Riftbound Spiritforged: Riot Expands the League of Legends TCG
The League of Legends Trading Card Game, Riftbound, is quickly growing into a competitive and community-driven title. After the success of the debut set Origins, Riot has officially revealed its second major expansion: Riftbound: Spiritforged.
Scheduled to release in December 2025 for China and in February 2026 for English-speaking regions, Spiritforged adds a massive amount of new content, reshaping how players build decks, compete, and strategise.
What’s New in Spiritforged?
Riot confirmed several highlights that will excite both casual players and competitive veterans:
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200+ brand-new cards: This massive set dramatically increases deck variety, offering fresh combos and counterplay.
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Five new champions: Ezreal, Fiora, Irelia, Lucian, and Rumble make their debut in Riftbound. Each brings their iconic League playstyle into card form, opening new archetypes and play patterns.
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Two ready-to-play Champion Decks: Designed for easy onboarding, these decks allow players to dive straight into the action without extensive deckbuilding.
This approach mirrors Origins, which laid the foundation of Riftbound’s gameplay. Spiritforged takes that framework and expands it into a deeper, more flexible competitive card environment.
Spotlight on the New Champions
Each champion added in Spiritforged represents a distinct playstyle:
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Ezreal: Likely bringing direct damage and spell synergy to control or combo decks.
- Fiora: A duelist theme focused on combat tricks and unit elimination.
- Irelia: Known for her blade-dancing mechanics, she could enable swarm-style or reposition strategies.
- Lucian: Fast-paced, aggressive gameplay, possibly tied to synergy with allies and quick strikes.
- Rumble: A tech-savvy yordle who might introduce mech or Overheat-inspired mechanics.
By diversifying archetypes, these champions ensure Spiritforged feels fresh and exciting for every player type.
Release Timeline
Riot is continuing its staggered rollout strategy to support both the Chinese and international player base.
China Launch: December 2025
English Launch: February 2026
This aligns with the Origins schedule, which was launched in August 2025 (China) and October 2025 (English). By keeping a steady cadence, Riot ensures players worldwide always have something new to anticipate.
Why Spiritforged Is a Big Deal for Riftbound
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Meta Shakeup – With 200+ new cards, players can expect tier lists to change dramatically. Decks from Origins will adapt or face new counters.
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Competitive Depth – Tournaments will feature a more diverse range of archetypes, rewarding creativity and mastery.
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Accessibility – The two Champion Decks give newcomers a low-barrier entry point, keeping Riftbound approachable even as it grows.
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Lore & Flavour – Spiritforged ties back into Runeterra’s world-building, allowing fans of the champions to see their personalities shine in card mechanics.
Community Excitement and Early Speculation
Riftbound’s growing community is already buzzing with theories about how Spiritforged will impact the competitive scene. Will Fiora decks dominate with duelist mechanics? Will Ezreal enable new OTK (one-turn-kill) strategies? Or will Rumble’s tech cards introduce mechanics we haven’t seen before?
No matter the case, Spiritforged is shaping up to be a game-defining expansion.
What This Means for the Future of Riftbound
Riot’s long-term strategy for Riftbound seems clear: consistent expansions, strong champion variety, and a balance between accessibility and competitive depth. With Spiritforged releasing only months after Origins, it’s safe to assume Riot is planning at least three to four expansions per year, similar to other major digital and physical TCGs.
This sets Riftbound up to compete not just as a League spin-off but as a serious contender in the global TCG market.
For Riot’s full announcement, read it directly on the official Riftbound site.
Final Thoughts
Riftbound: Spiritforged is more than just an expansion; it’s a statement. Riot is committed to supporting Riftbound with meaningful content, champion variety, and competitive integrity.
With over 200 cards, five iconic champions, and a release spanning December 2025 (China) to February 2026 (English), Spiritforged cements Riftbound as a trading card game to watch in 2026.
Whether you’re a veteran from Origins or a newcomer ready to explore Runeterra through cards, Spiritforged offers something for everyone.
