Riftbound, Riot Games' foray into the physical collectible card game market, has revealed its full release schedule for 2026, detailing an ambitious year of new sets and content. The game, which launched in late 2025, aims to establish itself alongside established titles like Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh! by consistently delivering new expansions.
Upcoming Sets and Mechanics
The year begins on February 13, 2026, with the release of Spiritforged. This set introduced several new mechanics, including Equipment that can be attached to units, a Gold resource system for spending, and new keywords such as Quick-Draw, Repeat, and Weaponmaster. Spiritforged also added new Champion cards for Azir, Draven, Ezreal, Fiora, Jax, Rumble, Rek’Sai, Ornn, Sivir, Lucian, Renata Glasc, and Irelia, with Fiora and Rumble receiving their own dedicated Champion Decks.
Following Spiritforged, Unleashed is slated for May 8, 2026. This set focuses on the Jungler role from the League of Legends MOBA, introducing mechanics like XP and levels, along with new keywords such as Ambush and Hunt. New Champion cards for Jhin, Rengar, Pyke, Vi, Lillia, Vex, and others will be included. Unleashed also introduced a new rarity tier: Ultimate, currently represented by the Baron Nashor card, which appears in less than one percent of booster packs.
Mid-Year Releases and Schedule Merging
July 31, 2026, will see the launch of Vendetta, a smaller set featuring 166 cards. This expansion will include Legends like Zed, Shen, Ambessa, Renekton, Nasus, and Akali. Notably, Riot has indicated that Vendetta will consolidate the Chinese and North American release schedules into a single launch.
The final announced set for 2026 is Radiance, scheduled for October 23. While the set name has been confirmed, specific details regarding its Legends and mechanics remain undisclosed. Riot has also scheduled 'Pre-Rift' events for these sets, with Spiritforged having a pre-release from July 24-26, Vendetta from July 24-26, and Radiance from October 16-18.
Initial Launch and Availability Concerns
Riftbound's launch set, Origins, included a tutorial set called Proving Grounds and preconstructed Champion Decks for Lee Sin, Victor, and Jinx. At launch, availability was a significant issue, with scalpers quickly depleting stock and driving up prices on the secondary market. Riot had previously stated they were increasing print runs, and recent observations suggest that stock for Origins and its related products is becoming more accessible.
Addressing availability and curbing scalping will be crucial for Riftbound's long-term success as Riot Games aims to compete in the established physical TCG landscape. The confirmed 2026 roadmap indicates a strong commitment to ongoing support for the game.