a unit and attack again. If you want a deck that snowballs forward and makes your opponent feel like they cannot keep up, Vi is made for you. | $19.99 | Guide |
| Vex | Deliberate and suffocating. Vex is built around making every decision your opponent makes feel wrong. Her champion unit stuns anything they play while she is on the board. If you want to feel like you are in complete control while your opponent struggles to find a line, Vex is your deck. | $19.99 | Guide |
If you want to play Jax or Draven, we have guides for those too, but they work differently from the seven products above. Jax and Draven are not pre-built decks you can buy in one go. They are decks you assemble yourself by purchasing individual cards from TCGPlayer. These are not recommended as a first purchase for a beginner. The Jax deck guide and the Budget Draven guide cover exactly which cards to buy and what the full build will cost you.
One thing to keep in mind regardless of which champion you choose: Champion Decks are single-player decks. You need an opponent who already has their own deck. If neither of you owns anything yet, Proving Grounds is still the more practical starting point because it covers both players at once.
If you are leaning toward Vi or Vex and want a data point: Vex performed strongly at RQ Sydney in the first major Unleashed event. That is one tournament and the meta is still settling, but it is a positive signal that the deck is competitive out of the box. Vi is the more straightforward starting point if you are newer to TCGs. Vex rewards understanding what your opponent is trying to do, which comes with a few games of experience.
If you know your champion, buy their deck. You already have your answer.
I am buying this as a gift
Proving Grounds is the right call for a gift, and it is not a close decision. Here is why it works so well as a gift compared to a Champion Deck:
| Proving Grounds (~$40) | Champion Deck (~$15-20) | |
|---|---|---|
| Ready to play immediately | Yes: two decks, mat, tokens, rulebook included | No: needs a second player with their own deck |
| Requires prior knowledge | No: rulebook covers everything | Some: assumes familiarity with the game |
| Requires champion preference | No: two decks already chosen | Yes: wrong pick is a wasted gift |
| Good for someone new to TCGs | Yes | Risky |
The short version: a Champion Deck given as a gift to someone who does not already play Riftbound is a deck they cannot use without you also buying them a second deck and figuring out the rules together. Proving Grounds gives them everything in one box.
The one exception worth knowing: if the recipient already plays Riftbound and you know which champion they have been wanting to build around, a Champion Deck makes a genuinely thoughtful gift. In that case the Starter Deck Comparison will help you work out which one fits their style.
Otherwise: Proving Grounds. Done.
What about Unleashed?
If part of your answer to which Riftbound deck should I buy is “whichever has my favourite champion,” Unleashed is now live. It adds seven new Champion Decks: Vi, Vex, Rengar, Pyke, Diana, Master Yi, and Poppy. All seven are $19.99 each. If any of those appeal to you more than the original five, they are available now.
Unleashed also introduces new mechanics including XP, Hunt, and Ambush. These change how the game plays meaningfully compared to the original set. If you are starting fresh and your preferred champion is in Unleashed, this is a good time to jump in.
Proving Grounds remains the right starting point for complete beginners regardless of which set is current. For the full breakdown of every Unleashed product and what is in each one, see the Unleashed products guide.
Final Verdict
If you have never played Riftbound before, buy the Proving Grounds Starter Set. It is the only product that gives two people everything they need to start.
If you already know which champion you want to play, buy their Champion Deck. Any of the seven is a complete, playable product. There is no wrong pick.
If you are buying as a gift for someone new to the game, buy Proving Grounds. It works without any prior knowledge or extra purchases.
If you genuinely cannot decide between Champion Decks and want a clear default: buy Vi. She is the most straightforward starting point in the Unleashed set and her deck rewards aggressive, forward-moving play. If you prefer a slower, more controlling style, buy Vex instead. She performed strongly at RQ Sydney and rewards players who like making every opponent decision feel wrong.
Where to Buy
TCGPlayer is the best place to buy Riftbound products. Multiple sellers compete on price, stock updates daily, and you can find everything from the Proving Grounds Starter Set to individual Champion Decks in one place.
Amazon stocks Champion Decks reasonably well and is worth checking if you have Prime or want faster shipping. Proving Grounds availability on Amazon is inconsistent, so TCGPlayer is the more reliable option for that product.
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Unleashed Is Now Live
Seven new Champion Decks, three new mechanics, and a full new product lineup. See the full Unleashed product guide to find out what is in each box and which deck is right for you.