What is Riftbound: guide to the League of Legends TCG that is already being played in Spain

There is one name that has been buzzing in stores for months: Riftbound, the League of Legends trading card game. Riot Games entered the TCG world in October 2025, and in less than a year, they have built a scene that already fills venues around the world, including Spain: this very weekend, Barcelona is hosting one of their major international tournaments. If you're wondering what Riftbound TCG is, how to play it, and why you should have it on your radar, here is the complete guide. Spoiler: it’s also coming to Collectowny.

What is Riftbound and how do you play it?

Riftbound is the official physical TCG for League of Legends, developed by Riot Games in collaboration with UVS Games. Each deck revolves around a Legend, a champion from the game (Jinx, Yasuo, Akali, Lee Sin...) that defines the identity and colors of your strategy. The game isn't about depleting the opponent's health: you win by conquering and defending battlefields, which grant points as you control them. Your units are deployed, fight for these fields, and everything is paid for with runes, the game's resource.

The result is a highly tactical game with a real "LoL feel": positioning, objectives, and fighting for specific zones on the board rather than trading blows to the face. You can tell that Riot designed it with both the competitive player and the fan who wants to see their main on cardboard in mind.

Sets released so far

In less than a year, Riftbound already has four expansions and a starter product:

• Origins (October 2025): the base set, featuring the most iconic champions.
• Proving Grounds: the starter box with preconstructed decks, so in demand that Riot has announced a reprint and a second edition.
• Spiritforged (February 13, 2026): 221 cards with the Spirit Blossom aesthetic from Ionia.
• Unleashed (May 8, 2026): introduces the Ambush mechanic and the Ultimate rarity.
• Vendetta (July 31, 2026): 166 cards focused on rivalries, with Shen vs. Zed showdown decks. This is the current set.

Each set arrives in booster packs and displays, with champion decks and bundles for those who prefer to start with everything ready. And watch out for the collector's detail: Riot is releasing special products like the Secret Garden (alternate art from the Unleashed set) or the Riftbound x T1 collection that pays homage to the 2025 LoL World Championship champions.

The Secret Garden, with alternate art from Unleashed. Official image by Riot Games.

The five cards from the Riftbound x T1 collection, one for each 2025 World champion. Official image, cards are in English. Click to view in large size.

Spain is on Riot's map: Barcelona and Murcia

This hits close to home and is a very clear sign of where the game is headed. From August 21 to 23, the Barcelona Regional Qualifier is taking place, one of the year's major competitive events where spots for regional championships are up for grabs. And on October 3 and 4, the Showdown Series comes to Murcia, hosted by Spell Nexus. In November, the first-ever European Regional Championship in Riftbound history will be held in Stuttgart. For a game less than a year old, having two official events in Spain in two months speaks volumes.

However, take note: Riftbound is published in English and Chinese (French will be added in October), and there is no Spanish edition for now. Here, it is played with English cards, just like in half of Europe.

What's coming: Radiance in October and a packed 2027

The next big hit is Radiance, the fifth set, which arrives on October 23, 2026 with 180 cards, 66 of which are Showcase. It brings new Legends like Seraphine, Evelynn, Ekko, Ziggs, and Jarvan IV, the Seraphine vs. Evelynn showdown decks, and a new Ultimate Rare card that Riot is still keeping under wraps. Previews start on September 25 during the Los Angeles Regional Qualifier. And for the holidays, on December 4, the Gift of the Rift Bundle arrives: 16 booster packs from the first five sets with a promotional alternate art Akali.

The official 2027 calendar that Riot released on August 3. Official image by Riot Games.

Riot has already revealed the plan for 2027: Legacy on January 29 (346 cards, designed for draft and featuring a crossover with classic League), the second edition of Proving Grounds on February 19, The Reckoning on April 30 with monsters like Aurelion Sol and Cho'Gath, and two more sets for the second half of the year, including one set in Bandle City.

Our take at Collectowny

Riftbound is likely the most promising TCG launch since One Piece, and the reasons are measurable: four sets in ten months without delays, a world competitive circuit already underway with stops in Spain, and the Riot machine behind it pushing with collaborations like T1. The fact that Proving Grounds sold out enough to force a reprint says a lot about the actual demand. Our specific recommendation: if you want to play, wait for the second edition of Proving Grounds or pick up champion decks; if you are interested in sealed products, Origins as a foundational set and Radiance as the first hot entry point this October are the two smartest bets. And the classic advice applies double for a new game: the first print runs are the ones everyone will be looking for later.

Frequently asked questions about Riftbound

Is Riftbound in Spanish?

No. It is published in English and Chinese, and French will be added in October 2026 with Radiance. In Spain, it is played with English cards.

What do I need to start playing?

The easiest thing is a preconstructed deck: the Proving Grounds box (with a second edition in February 2027) or the champion decks from each set. With one of those and an opponent, you have a game.

When is the next Riftbound set coming out?

Radiance arrives on October 23, 2026, with previews starting on September 25. It includes 180 cards and new Legends like Seraphine, Evelynn, and Ekko.

Are there Riftbound tournaments in Spain?

Yes. The Barcelona Regional Qualifier takes place from August 21 to 23, 2026, and the Showdown Series stops in Murcia on October 3 and 4. The first European Regional Championship will be in November in Stuttgart.

Riftbound is coming to Collectowny

We are preparing the Riftbound section in the store, just as we grew our Pokémon and One Piece sections. Sign up for our mailing list to receive a notification as soon as we open the first pre-orders, and take a look at the pre-order collection from time to time. And while it arrives, protect what you already collect: our Ultra Pro toploaders and sleeves from our accessories collection work just as well for a Riftbound Showcase as they do for any Pokémon chase card. From collector to collector: new games reward those who arrive early.