Best Budget Riftbound Decks for Locals
Hey everyone! The early global release of Riftbound has been a bit hectic. With Kai’Sa and Master Yi dominating the meta and several tier-2 decks relying on specific key cards to stay competitive, card prices have surged. We’re seeing cards like Kai'Sa Survivor, Dazzling Aurora, and Thousand-Tailed Watcher selling for high amounts, making it tough for many players to compete early on.
Today, I’ll be sharing some budget decks I’ve found from the community, along with a few I built myself! These lists aren’t perfect, and if you’ve pulled any of the pricier cards for them, you’ll definitely want to upgrade. Still, they’re a solid starting point if you’re heading to locals and want a fair shot against other players.
Calm Chaos Yasuo ~19 USD
Yasuo, Unforgiven
1
0
Calm Rune
6
0
Chaos Rune
6
0
Targon's Peak
1
0
The Dreaming Tree
1
0
Zaun Warrens
1
0
Charm
3
1
Defy
3
1
En Garde
3
1
Gust
3
1
Clockwork Keeper
2
2
Discipline
3
2
Fight or Flight
3
2
Rebuke
1
2
Ride the Wind
3
2
Stalwart Poro
3
2
Traveling Merchant
3
2
Find Your Center
2
3
Last Stand
1
3
Wielder of Water
3
3
Kayn, Unleashed
3
6
Yasuo, Remorseful
1
6
Savjz shared this cheap Yasuo deck list, which mostly runs low-cost common and uncommon cards that are strong in the current meta.
This deck has a couple of early units like Traveling Merchant, Stalwart Poro, and Wielder of Water to conquer early battlefields and start scoring you points. We have access to multiple defensive spells to protect those units when possible, keeping hold of a battlefield to score additional points before our champions start joining in.
We have Yasuo Remorseful in this list since he’s a cheaper option, but if you have Yasuo Windrider, he’s a great upgrade in the list for the additional point you get. Yasuo Remorseful can clear a battlefield through his effect, making it extremely easier to conquer it if the opposing player doesn’t have an answer. Using our Legend’s effect, we can attack with Yasuo Remorseful on the turn he’s played, giving the opponent fewer options to react.
As for Kayn Unleashed, he’s perfect for Ganking, potentially securing two battlefields in the late game and acting as a win condition. The second time Kayn moves, he doesn’t take any damage, so we can use our Legend ability or Ride the Wind to access Kayn’s damage immunity.
Mind Chaos Teemo ~41 USD
Teemo, Swift Scout
1
0
Mind Rune
6
0
Chaos Rune
6
0
Aspirant's Climb
1
0
The Dreaming Tree
1
0
Zaun Warrens
1
0
Gust
3
1
Stacked Deck
3
1
Stupefy
3
1
Convergent Mutation
2
2
Fight or Flight
3
2
Ravenbloom Student
3
2
Ride the Wind
2
2
Scrapheap
3
2
Teemo, Scout
1
2
Tideturner
3
2
Traveling Merchant
3
2
Lecturing Yordle
2
3
Sprite Call
2
3
Consult the Past
2
4
Dr. Mundo, Expert
3
8
Rhasa the Sunderer
2
10
We’re seeing a lot of Teemo decks manage to go far in major tournaments, playing a playstyle that keeps the opposing player on edge, having them wonder what you’re hiding at your battlefield.
If you happen to have Invert Timelines and Teemo Strategist, you want to add those to the list, making it more consistent and going for a strong Dr. Mundo play.
Using your Legend’s ability, you can exhaust 1 Energy to play a Hidden card, instead of recycling a Rune. What this does is that you can start playing your Hidden cards in the early and mid-game without falling behind on upcoming turns. This game has tons of Hidden cards, either to help you keep control over a battlefield or to gain more resources to continue making plays in the later stages.
Dr. Mundo is our strongest play in this deck, gaining Might equal to the number of cards in our trash. This turns him into a tank, capable of conquering a battlefield and holding on to it to win us the game. Convergent Mutation can also copy the Might of Mundo, turning one of your weak units into a tank itself.
Mind Order Viktor ~35 USD
Viktor, Herald of the Arcane
1
0
Mind Rune
5
0
Order Rune
7
0
Altar to Unity
1
0
The Arena's Greatest
1
0
Trifarian War Camp
1
0
Retreat
3
1
Stupefy
3
1
Cull the Weak
2
2
Daring Poro
3
2
Hidden Blade
3
2
Ravenbloom Student
3
2
Soaring Scout
3
2
Back to Back
3
3
Faithful Manufactor
3
3
Vanguard Captain
3
3
Spectral Matron
2
4
Viktor, Leader
1
4
Imperial Decree
2
5
Grand Strategem
2
6
Singularity
2
6
Harnessed Dragon
2
8
Viktor is one of the top 4 strongest decks in the meta, but it usually runs cards like Thousand-Tailed Watcher that can jack up the total price of the deck.
This deck wants to go wide on the field with the Recruits, setting up multiple attackers to try and conquer a battlefield early in the game and keep hold of it. We have Viktor Leader, Faithful Manufactor, and Vanguard Captain as options to get access to Recruits alongside our Legends effect. Helping us go wider on the field, which will later play into our finishing move.
Those Recruits only have 1 Might, so they’re not too frightening for the opposing player; however, with Grand Strategem, we’re boosting their Might by 5, turning them into a deadly force when they go for the attack or defend.
We also have strong cheap cards like Spectral Matron and Harnessed Dragon, both having strong On Play abilities that can switch the board state in your favor.
Fury Mind Kai’Sa ~31.52 USD
Kai'Sa, Daughter of the Void
1
0
Fury Rune
6
0
Mind Rune
6
0
Targon's Peak
1
0
The Arena's Greatest
1
0
Void Gate
1
0
Cleave
3
1
Hextech Ray
3
1
Stupefy
3
1
Pouty Poro
2
2
Ravenbloom Student
3
2
Smoke Screen
2
2
Watchful Sentry
3
2
Eager Apprentice
3
3
Lecturing Yordle
3
3
Void Seeker
3
3
Consult the Past
2
4
Noxus Hopeful
3
4
Sprite Mother
2
4
Kai'Sa, Evolutionary
1
6
Riptide Rex
2
6
Singularity
2
6
Kai’Sa is currently the best deck in the format, but it’s extremely expensive to build, which is why we’re going for a budget list if you’re looking to test out the Legend.
This Kai’Sa deck has plenty of early units like Ravenbloom Student and Pouty Poro that can attack and conquer a battlefield to score points. We can also back them up with Cleave to go for an even stronger attack.
The list has cheap damage spells like Hextech Ray and Void Seeker to kill low-Might units or damage them enough for your attackers to finish off. In later stages of the game, we have Riptide Rex for an additional control option alongside Kai’Sa Evolutionary for the spell value.
Calm Order Leona ~80 USD
Leona, Radiant Dawn
1
0
Calm Rune
7
0
Order Rune
5
0
Monastery of Hirana
1
0
The Dreaming Tree
1
0
Vilemaw's Lair
1
0
Charm
1
1
Defy
2
1
En Garde
2
1
Discipline
3
2
Mask of Foresight
3
2
Rune Prison
3
2
Spirit's Refuge
1
2
Zhonya's Hourglass
3
2
Call to Glory
2
3
Find Your Center
3
3
Solari Shieldbearer
3
3
Wielder of Water
3
3
Fiora, Victorious
2
4
Leona, Determined
2
4
Sett, Kingpin
2
4
Leona, Zealot
2
6
Eclipse Herald
1
7
Tasty Faefolk
2
7
I grabbed this Leona list from Silent Knight’s video! If you’re a fan of the stun mechanic and gaining value off of it, then Leona might be just the deck to pick up! This list is a bit pricey compared to the rest due to the Zhonya’s Hourglass. If you want to go cheaper, you’ll have to cut them out.
Stunning can be busted in Riftbound, as you’re essentially shutting down the opponent’s unit from damaging yours. This allows you to plan attacks and prevent the opposing player from killing your unit. It can also come in clutch if your opponent is planning to attack a battlefield you’re holding, rendering one of their units useless. Legend Leona gives a buff to one of your units whenever you stun an opponent’s unit, boosting the Might of your units and making it easier for you to activate certain abilities.
Cards like Fiora, Sett, and Eclipse Herald benefit from the stun effect, making them an even stronger threat on the board.
Calm Body Lee Sin ~36 USD
Lee Sin, Blind Monk
1
0
Calm Rune
6
0
Body Rune
6
0
Grove of the God-Willow
1
0
Monastery of Hirana
1
0
The Dreaming Tree
1
0
Charm
3
1
Challenge
3
2
Clockwork Keeper
3
2
Discipline
3
2
Mask of Foresight
2
2
Pit Rookie
3
2
Stalwart Poro
3
2
First Mate
3
3
Mistfall
1
3
Stand United
2
3
Wielder of Water
3
3
Kinkou Monk
2
4
Qiyana, Victorious
3
4
Wizened Elder
3
4
Lee Sin, Centered
1
6
Udyr, Wildman
2
6
The Lee Sin deck is probably one of the easiest to build, especially if you grab the start Lee Sin deck. This Legend wants to buff units, making them tankier and harder to kill. Lee Sin Centered can empower other buffed units, making it easier for you to conquer a battlefield and keep holding it, forcing the opposing player to deal with the Lee first.
Udyr Wildman is a win condition, benefiting from spending those buffs to activate one of his 4 abilities. The abilities you choose will depend on the state of the game, but getting to activate multiple of those abilities can be a game-changer. The ability to Ready Udyr, deal 2 damage, and stun a unit means we can kill up to 8 Might units.
Closing Words
Keep in mind that these are budget decks that are running the best cheap cards available. You can still upgrade them if you have better options. Your best bet is to look through our tournament section for meta choices and find what other players are including in a meta competitive list, and go from there.
