š“ League of Legends: Riftbound ā Spiritforged ā What You Need to Know
Riftboundās second major expansion,Ā Spiritforged, is one of the most anticipated releases in the tabletop card gaming world ā especially for players of the League of Legends Trading Card Game. Originally released in China on December 12, 2025, Spiritforged is now gearing up for its English global release on February 13, 2026.
This new expansion builds on the foundations laid by the Origins set but introduces fresh mechanics, more Champions, and deeper strategy than ever before. Spiritforged boasts over 200 new cards, 12 new Champion Legends, and exciting features like Equipment cards, Gold tokens, and Repeat spells, giving decks new layers of tactical depth.
Hereās what that means for you:
- š Ā Equipment: Attach gear to units for lasting combat bonuses ā a first for Riftbound.
- š°Ā Gold Tokens: New resource type that fuels powerful plays, especially in aggressive decks like Draven.
- šĀ Repeat Mechanic: Give spells an extra punch by paying additional costs to trigger effects twice.
š„ Spiritforgedās Chinese Meta: Early Insights
Since Spiritforged launched early in China, the metagame there has begun to form and provide a strong indicator of what the global competitive environment might soon look like.
š„ Draven ā The Deck to Beat
In China, Draven, Glorious Executioner has emerged as the most dominant deck in the Spiritforged competitive scene. In the first wave of tournaments:
- Draven decks won aĀ significant share of events.
- Draven has the highestĀ Top 8 conversion rate among all Legends, and remains the go-to pick in competitive play.
What makes Draven so good? The deckās strategy revolves around winning combats consistently, which triggers Dravenās ability to generate card advantage and resources ā a key mechanic for maintaining pressure throughout the game.
Hereās a simplified example of what a typical Draven Spiritforged deck might prioritize: high-impact combat units, combat-boosting spells, and ways to fuel Dravenās aggressive playstyle while controlling the board.
š§ Other Top Competitive Picks
While Draven sits at the pinnacle, several other decks have carved out strong showings in Chinaās Spiritforged tournament results:
Tier 1 & Competitive Contenders
- Kaiāsa ā still strong due to her aggressive play and versatility.
- Irelia ā flexible and powerful against many matchups.
Tier 2 & Emerging Threats
- Viktor ā solid control angle with spell synergy.
- Fiora ā strong in combat-focused decks.
- Annie and Sivir ā reliable and adaptable archetypes.
Other legends like Ezreal, Ornn, and Miss Fortune appear sporadically in competitive results, showing potential for niche strategies as players continue to innovate.
From smaller local events (such as the Spiritforged Tournament in China) to larger City Challenges, Draven often appears in the Top 8 alongside KaiāSŠ° and Viktor, highlighting how diverse the meta is becoming.
š What This Means for Western Players
If youāre in the English-speaking Riftbound community ā Spiritforged will drop globally this February 2026.
Expect the following trends to shape competitive play as soon as the set arrives:
š£ Draven remains meta-relevant: Chinese data indicates it will be a top deck early on.
š¢ Players will refine flex picks like KaiāSŠ° and Irelia as sideboard strategies evolve.
š” New strategies with Gold and Equipment should empower creative new builds players havenāt yet explored in the West.
Whether youāre brewing for casual play or aiming for competitive tournaments, Spiritforged offers more depth, more powerful cards, and many strategic pathways to victory.
š§© Final Thoughts
Spiritforged isnāt just another expansion ā itās a meta-defining release that reshapes Riftboundās competitive environment. With early Chinese data showing strong performance from decks like Draven, and a global launch imminent, now is a perfect time to dive into theorycrafting and deckbuilding ahead of the setās full release.
Whether youāre tweaking an aggressive Draven deck or building around other innovative Spiritforged Legends, this set promises high skill ceilings and plenty of surprises for Riftbound players everywhere.