How to shuffle your Riftbound deck is one of those things nobody tells you about and everyone quietly figures out as they go. The problem is that a poorly shuffled deck will actually hurt you in a game. Cards clump together, you draw runs of energy or runs of units, and a deck that looks balanced on paper feels broken in play.
The other thing worth knowing before we start: Riftbound uses two decks, not one. Your main deck is 40 cards. Your rune deck is 12 cards. Both need shuffling before each game, and they need slightly different approaches because of the size difference. We will cover both.
Why Shuffling Actually Matters
At the end of a game, your cards tend to pile up in patterns. Units you controlled cluster together. Energy cards sit in groups. If you just give the deck a quick cut and start the next game, those patterns carry over and your draws will feel frustratingly predictable. A proper shuffle breaks those patterns and gives you a genuinely random game.
Your rune deck is only 12 cards, which makes it easy to underestimate. But 12 cards in a fixed order is still a bad starting position. Do not skip it.
Main Deck Techniques (40 Cards)
These three methods all work for a standard 40-card Riftbound main deck. Use them in combination for the best results.
1. Riffle Shuffle
Split your deck into two roughly equal halves. Hold one half in each hand, thumbs on the inner edges. Release cards from each thumb alternately so they interleave as they fall. Then push the two halves together to flatten the deck.
Repeat 5 to 7 times and your deck is genuinely randomised. This is the most effective shuffle available.
The catch: riffling puts real stress on card edges and corners. If your cards are not in sleeves, do not riffle them. Unsleeved Riftbound cards will bend and show wear quickly. With sleeves it is fine, and sleeves are strongly recommended for this reason.
2. Pile Shuffle
Count out your 40 cards by dealing them face-down into separate piles in sequence, then collect the piles and square the deck up. Using 8 piles of 5 works well for a 40-card deck.
Pile shuffling is good for breaking up clumps from a previous game, but it is not truly random on its own because it creates a predictable pattern. Use it as a first step before you riffle or mash shuffle, not as your only method.
Worth noting for organised play: pile shuffling does count as a shuffle at Riftbound events, but judges may ask you to add more randomisation on top of it if they are not satisfied. Combine it with another method to avoid the conversation.
3. Mash Shuffle (Hindu Shuffle)
Split your deck roughly in half. Hold one half in each hand and push the two halves into each other from the short ends, letting them slide and interleave. Repeat until they are fully combined, then do it again.
Mash shuffling is gentler than riffling, which makes it the better choice if you are worried about damaging cards. The trade-off is that it is less thorough, so you need to repeat it more times. Aim for 7 to 10 passes to get the same level of randomisation as 5 to 7 riffle shuffles.
This is a good technique to start with if you are new to card games and not comfortable with riffling yet. It is hard to damage cards with a mash shuffle even without sleeves, though we still recommend sleeves for everything you plan to play regularly.
Rune Deck Techniques (12 Cards)
At 12 cards, your rune deck is too small to riffle shuffle safely. The halves are too thin to interleave properly and the cards will bend. Skip riffling for this one.
What works well: deal into 3 or 4 piles, collect them, and repeat twice. Then follow up with 5 to 7 mash shuffles. That combination properly randomises a 12-card deck without any risk of damage.
I will admit I did not think much about the rune deck when I first read about Riftbound’s structure. It seemed too small to matter. But 12 cards in the same order you used them last game is actually a meaningful disadvantage, especially in a game where your rune (energy) cards drive everything else. Shuffle it properly every time.
Tournament Note
At any Riftbound organised play event, your opponent has the right to cut or shuffle your deck after you have shuffled it. This is a normal part of competitive play and is not an accusation of anything. Accept it as part of the process. You have the same right with their deck, and at higher-level events you should exercise it.
Pile shuffling alone may not satisfy a judge’s randomisation requirement at Regional Qualifier level events. If you are attending competitive play, combine pile shuffling with riffle or mash shuffling to be safe.
For more on what to expect at your first event, the Organised Play guide covers the basics of how Riftbound events are structured.
Quick Practical Tips
Sleeve your cards before you play. Sleeves protect against edge wear, make cards easier to shuffle cleanly, and let you riffle without damage. Most players use standard 63.5x88mm sleeves for the main deck.
Shuffle both decks before each game, not just the main deck. It takes an extra 30 seconds and matters more than it seems.
If a card effect during the game lets you search through your deck, shuffle afterwards. Do not just cut the deck. A cut after searching leaves a non-random deck.
Still Choosing Your First Deck?
If you are still working out which Riftbound deck to sleeve up first, the TCGPlayer champion decks page is the best place to browse what is available and in stock.
More Beginner Guides
- How to Play Your First Game of Riftbound
- How to Play Riftbound (Full Hub)
- Riftbound Organised Play Guide