I’m loving LoL’s new TCG, but Riot just admitted a launch mistake that hits Set 2

Riftbound’s rocky launch matters because it hits players where it hurts: packs, prices, and preorders

Riot’s League of Legends TCG, Riftbound, is massively popular out the gate-but the debut stumbled in the most TCG way possible. We’re talking sold-out products, staggered preorders, and a packing error that left some boosters without rare cards. That last part isn’t a one-off, either; Riot says the issue will impact Set 2 (Spiritforged) and won’t be fully fixed until Set 3. As someone who’s been grinding games at my LGS since launch, this caught my attention because early momentum is everything for a new card game. Scarcity and mispacks can sour the vibe fast, especially when scalpers start circling.

Key takeaways

• Riftbound demand blew past expectations; many products are sold out and preorders are shipping in staggered packages.
• Some boosters lacked rares due to a packing error; Riot’s offering limited replacements (max three cards per person, six per household).
• Spiritforged (Set 2) will also see the rarity issue in some packs; Riot aims to fully correct it by Set 3.
• Booster boxes for Origins and Spiritforged contain the correct number of rares; the problem hits some individually purchased packs.

Breaking down Riot’s plan-and the limits

Riot’s blog lays it out bluntly: “the excitement and demand” for Riftbound “surpassed our wildest expectations.” Translation: shelves are empty, and MSRP is a fantasy in many places. Riot says more Riftbound: Origins stock is heading to local game stores “between now and the end of the year,” with timing varying by region. If you preordered, expect split shipments as Riot prioritizes speed over bundling-so you might get your starter, then your boosters later. It’s not ideal, but it’s better than waiting weeks for a single consolidated box.

The real gut punch is the rarity distribution issue that left some boosters without rares. Riot’s response is a targeted replacement program: you can claim up to three missing cards per person, capped at six per household, via a form on the official site. That cap will sting for unlucky players who opened several dud packs, but it’s a practical anti-abuse measure in a world where bad actors can fake claims. Importantly, Riot says Origins and Spiritforged booster boxes are packed correctly overall—so boxes should have the right total number of rares, even if some individual packs in other products don’t.

There are some smaller production wobbles too: a subset of cards shipped with rougher-than-intended edges. Riot says the broader issue is resolved and that unusable cards can be refunded through UVS, its manufacturing partner. On the upside, Riot’s also addressing early meta demand by rolling popular Proving Grounds cards into Nexus Nights promo packs, including new foil versions not found in the beginner set. That’s a smart way to feed organized play and get staples into players’ hands without rewarding scalper prices.

This isn’t new—TCGs always battle supply and pack errors, but timing is everything

If you’ve followed trading card games for more than a minute, you’ve seen this movie before. Disney’s Lorcana launched into a supply hurricane. Flesh and Blood had early print anxiety that sent singles soaring. Even Magic occasionally coughs up mispacks. Printing and packing physical cards at scale is messy, and “we underestimated demand” is practically boilerplate. The difference here is timing: Riftbound is trying to cement a community right now. Missing rares and empty shelves push players to secondhand markets, and that can cannibalize local scenes when prices get silly.

To Riot’s credit, the communication has been fast and relatively frank. Promising replacement cards, adding more Origins product to LGS shelves, and confirming that Spiritforged won’t be perfect are the kinds of updates that earn trust. But the company still needs to prove it can stabilize supply and quality before Set 3. A new TCG lives or dies on whether a Friday night event feels welcoming and attainable—not whether the rares are going for 5x MSRP online.

What players should do right now

• Avoid overpaying: Riot says more Origins product is hitting LGS between now and year’s end. Don’t feed scalpers.
• Keep your proof: If you pull a rare-less pack, save the wrappers and receipts; you’ll need them for replacements.
• Consider boxes: Since booster boxes have correct rare counts overall, they’re a safer buy than random loose packs—for now.
• Watch Nexus Nights: Promo packs will help with Proving Grounds staples; great time to build decks via community play instead of the singles arms race.
• Manage expectations for Spiritforged: Some packs may still have distribution hiccups; the replacement program will return for individually purchased boosters.

As a longtime LoL player, Riftbound has been a refreshing change of pace—fast, tactical, and immediately legible if you know Runeterra’s cast. Launch snags aside, the game’s fun to play and easy to evangelize at the shop. But Riot needs to land the next two sets cleanly. If we’re still talking about shortages and pack oddities by Set 3, that shiny-new energy won’t carry the weight.

TL;DR

Riot’s Riftbound launch is hot but messy: sold-out products, staggered preorders, and a packing error that left some packs without rares. Replacements are limited (three per person, six per household), Spiritforged will also be affected, and full fixes arrive by Set 3. Be patient, buy smart, and lean on LGS events while the supply chain catches up.