Riftbound in 2027: ranked ladder, new tournaments and Regionals in Europe

Riot Games has revealed what Riftbound Organized Play in 2027 looks like, and quite a lot is changing. A ranked ladder with Ladder Points is coming, Summoner Skirmish ends and makes way for the Nexus Cup and the Challenge Series, and the big tournaments are getting bigger and closer to home: three Regionals in 2027 take place in Europe. Here's what changes and what it means if you play Riftbound in the Netherlands or Belgium.

“I don't play Riftbound myself, but I do play League of Legends. That's exactly why we got active in the Riftbound space.” – Liam from RubyGator

Riftbound in 2027: the key changes

• Ranked ladder: every competitive tournament earns you Ladder Points, which determine your rank.
• Grandmaster: the 50 best players of the year receive this title.
• Nexus Cup and Challenge Series replace Summoner Skirmish in stores, starting with the launch of Legacy.
• Continentals: four large open tournaments, including one in London.
• Regionals last three days (Friday to Sunday) and are held in larger venues.

Riot says not everything is final yet. Details such as the exact point thresholds per rank and the Legacy promos will follow later.

Playing at your local store: Nexus Cup and Challenge Series

Summoner Skirmish is going away. Instead, there will be two kinds of store tournaments per set.

Nexus Cup: who is the local champion?

The Nexus Cup is about local glory, not your competitive ranking. There are promos for the winner and the top 8 (the same card with its own stamp), a playmat for the winner and a dedicated promo for everyone who takes part.

Challenge Series: the first step to the top

The Challenge Series is meant for players who want to compete. These tournaments are only organised by selected stores from the Riftbound Gaming Network. You earn promos and Ladder Points if you finish in the top 32, and the winner receives a Regional token: a free competitor badge for a Regional.

Unused Summoner Skirmish byes

Still have byes from Summoner Skirmish? You can use them at a Regional in 2027. If you'd rather not, you can trade them in for a promo from Set 7, The Reckoning: one promo per bye. That promo is only available through this exchange.

Image: Riot Games

The ranked ladder: Ladder Points and ranks

Every competitive result earns Ladder Points, from the Challenge Series up to the Continentals. The bigger the tournament and the higher you finish, the more points you get. Your points move you through five ranks: Aspirant, Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Players with Gold or Platinum can buy tickets for Regionals and Continentals earlier.

So you don't have to play every tournament, only your best results count towards invitations, through so-called Top Finish Races. Anyone in the top 50 at the end of the year becomes a Grandmaster and receives, among other things, free entry to all Regionals and Continentals.

Our take on the ranked ladder

Liam: “Games should always be competitive. That motivates players to learn faster and want to get better.”

Riftbound Regionals and Continentals in Europe

Good news if you don't want to travel far. These European events are scheduled for the first part of 2027:

For many Dutch players, Düsseldorf is just a few hours' drive away. The other Continentals are in Dallas, Melbourne and Toronto. Continentals are open tournaments: you don't need to qualify first.

What does this mean for you?

If you mainly play for fun, the Pre-Rifts and the Nexus Cup at your local store remain the place to start. The Legacy Pre-Rifts run from 22 to 28 January. Want to climb higher? Then the Challenge Series is the new entry point: that's where you earn your first Ladder Points and maybe a free badge for a Regional.

Liam's tip

“Thinking about your first tournament? Just go for it. You have nothing to lose, only things to learn and improve.”

Heading to a tournament? Make sure your deck is well protected. Check out our sleeves and our binders and deck boxes, and the newest set in our Riftbound Legacy collection.

We won't be at the Düsseldorf Regional ourselves, but at RubyGator you can find every new Riftbound set, including decks and playmats to play with.

Want to know more about the sets themselves? Read our article about Riftbound: Legacy and about Riftbound: Radiance.

Frequently asked questions

When do the new store tournaments start?

The Nexus Cup and Challenge Series start with the launch of Legacy in January 2027.

What happens to my Summoner Skirmish byes?

You can use them at a Regional in 2027, or trade them in for a promo from The Reckoning. Trading in is possible until 31 December 2027.

Is there a Riftbound tournament near the Netherlands?

The closest Regional in the first part of 2027 is in Düsseldorf, from 21 to 23 May.

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Written by Liam from RubyGator.

Sources

• Riot Games (playriftbound.com) – Riftbound 2027 Premier Play
• Riot Games (playriftbound.com) – Riftbound 2027 Local Play