Riftbound to Playtest New Start of Game Rules to Balance Turn Order

Riftbound developers have announced a series of playtests aimed at addressing the current win rate imbalance between players going first and second. Currently, the advantage of going first outweighs the existing bonus of channeling an extra Rune for the player going second. To reach a more balanced 50 percent win rate split, several rule adjustments are being evaluated.

One major proposed change involves moving turn order decisions to occur before Battlefields are selected. This shift ensures that the choice to go first or second is a commitment made before the opponent's Battlefield is disclosed. In best-of-three formats, players would also be able to make battlefield choices with full knowledge of the turn order.

To further bolster the go-second advantage, developers are testing three distinct perks. These include allowing the second player to start the game with 1 point, granting them an extra card draw, or allowing them to predict before their first draw. These options will be tested at various global events to determine whether card advantage, card quality, or points have the most significant impact on game balance.

These playtests are not mandatory for local or casual play, and official rules will not change until the data is analyzed. The results of these tests will inform the final ruleset, with an official announcement expected in the Patch Notes for the upcoming Legacy set.