Riftbound's next set, Radiance, releases on October 23, 2026. Before that, stores run Pre-Rift events, Riftbound's version of a prerelease, between October 16 and 22. TCG Tavern has two of them on the calendar: Monday, October 19 and Tuesday, October 20, both from 6 to 9 PM at our Garden Plaza shop on La Paz Road.
This guide covers what's confirmed about the format and the kit, the deck-building rules that apply, how to register, and what to sort out before you arrive. Where something isn't confirmed yet, we say so.
The two Tavern dates
From our Events calendar Opens in a new tab.:
- Radiance Pre-Rift #1 Opens in a new tab.: Monday, October 19, 6:00–9:00 PM. $40 entry, 16 players.
- Radiance Pre-Rift #2 Opens in a new tab.: Tuesday, October 20, 6:00–9:00 PM. $40 entry, 16 players.
Both listings say entry includes standard event support plus additional prizing, that everyone goes home with something, that food will be provided, and that Riftbound product will be available at MSRP while supplies last.
Two notes. Each night is capped at 16 players. Registering on PlayRiftbound.com ahead of time keeps check-in quick, and if you want to know whether seats are left, call us. And the October 20 Pre-Rift replaces the regular Tuesday Disney Lorcana League that night, so Lorcana players should plan around it.
What a Pre-Rift is
A Pre-Rift is a sealed event. You don't bring a deck. Everyone opens product at the table, builds a deck from what they opened, and plays.
UVS Games' Radiance Dates & Details Opens in a new tab. for retailers says players "build a deck using the included mini-preconstructed deck, five boosters, and promo card" and then play "in a paired tournament." Per player, it lists:
- 1 mini-preconstructed deck (15 cards, including a Champion Legend and Champion Unit)
- 5 Radiance booster packs
- 1 Pre-Rift promo card
Riot's Radiance overview Opens in a new tab. (September 25, 2026) describes the Pre-Rift boxes as containing "five Radiance boosters and a seeded Pre-Rift pack for each of the nine new Legends in Radiance." It also says players who sign up for their local store's Pre-Rift get Heimerdinger, Academy Instructor while supplies last.
In UVS's October 1 note to stores, the publisher calls Pre-Rifts "beginner friendly events." Because everyone starts from the same kind of product, a big collection doesn't give anyone an edge. If you've been curious about Riftbound but haven't played, this is a reasonable first event.
Not confirmed yet: whether you choose which Legend's seeded pack you get or it's assigned, and how many rounds we'll play in the three-hour window. Ask staff, or we'll go over it at the start of the night.
The sealed deck rules worth knowing
These come from section 602 of Riot's Riftbound Tournament Rules Opens in a new tab., last updated July 16, 2026:
- Deck size: a sealed main deck must be at least 25 cards, and can be more.
- Domains: a sealed deck's domain identity is any three domains, or any one domain plus the domains of your Champion Legend.
- Legend and Champion: a sealed deck is still legal without a Champion Legend or a Chosen Champion.
- Copies: the normal limits on how many copies of a card you can play don't apply. If you open three of something, you can play all three.
- Runes and battlefields: you may use basic Runes from any source, even if they weren't in your pool, and as many "blank" battlefields as you need.
- Your own cards: otherwise, you can only use cards provided as part of the event. Nothing from your collection goes in the deck.
- Between games: when sideboarding, you can change your domain identity, Rune Deck, Legend and Chosen Champion.
Our take: with a 25-card minimum and up to three domains, most decks come together around the Legend in your seeded pack. Start there, add the booster cards that fit its domains, and don't worry about using every rare you opened.
How to register, before the night
Riot moved Riftbound event registration to PlayRiftbound.com Opens in a new tab. on September 14, 2026, starting with Radiance Pre-Rift registration. Riot says to sign in with an existing Riot account or create one, find events through the event search, register with your Riot ID, and use your phone during the event to check pairings and record results.
- Get a Riot account. If you play League of Legends or another Riot game, you already have one. If not, Riot's account page takes a few minutes.
- Sign in at playriftbound.com Opens in a new tab. and search for events near Mission Viejo.
- Find the TCG Tavern Pre-Rift for the night you want and follow its registration instructions.
- Charge your phone before you come. Pairings and results run through it.
Why do this at home? On a 16-seat night, every player sorting out a login at the table pushes back the first round for everyone. Set it up a day or two before.
Players under 18: our listing notes that a Riot account requires an adult, an emancipated minor, or a parent's or guardian's consent. Sort that out with a parent ahead of time.
If you had a profile on the old carde.io platform, Riot says it's working with UVS and carde.io to migrate player history. Sign in to the new site once so you're not surprised on the night.
Can't get registered? Call us at (949) 688-0820 or ask at the counter.
What to bring
- Your phone, charged and signed in to PlayRiftbound.
- Basic Runes, if you own them. The rules allow Runes from any source. If you don't have any, ask us before the event.
- Sleeves, if you like to play sleeved.
- Your questions. If a rule is unclear, ask staff before the first round rather than mid-game.
After the Pre-Rift
Radiance releases on October 23. Riftbound Nexus Night continues on Mondays and Wednesdays from 6 to 9 PM, so that's the place to keep playing the new cards. If you're newer to card games in general, our guide to your first trading card game night in Mission Viejo Opens in a new tab. covers the basics of showing up and sitting down.
FAQ
Do I need to know how to play Riftbound? No. UVS describes Pre-Rifts as beginner-friendly events. It helps to read the basics or watch a game first, and you can ask staff about rules on the night.
Can I use cards from my collection? No. Only cards provided at the event count, plus basic Runes from any source and blank battlefields.
What if my night is full? Each Pre-Rift is capped at 16 players. Check the other date on the Events calendar Opens in a new tab., or call us.
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