Every Riftbound deck starts with a single decision: which Champion Legend to build around. For a brand-new player, that choice can feel bigger than it needs to be, especially without deep familiarity with the game's full card pool yet.
The good news is that picking a strong first Champion Legend doesn't require mastering five sets of cards. A few practical criteria matter far more than memorizing every option.
Here's how to approach that first choice as someone genuinely new to the game.
For a first Champion Legend, buying a pre-built starter or structured deck is a far better entry point than trying to assemble a custom build from scratch. These products are designed specifically to give new players a complete, functional deck without needing prior game knowledge.
That approach also removes the pressure of picking the objectively best Champion Legend, since starter decks are generally balanced enough that any of them offer a reasonable, playable first experience.
New players often overthink competitive viability before they've even learned the game's basic flow. A far better first criterion is simply which Champion Legend's general playstyle sounds appealing, aggressive early pressure, defensive control, or a balanced mix.
Learning the game with a deck you actually enjoy piloting matters more in the first few months than chasing whichever Champion Legend currently tops competitive rankings, especially since those rankings shift with every new set release.
Players already familiar with a specific League of Legends champion from the video game often find that familiarity translates naturally into understanding that Champion Legend's Riftbound playstyle, since Riftbound's design generally echoes each champion's in-game identity.
That's a genuinely useful shortcut for League of Legends players specifically, letting existing knowledge of a champion's kit inform an educated guess about how that Champion Legend plays in card form.
A Champion Legend from a newer, more hyped set isn't automatically a better learning choice than one from an earlier set. Since Riftbound has no rotation, every released Champion Legend remains fully playable regardless of which set it came from.
New players sometimes assume a Champion Legend needs to come from the newest set to be worth learning on, but a well-supported Origins or Spiritforged Champion Legend works just as well as a starting point as anything from Radiance.
Once you've settled on a Champion Legend and picked up a starter deck, keeping it protected and organized from day one sets good habits early. EVORETRO's Magnetic Deck Box holds a full sleeved starter deck securely.
For sleeving the deck itself before regular play and shuffling wear it down, EVORETRO Perfect Fit Sleeves give every card a snug, protective fit.
A first Champion Legend choice isn't a permanent commitment. Plenty of experienced Riftbound players started with one deck, learned the game's fundamentals, and moved to a different Champion Legend once they had enough experience to make a more informed choice.
Treating the first deck as a learning tool rather than a lifelong commitment takes real pressure off the initial decision, letting new players actually enjoy learning the game instead of agonizing over picking the perfect starting point.
Once you've played a handful of games, you'll have far better information about which playstyles genuinely suit you than any guide, including this one, could provide upfront.
Once you've played several matches with your starting Champion Legend, take note of what actually felt satisfying versus frustrating. That real gameplay feedback is far more useful for future deck choices than anything you could research beforehand.
Talking to other new players about their own starting choices, especially at a local event, often surfaces perspectives on a Champion Legend's playstyle that aren't obvious from just reading a card list.
Start with a pre-built starter or structured deck for a complete, balanced first experience.
Yes, since Riftbound has no rotation, every released Champion Legend remains fully playable.
It's a reasonable shortcut, since Riftbound's design often echoes each champion's in-game identity.
Yes, switching later once you have more experience is common and perfectly fine.
Whichever Champion Legend you choose, protecting it properly from the start builds good habits early. Pick up EVORETRO's Magnetic Deck Box to get organized.
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