Riftbound: Radiance is the fifth set for the League of Legends trading card game. It's out on 23 October 2026, with Pre-Rift events at local game stores from 16 to 22 October. It's the music set. K/DA and Heartsteel turn up in the showcase cards, Seraphine and Evelynn lead the Showdown Decks, and the new Ultimate Rare is so scarce Riot puts it at roughly one pack in 4,000.
Riot published its overview on 25 September and updated it on 5 October. Everything below is confirmed by Riot. The full card list, the Showdown decklists and the Nexus Night promos are due on 16 October, and we'll update this page when they land.
Radiance at a glance
| Set | Riftbound: Radiance (RAD), set 5 |
|---|---|
| Release date | 23 October 2026 |
| Pre-Rift events | 16 to 22 October 2026 |
| Preview season | 25 September to 9 October 2026 |
| Main set | Numbered to 167, plus overnumbered showcase cards |
| Booster pack | 14 cards, plus an information insert |
| Languages | English, French and Chinese |
| Products | Booster Display (24 packs), Showdown Deck: Evelynn vs Seraphine, Vault, Pre-Rift Kits |
Watch the Radiance Dev Drop
Riot's design team runs through the new Legends, mechanics and cards in the official Dev Drop. Riot's own summary promises "Dave's deep and unbridled love for Karaoke" too, which fits the theme.
When does Riftbound Radiance come out in the UK?
Radiance launches worldwide on 23 October 2026, so the UK gets it the same day as everyone else. Asmodee, Riftbound's UK distributor, lists the same date. The dates that matter:
- 25 September to 9 October: preview season, as cards are revealed.
- 16 October: Riot's next update, with the Showdown decklists and the Nexus Night promos.
- 16 to 22 October: Pre-Rift events at local game stores, a week before release.
- 23 October: Radiance releases.
- 9 November: Summoner Skirmish 1 events begin.
- 14 December: Summoner Skirmish 2 events begin.
New mechanics: Deploy, Show Off and Disarm
Riot sums the set up as "performing like a master", playing at your peak under the brightest lights. Three new keywords carry that theme.
Deploy
Deploy Gear can only be played to a Battlefield, and it gives you its benefit while it stays there. If an opponent takes that Battlefield, the Gear is killed. Every Deploy card is a bet that you can hold the ground you're on.
Show Off
Show Off lets you reveal a qualifying card from your hand, or one already on your board, to unlock an extra effect on the card you're playing. The more of the right cards you're holding, the more your plays do.
Disarm
Disarm takes Might off an enemy unit as you attack. Kai'Sa, Rebel reads "When I attack, give an enemy unit here -1 Might this turn." Riot compares it to Assault, and each extra instance of Disarm makes the reduction bigger.
Equipment Units and Bomb tokens
Gear Units arrived in Vendetta with Patched Porobot. In Radiance, Orianna's Legend lets equipment become Units as well. Riot is quick to point out the catch: when an Equipment becomes a Unit, it's unequipped, so there's no stacking Units on top of each other. There's also a new Bomb token. Riot's description is short and to the point: the more Bombs you play, the bigger the boom.
The new Legends
Radiance adds nine new Legends. So far Riot has shown Seraphine, Starry-Eyed Songstress and Evelynn, Agony's Embrace, which lead the two Showdown Decks, plus Orianna, Lady of Clockwork. Ekko and Seraphine take centre stage on the booster box, with Ziggs and Jarvan in support.
Chase cards: K/DA, Heartsteel and the Ultimate Rare
K/DA Special Alt Arts
The Crystal Rose Specials in Vendetta went down well, so Riot has brought the idea back with K/DA: Seraphine, Kai'Sa, Ahri, Akali and Evelynn. Special Alt Arts turn up at roughly the same rate as standard Alt Arts.
Heartsteel Overnumbers
Heartsteel get overnumbered cards with what Riot calls "a modern fashion makeover": K'Sante, Aphelios, Ezreal, Yone, Kayn and Sett, with signed versions as well. All nine new Legends also get overnumbered versions, again with signed variants. Riot released a short Heartsteel trailer alongside the reveal.
The Ultimate Rare: Packed Amphitheater
Riftbound's second Ultimate Rare is a Battlefield, the first showcase Battlefield in the game, numbered 184/167. Riot admits the Baron Nashor Ultimate Rare in Unleashed wasn't as rare as they wanted, and this one is "significantly harder to find."
The numbers: it turns up in about 0.025% of packs across the print run, which is roughly one pack in 4,000. A pack can hold one at most, and no pack, box or case is guaranteed one. With 24 packs in a display, that works out at about one Packed Amphitheater for every 167 booster displays opened, on average.
Alt Art Runes
The Runes get music-themed alt art for Fury, Calm, Mind, Body, Chaos and Order. They share the last slot in each pack with tokens and standard Runes.
What's in a Radiance booster pack?
Every Radiance booster has 14 cards and an information insert:
- 7 Commons
- 3 Uncommons
- 1 foil, which can be a Common, Uncommon, Rare or Epic
- 1 Rare or Epic
- 1 slot that can be a Rare, Epic, Alt Art, Special Alt Art, Overnumber or the Ultimate Rare
- 1 token, Rune or Alt Art Rune
Radiance products and prices
| Product | What's inside | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Booster Display | 24 Radiance booster packs, 14 cards each | £114.95 |
| Showdown Deck: Evelynn vs Seraphine | Two preconstructed 56-card decks, two Radiance boosters, two paper playmats, deck boxes and a rules guide | £29.99 |
| Vault | Storage box, six Radiance boosters, foil tokens and a set of 36 Runes | £32.99 |
| Pre-Rift Kit | Five Radiance boosters and a seeded Pre-Rift pack (one for each of the nine new Legends) | At Pre-Rift events |
Booster Display
Showdown Deck: Evelynn vs Seraphine
Two ready-to-play decks in one box, built around the two Showdown Legends: Seraphine, Starry-Eyed Songstress and Evelynn, Agony's Embrace. Riot is publishing the full decklists on 16 October.
Vault
Pre-Rift Kits
Pre-Rift Kits are what you play with at the Pre-Rift events from 16 October: five Radiance boosters plus a seeded Pre-Rift pack, which Riot says comes in a version for each of the nine new Legends.
Pre-Rift, Nexus Night and Summoner Skirmish promos
- Pre-Rift (16 to 22 October): Heimerdinger, Academy Instructor, while supplies last.
- Nexus Nights: the promo packs are being refreshed with Radiance cards. Riot is naming them on 16 October.
- Summoner Skirmish 1 (from 9 November): Graves for taking part, Akali for Top Cut and Champion, and an Akali playmat for the Champion.
- Summoner Skirmish 2 (from 14 December): Lulu for taking part, Ahri for Top Cut and Champion, and an Ahri playmat for the Champion.
Is Radiance worth pre-ordering?
If you're new to Riftbound, or you want a second player at the table, the Showdown Deck is the easy pick. Two full decks and two playmats for £29.99 gets two people playing straight away, and the boosters give you something to start tweaking with. Our How to Play Riftbound guide covers the rest.
For collectors, the booster display is where the K/DA Specials and Heartsteel Overnumbers live. Just don't buy boxes expecting the Ultimate Rare. At roughly one per 167 displays, almost nobody will open one, and that's exactly what Riot was aiming for. The Vault is the better buy if you want storage and a full set of Runes along with your packs.
Riftbound Radiance FAQ
When does Riftbound Radiance come out?
Radiance releases worldwide, including the UK, on 23 October 2026. Pre-Rift events run at local game stores from 16 to 22 October.
How many cards are in a Radiance booster pack?
14 cards plus an information insert: 7 Commons, 3 Uncommons, a foil, a Rare or Epic, a higher-rarity slot, and a token or Rune.
How rare is the Radiance Ultimate Rare?
It appears in about 0.025% of packs, roughly one in 4,000, and no pack, box or case is guaranteed one. That's about one for every 167 booster displays.
What's in the Radiance Showdown Deck?
Two preconstructed 56-card decks (Evelynn and Seraphine), two Radiance boosters, two paper playmats, deck boxes and a rules guide.
What are the new mechanics in Radiance?
Three new keywords, Deploy, Show Off and Disarm, plus Equipment Units (through Orianna's Legend) and Bomb tokens.
Sources
- Riot Games, The Radiance Overview, playriftbound.com, 25 September 2026 (updated 5 October 2026)
- Riftbound, Introducing Radiance | Dev Drop, YouTube
- Riftbound, Heartsteel Takes a New Stage in Radiance, YouTube
Card images, product images and video: Riot Games.