Spiritforged is almost here — and the countdown has officially begun.

In episode 32 of The Winning Point, we shift gears from pure meta analysis to full pre-release mode, breaking down everything players need to know as Spiritforged pre-release events hit the West next week.

We start with a quick co-stream recap of the Chengdu Regional Open, highlighting what stood out, what surprised us, and what early Spiritforged gameplay is already teaching us. With Dalian happening tonight, we talk about what to watch for next.

From there, the focus turns to Pre-Rift events, local game store play, and what Spiritforged means for players jumping in fresh. We discuss:- What archetypes feel intuitive for pre-release play- Why Spiritforged rewards proactive decision-making- How early Draven and Fiora narratives should (and shouldn’t) influence your expectations- What new players should prioritize when opening their first pools

This episode is about excitement, preparation, and momentum — bridging the gap between high-level tournament play and the experiences most players are about to have at their local stores. Whether you’re sleeving up for a Pre-Rift event, watching the China co-streams, or just counting down the days, Spiritforged is finally here.🎧 The Winning Point is your weekly Riftbound podcast, covering competitive play, event coverage, and everything that shapes the game — from global regionals to your local prerelease.

This week, we dive deep into the Fuzhou Regional Open, the first major Spiritforged regional in China, and unpack what the results actually tell us beyond the headline numbers. With Draven making up a massive portion of the field, we discuss whether this represents true dominance, early-set convergence, or simply China doing what it does best: identifying the perceived best deck and pushing it to its limits.

We break down the Top 64 and Top 8 legend spread, including strong showings from Fiora, Irelia, Annie, and Ezreal, and analyze why Draven’s representation dropped as the tournament narrowed — even after starting at nearly 40% of the field. From Jund-style “fair” Draven lists to the absence of expected combo builds, we explore how preparation, matchup targeting, and player skill shaped the event.

The episode also tackles one of the biggest conversations of the week: Riot’s Spiritforged errata, including the removal of reflexive triggers and how changes to cards like Falling Star and Icathian Rain impact gameplay clarity, tournament prep, and long-term confidence in physical card text. We debate errata vs bans, growing pains in early sets, and how these decisions affect both competitive and casual players.

To close things out, we zoom out on the broader Spiritforged landscape — discussing aggro vs midrange, why “proactive” decks feel strong early in formats, what might emerge as the next hated-but-not-broken deck, and how the meta could evolve heading into upcoming Chinese Regionals and major Western events.

In Episode 30, we dive headfirst into the Spiritforged meta explosion, focusing on the rise of purple-based draw engines, Miracle-style Draven builds, and what happens when Riftbound suddenly allows decks to draw nearly their entire library with consistency. From Chinese City Challenges and large proxy events to early testing for Vegas, we analyze how purple cores are warping deck construction — and whether this level of power was intended.We break down why Draven has emerged as the defining legend of the format, how Miracle Draven and “fair” Jund-style Draven coexist, and why Ezreal may quietly be the most important card in Spiritforged. The conversation also explores how decks like Kai'sa, Annie, Ornn, and even under-the-radar picks could adapt — or fail — as consistency and card velocity continue to increase.Along the way, we debate design intent, compare Spiritforged’s power jump to early Magic and other TCGs, discuss why China and the West approach metas differently, and examine what counterplay actually exists against full-deck cycling strategies. If you’re testing for upcoming events, tracking regional trends, or trying to understand where Riftbound is heading next, this episode gives you the context you need.

A reminder that co-streams will start next week (1/16 around ~8pm CT) with the Fuzhou Spiritforged Event!

Welcome back to The Winning Point, episode 29 — our first episode of 2026 and a deep dive into everything shaping Riftbound right now.

This week, Blevins, Casanova, and Charmer talk about projected content plans for Turn 'em Sideways (including new series like First 40) and break down early Spiritforged results from China. The most recent City Challenge data showied Draven at 36% of Top 8s with Kai’Sa close behind, and had some surprising representation from Irelia, Viktor, and Master Yi. We discuss what these numbers actually mean, which decks may be underrepresented, and why this is far from a solved meta. The pod also had some candid discussion around ticket sales, event capacity, and what Riot can do better long-term.We also talk Spiritforged accessibility, product availability updates, Worlds bundles, wave two distribution, and why panic-buying sealed product rarely pays off. On the competitive side, we unpack Riftbound’s updated tournament time rules, how the new structure impacts control vs aggressive decks, and whether this change actually fixes long round delays.If you’re preparing for Spiritforged events, watching the evolving meta, or just want honest Riftbound discussion, this episode sets the stage for what’s coming next.

The Battlefields & Legends set review dives deep into Spiritforged’s most meta-defining cards — covering every new Legend, signature spell, and battlefield, and how they reshape deckbuilding, tempo, and win conditions across Riftbound.

In this video, we break down each Legend and battlefield, discussing where they fit, what decks they fit into, and which effects are true standouts versus situational tech. High-impact Legends like Draven, Ezreal, Orrn, Jax, and Fiora introduce powerful resource engines, combat manipulation, and card advantage tools, while signature spells such as Relentless Pursuit, Void Rush, Arcane Shift, and Riposte offer some of the strongest interaction and tempo swings in the set.

We also take a close look at how Spiritforged’s battlefields influence scoring patterns and deck construction, highlighting options like Ravenbloom Conservatory, Minefield, Ornn's Forge, and Veiled Temple as potential one-sided advantages when built around correctly. Whether you’re optimizing legend-centric engines, planning around repeat spells and equipment synergies, or choosing battlefields that punish specific metas, this review breaks down what matters — and what can be safely ignored.

📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

The Order Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most board-focused and value-driven domain — built around tokens, efficient units, and layered interaction that rewards smart sequencing and battlefield control.

In this video, we break down every Order Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which cards are core engines versus situational role-players. Token generators like Azir's Sand Guards, Royal Guard, and Corina Veraza, define Order’s ability to flood and reinforce the board, while standout tools such as BF Sword, Drag Under, and Rally the Troops offer real power in both tempo and removal-heavy matchups.

We also take a close look at Order’s evolving late-game and Champions Zone impact, highlighting cards like Fiora (Worthy), Undertitan, and Xin Zhao that push Order decks from incremental pressure into legitimate win conditions. Between efficient accelerate options, action-speed interaction, and token-based synergies, Order continues to reward players who can convert small advantages into overwhelming battlefield presence.

📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

The Chaos Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most volatile and play-pattern–warping domain — packed with swingy interaction, spell-heavy engines, and high-skill decision points that can completely flip games.

In this video, we break down every Chaos Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which cards are true standouts versus niche tech options. Powerful interaction like Hard Bargain and Switcheroo give Chaos decks real counterplay and combat tricks, while flexible engines such as Fizz (Trickster), Ezreal (Prodigy), and Irelia (Graceful) open the door for repeatable value and spell-centric strategies.

We also take a close look at Chaos’ growing combo potential, hidden-card synergies, and how purple decks leverage tempo manipulation, cost reduction, and recursion tools like Last Rites to create pressure without committing too hard to the board. Whether you’re interested in Ezreal spell shells, Annie control, Teemo hidden tech, or experimental Chaos-based combo decks, this review breaks down what matters — and what can be safely skipped.

📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

The Body Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most straightforward — yet deceptively powerful — domain, focused on board presence, combat efficiency, and relentless pressure.

In this video, we break down every Body Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which tools are core inclusions versus situational role-players. Efficient stat sticks, combat tricks, and pressure-oriented units define the domain, while standout cards highlight how Body decks can quickly snowball small advantages into overwhelming battlefield control.

We take a close look at how Body supports aggressive and midrange strategies, how it pairs with other domains to reinforce tempo-driven game plans, and which cards are most likely to shape early tournament metas. Whether you’re looking to curve out with efficient attackers, dominate combat phases, or force opponents into awkward defensive positions, this review breaks down what matters — and what can safely be skipped.

📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

The Mind Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most difficult to evaluate color — from powerful gold engines and removal spells to speculative combo pieces and niche tech options.In this video, we break down every Mind Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which cards are worth building around versus leaving on the sidelines. Cards like Plundering Poro, Dropboarder, and Wages of Pain stand out as efficient role-players, while combo-focused tools such as Hextech Anomaly, Temporal Portal, and Jayce (Man of Progress) show massive long-term potential.We also take a close look at Ezreal synergies, Mind’s evolving removal suite, and how blue decks are gaining access to flexible answers for tokens, gear, and late-game value. Whether you’re interested in Rumble mech builds, blue-yellow gold strategies, or future combo shells, this review breaks down what matters — and what doesn’t.📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

In this video, we continue our Spiritforged set review series by breaking down every card in the Calm domain. Joined by Prismaticism, we go card-by-card to evaluate what Calm brings to Riftbound — from efficient value engines and defensive tools to counterspells, gear synergies, and late-game power plays.

Calm continues to solidify its identity as a control-leaning, value-oriented domain, featuring standout cards like Not So Fast, Lonely Poro, Stellacorn Herder, and powerful gear options such as Heart of Dark Ice and Guardian Angel. We discuss which cards feel like auto-includes, which are meta-dependent tech, and which might struggle to find a home in competitive play.

Whether you’re preparing for Spiritforged tournaments, refining your green decks, or just want a deeper understanding of how Calm fits into the evolving Riftbound meta, this breakdown will help you separate the staples from the traps.

📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.