Each new set of Riftbound brings a new wave of Legends to try, and with Riftbound: Unleashed, there are plenty of new playstyles to explore. But if you’re coming from Spiritforged and already had a favorite deck, jumping into a brand-new Legend can feel a little overwhelming.
So, if you’re curious about Unleashed but unsure where to start, here’s a breakdown of how some of the Spiritforged Legends translate into the newest Riftbound set.
If You Loved Rumble → Try Ivern
Rumble was one of the Champion Decks from Spiritforged, and he introduced a playstyle that felt like Riftbound’s first real tribal deck. While Ivern isn’t exactly the same, he absolutely scratches a similar itch.
Instead of Mechs, Ivern cares about Cats, Dogs, Birds, and Poros, turning the deck into a fun unit-typal strategy built around pets and battlefield pressure. I built an Ivern deck for this set, and it’s a ton of fun. It definitely feels better suited for casual matchups, but because he isn’t deep in the current meta, he can also catch a few players off guard.
Another thing I really like about Ivern is the token battlefield mechanic. It’s a really fun way to mess with somebody’s gameplan, especially if they aren’t prepared for how annoying that battlefield can become. When building Ivern, I’d start with Battlefields that punish players for holding or conquering. That way, your opponent is less likely to try and take the battlefield from you.
Why it clicks
Unit typal gameplay
Budget-friendly build potential
Strong enough to stand on its own
Far enough out of the meta that players may not have direct sideboard answers
If the unit-typal side of Rumble’s Mechs was what made that deck fun for you, consider building your pet deck with Ivern and his army of animals.
If You Loved Fiora → Try Vi
Fiora players love combat. More specifically, Fiora players love turning combat into a puzzle that their opponent has to solve, usually after it’s already too late.
Vi feels like a natural next step for that kind of player. She still rewards you for caring about fights, timing, and pressure, but she brings a much more aggressive, punch-first attitude to the table. Where Fiora could feel calculated and precise, Vi feels like she wants to turn every battlefield into a brawl.
If you liked Fiora because she made every combat decision feel important, Vi keeps that same energy while pushing it into a more direct gameplan. She wants to get involved early, force awkward blocks, and make opponents answer your threats before they get a chance to set up.
Why it clicks
Combat-focused gameplay
Rewards smart attacks and timing
Great for players who like pressure with decision-making
Feels aggressive without being brainless
If Fiora was about mastering the duel, Vi is about making sure the fight happens on your terms.
If You Loved Draven → Try Kha’Zix
Draven was all about momentum, aggression, and forcing opponents to respond before they were ready. Kha’Zix feels like a great follow-up for players who enjoyed that high-pressure style but want something a little more predatory.
Kha’Zix still wants to apply pressure, but the way he does it feels sneakier and more threatening. Instead of just overwhelming the opponent through constant combat and snowballing value, Kha’Zix wants to pick spots, punish weakness, and turn isolated moments into huge swings.
That makes him a great option for Draven players who liked being the aggressor but want a deck that feels a little more tactical. You’re still trying to put your opponent on the back foot, but now you’re doing it by hunting down the right opportunities instead of just throwing everything forward.
Why it clicks
Aggressive gameplan
Rewards attacking at the right time
Snowball potential
Strong pressure without feeling one-dimensional
If Draven made you love constant pressure, Kha’Zix gives you that same aggression with a sharper edge.
If You Loved Irelia → Try Master Yi
Irelia players tend to enjoy movement, sequencing, and feeling like they got more out of a turn than their opponent expected. Master Yi is a strong option for those same players in Unleashed.
Master Yi has always carried that feeling of precision, and in Riftbound he fits players who enjoy making the right move at the right time. If Irelia was about dancing around combat and finding the best line, Master Yi is about committing to that line and making it count.
He’s a great pick for players who like clean gameplay, strong combat decisions, and decks that reward repetition. The more you understand when to hold back and when to strike, the better Master Yi feels.
Why it clicks
Rewards sequencing
Strong combat identity
Great for players who like timing windows
Feels skill-expressive without being overly complicated
If Irelia made you feel clever when everything lined up, Master Yi gives you that same payoff with a more focused combat plan.
If You Loved Azir → Try Lillia
Azir players usually enjoy building toward a larger board state, creating pressure through tokens, and making opponents deal with more units than they want to. Lillia feels like a really interesting next step for those players.
While Lillia doesn’t play exactly like Azir, she still rewards players who enjoy planning ahead and building toward bigger turns. She feels less like a pure token engine and more like a value-focused strategy that wants to grow over time.
If you enjoyed Azir because he gave you a sense of inevitability, Lillia offers a similar feeling in a different package. She can feel a little softer at first, but once the deck starts doing what it wants to do, it can become really hard for opponents to keep up.
Why it clicks
Rewards long-term planning
Great for players who like building toward payoff turns
Strong casual appeal
Plays well for people who like value engines
If Azir made you enjoy building a board that slowly became impossible to answer, Lillia is a great Unleashed Legend to try next.
If You’re Curious About XP → Try Poppy
XP is one of the most interesting things to explore in Unleashed, and if you’re not sure where to start, Poppy feels like one of the best introductions to that side of the set.
Poppy gives players a clear reason to care about progression. She’s a great pick if you like decks that start small and grow into something more threatening as the game goes on. Instead of just asking you to win early fights or build a wide board, Poppy rewards you for developing your gameplan and sticking to it.
She also feels like a good bridge for players who want to try something new without jumping into the strangest deck in the format. There’s a familiar midrange shell here, but the XP mechanic gives it a fresh layer that makes it feel different from older Riftbound decks.
Why it clicks
Great introduction to XP
Strong progression-based gameplay
Good for midrange players
Feels new without being too overwhelming
If you want to understand what XP brings to Riftbound, Poppy is probably one of the first Legends I’d recommend trying.
If You’re Looking For Something New, Try These Legends
Not every Unleashed Legend needs to be a direct comparison to something from Spiritforged. Some of them are just exciting because they offer a different kind of playstyle entirely.
Rengar For Aggro
Rengar is the Legend to look at if you want to be aggressive and stay aggressive. He feels perfect for players who don’t want to sit back and wait for the perfect turn. You want to attack, force pressure, and make your opponent answer you before they can comfortably set up.
If you’re the kind of player who likes ending games before your opponent gets to show off everything their deck can do, Rengar is absolutely worth trying.
Why it clicks
Fast aggressive gameplay
Great for proactive players
Forces opponents to react
Strong choice for players who like early pressure
LeBlanc For Combat Tricks
LeBlanc is for players who like messing with combat math and making opponents second-guess every decision.
She feels like a great fit for anyone who enjoys bluffing, tricks, and creating awkward situations. With LeBlanc, your opponent can never feel completely safe, because even a simple-looking combat step can suddenly turn into a disaster for them.
If you like decks that reward clever play and punish opponents for assuming they know what’s coming, LeBlanc is one of the most exciting Legends in Unleashed.
Why it clicks
Combat tricks
Bluff-heavy gameplay
Rewards smart timing
Great for players who like mind games
Jhin For Major Payouts
Jhin is the Legend to try if you want your deck to build toward big, satisfying moments.
He may not be the simplest Legend in Unleashed, but that’s part of what makes him exciting. Jhin feels like he wants you to set things up carefully, count your resources, and wait for the perfect payoff. When the deck works, it should feel like you earned that big moment.
If you like Legends that have a little more drama to them, Jhin is absolutely worth keeping an eye on.
Why it clicks
Big payoff turns
Rewards setup
Flashy play patterns
Great for players who like dramatic finishes
Final Thoughts
Riftbound: Unleashed does a great job giving players new Legends without completely abandoning the playstyles they already enjoyed in Spiritforged. Whether you liked Rumble’s unit-typal direction, Fiora’s combat focus, Draven’s pressure, Irelia’s sequencing, or Azir’s value engine, there’s probably an Unleashed Legend that gives you a familiar starting point with a fresh twist.
That said, Unleashed also looks like a set that rewards experimentation. Ivern might not be the most obvious meta pick, but that’s part of what makes him fun. Poppy gives players a clean entry point into XP, while Rengar, LeBlanc, and Jhin all offer something a little different for players who want to branch out.
If you’re still figuring out where to start, don’t worry too much about finding the “best” Legend right away. Start with the playstyle you already know you enjoy, then let Unleashed push you into something new.
And if you want to keep track of every major Riftbound, TCG, and tabletop release coming this year, be sure to check out our 2026 TCG and Tabletop Release Calendar.
