August 1, 2025 — Riot Games, the studio behind League of Legends, has officially stepped into the world of physical tabletop gaming with the launch of Runeterra Battlegrounds, its first-ever trading card game set in the League universe. Packed with iconic champions, rich lore, and competitive mechanics, this new TCG is Riot’s boldest move yet beyond the digital arena.
From the Esports Stage to the Gaming Table
The idea for Runeterra Battlegrounds began three years ago during an internal brainstorming session. The pitch was simple but ambitious: what if League’s high-stakes strategy could be played face-to-face, away from the keyboard?
“We didn’t want just another spin-off. We wanted a competitive card game that could stand on its own,”
— Jae Kim, Lead Designer, Runeterra Battlegrounds
Riot assembled veteran narrative designers, balance specialists, and artists from across the company, while also bringing in well-known card game designers from around the world. Over 28 months of development, the team not only translated fan-favorite champions into card form but also built an entirely new ruleset tailored for physical play.
Deep Strategy and Fast-Paced Duels
At its core, Runeterra Battlegrounds is a 1v1 duel where players choose a primary faction and build a deck around its champions, followers, and spells. Each champion has unique leveling conditions and skill triggers, leading to tense turnarounds and dramatic late-game moments.
Riot has baked in several mechanics to differentiate the game from existing TCGs:
-
Dual Resource System – Players must juggle “Mana” for spells and “Tactics Points” for battlefield effects and events.
-
Zone Control – Certain cards can alter entire regions of the board, locking them down or applying global buffs.
-
Story Quests – Matches can trigger lore-driven objectives tied to the League universe, rewarding powerful one-time bonuses.
Matches typically last 20–30 minutes — short enough for casual play, but with enough depth for competitive events.
Gorgeous Art and Collector Appeal
The launch set includes over 350 original card illustrations, 70% drawn by Riot’s in-house art team and the rest by handpicked freelance artists. Many cards hide small visual Easter eggs — from Summoner’s Rift details in the background to nods at legendary in-game moments.
The game also leans heavily into collectability, offering:
-
Standard Editions
-
Foil Premiums with metallic finish
-
Signed Limited Editions featuring the artist’s autograph
Global Rollout and Competitive Ambitions
Runeterra Battlegrounds launched simultaneously across North America, Europe, Southeast Asia, and select cities in mainland China. The base set retails for $39.99, with expansions sold separately. Riot plans quarterly expansions to keep the competitive meta fresh.
The target audience isn’t limited to League players — Riot is actively courting the wider TCG community. Partner cafés and game stores are hosting launch events, and the company is already planning the first official Runeterra Battlegrounds Tournament Circuit (RBTC) for early 2026.
Early Reactions from Players and the Industry
Fans have been quick to share their excitement online, with longtime League players getting nostalgic over seeing their favorite champions on physical cards. Card game veterans have praised the dual-resource system and zone control mechanics for adding new layers of tactical play.
Industry analysts are paying close attention. Alex Porter, a North American TCG event organizer, commented:
“Riot already knows how to run massive esports events. If they can bring that energy and infrastructure to physical card tournaments, the TCG market could see a real shake-up.”
Looking Ahead
Riot has confirmed that future expansions will feature champions from Legends of Runeterra, as well as potential crossover sets with VALORANT and other Riot IPs. The company is also exploring a digital adaptation to make the game more accessible for online play.
In short, Runeterra Battlegrounds isn’t just a card game — it’s Riot staking a claim in an entirely new competitive space. Whether it becomes a mainstay in the TCG world will depend on how well Riot can balance its rich lore with long-term competitive depth.
