The Winning Point

Welcome to episode 45 of The Winning Point! We're beginning to welcome in the Unleashed set, and what stories do we have to tell you about our pre-Rift experiences. There have been a few decks taking an early lead in the Unleashed meta we've spotted so far -- did any of the ones mentioned surprise you? And, as always: Aurora. Discourse has returned...but has it ever really left? Don't forget to check out our stuff! Website: https://turnemsideways.gg/Shop: https://shop.turnemsideways.gg/

Welcome to Episode 43 of the Winning Point! Some of the crew just came back from Lille, and they're here to talk about their experience at the RQ. We go through the Top 8 decks, as well as make some predictions about the Atlanta RQ, sprinkled in with a little Azir deck talk. Don't forget to check out our stuff! Website: https://turnemsideways.gg/Shop: https://shop.turnemsideways.gg/(the team is traveling so no pretty thumbnail for this week's episode. if you see us in atlanta, come say hi!)

Playmats are still available at: https://shop.turnemsideways.gg/The Post Ban Tier List is here: https://turnemsideways.gg/tierlistIt's the Spiritforged 2.0 episode! Welcome to episode 41 of The Winning Point! This week, we talk about the pre-rift kits revealed in China, go over the New Zealand 10k results, and discuss whether or not the meta is cured. What are your thoughts on the meta with all the updates? Let us know in the comments below!

Viktor's good again... you should get a playmat to celebrate: https://shop.turnemsideways.gg/The tierlist and other decks have been updated: https://turnemsideways.gg/tierlistWelcome to episode 40 of The Winning Point! We've got a little Lille announcement and we dig further into the banned cards and rules updates discussion. There's so much information and so little time to process it all. What decks are we looking to play now?

Warning: spoilers up ahead. Welcome to episode 38 of The Winning Point! This week's episode focuses on everything Unleashed Spoilers. We go over our own spoiler (Gutter Palace), Baron Nashor, and all the revealed Legends. There's so much to cover and so little time. 🎧 The Winning Point is your weekly Riftbound podcast, covering competitive play, event coverage, and everything that shapes the game — from global regionals to your local prerelease.

Two Regional Qualifiers have come and gone, and we're finally back and more or less well-rested enough to talk about them. It's not a secret that some of us work on the Riftbound shows or travel to compete in them, but there are definitely stories that come out of the events that are being revealed in this episode. For example: did you know Blevins was the reason Alanzq was late to accept his award in Bologna? We also talk about the discourse on Metal Cards... again. 🎧 The Winning Point is your weekly Riftbound podcast, covering competitive play, event coverage, and everything that shapes the game — from global regionals to your local prerelease.

Spiritforged is almost here and Riftbound just took a massive step forward.In Episode 33 of The Winning Point, the full crew breaks down the latest Riftbound tournament rules update, dives into the evolving Chinese Regional Open meta, and talks through what these changes mean heading into Spiritforged pre-release events worldwide.We cover:✅ Mixed-language cards now legal in tournaments✅ Major policy updates around missed triggers✅ Draft & limited format rules officially revealed✅ Ongoing Draven dominance — and why the meta might finally be cracking✅ Controversial judge rulings from recent CN Regionals✅ Spiritforged preorder changes & what they signal for the futureWith Chengdu and Dalian Regional Opens fresh in the books and Pre-Rift events coming to the West next week, this episode is your essential prep guide for what’s coming next in competitive Riftbound.

This week, we dive deep into the Fuzhou Regional Open, the first major Spiritforged regional in China, and unpack what the results actually tell us beyond the headline numbers. With Draven making up a massive portion of the field, we discuss whether this represents true dominance, early-set convergence, or simply China doing what it does best: identifying the perceived best deck and pushing it to its limits.We break down the Top 64 and Top 8 legend spread, including strong showings from Fiora, Irelia, Annie, and Ezreal, and analyze why Draven’s representation dropped as the tournament narrowed — even after starting at nearly 40% of the field. From Jund-style “fair” Draven lists to the absence of expected combo builds, we explore how preparation, matchup targeting, and player skill shaped the event.The episode also tackles one of the biggest conversations of the week: Riot’s Spiritforged errata, including the removal of reflexive triggers and how changes to cards like Falling Star and Icathian Rain impact gameplay clarity, tournament prep, and long-term confidence in physical card text. We debate errata vs bans, growing pains in early sets, and how these decisions affect both competitive and casual players.To close things out, we zoom out on the broader Spiritforged landscape — discussing aggro vs midrange, why “proactive” decks feel strong early in formats, what might emerge as the next hated-but-not-broken deck, and how the meta could evolve heading into upcoming Chinese Regionals and major Western events.

A reminder that co-streams will start next week (1/16 around ~8pm CT) with the Fuzhou Spiritforged Event! Welcome back to The Winning Point, episode 29 — our first episode of 2026 and a deep dive into everything shaping Riftbound right now.This week, Blevins, Casanova, and Charmer talk about projected content plans for Turn 'em Sideways (including new series like First 40) and break down early Spiritforged results from China. The most recent City Challenge data showied Draven at 36% of Top 8s with Kai’Sa close behind, and had some surprising representation from Irelia, Viktor, and Master Yi. We discuss what these numbers actually mean, which decks may be underrepresented, and why this is far from a solved meta. The pod also had some candid discussion around ticket sales, event capacity, and what Riot can do better long-term.We also talk Spiritforged accessibility, product availability updates, Worlds bundles, wave two distribution, and why panic-buying sealed product rarely pays off. On the competitive side, we unpack Riftbound’s updated tournament time rules, how the new structure impacts control vs aggressive decks, and whether this change actually fixes long round delays.If you’re preparing for Spiritforged events, watching the evolving meta, or just want honest Riftbound discussion, this episode sets the stage for what’s coming next.

The Order Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most board-focused and value-driven domain — built around tokens, efficient units, and layered interaction that rewards smart sequencing and battlefield control.In this video, we break down every Order Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which cards are core engines versus situational role-players. Token generators like Azir's Sand Guards, Royal Guard, and Corina Veraza, define Order’s ability to flood and reinforce the board, while standout tools such as BF Sword, Drag Under, and Rally the Troops offer real power in both tempo and removal-heavy matchups.We also take a close look at Order’s evolving late-game and Champions Zone impact, highlighting cards like Fiora (Worthy), Undertitan, and Xin Zhao that push Order decks from incremental pressure into legitimate win conditions. Between efficient accelerate options, action-speed interaction, and token-based synergies, Order continues to reward players who can convert small advantages into overwhelming battlefield presence.📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

The Body Domain set review dives deep into Riftbound’s most straightforward — yet deceptively powerful — domain, focused on board presence, combat efficiency, and relentless pressure.In this video, we break down every Body Domain card, discussing where each one fits, what decks want them, and which tools are core inclusions versus situational role-players. Efficient stat sticks, combat tricks, and pressure-oriented units define the domain, while standout cards highlight how Body decks can quickly snowball small advantages into overwhelming battlefield control.We take a close look at how Body supports aggressive and midrange strategies, how it pairs with other domains to reinforce tempo-driven game plans, and which cards are most likely to shape early tournament metas. Whether you’re looking to curve out with efficient attackers, dominate combat phases, or force opponents into awkward defensive positions, this review breaks down what matters — and what can safely be skipped.📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

In this video, we continue our Spiritforged set review series by breaking down every card in the Calm domain. Joined by Prismaticism, we go card-by-card to evaluate what Calm brings to Riftbound — from efficient value engines and defensive tools to counterspells, gear synergies, and late-game power plays.Calm continues to solidify its identity as a control-leaning, value-oriented domain, featuring standout cards like Not So Fast, Lonely Poro, Stellacorn Herder, and powerful gear options such as Heart of Dark Ice and Guardian Angel. We discuss which cards feel like auto-includes, which are meta-dependent tech, and which might struggle to find a home in competitive play.Whether you’re preparing for Spiritforged tournaments, refining your green decks, or just want a deeper understanding of how Calm fits into the evolving Riftbound meta, this breakdown will help you separate the staples from the traps.📺 This video is part of a 7-part review series, covering every card in Spiritforged — be sure to check out the rest of the playlist for full set coverage.

Welcome to Episode 28 of The Winning Point! Spiritforged is officially on the horizon for Riftbound and we're closing this year out with a closer look at what's coming next. Spoiler alert: it includes co-streams for upcoming Spiritforged Chinese tournaments. In this episode, the crew breaks down early Spiritforged impressions, discusses hands-on experiences with Riftbound sealed play, and recaps the Paris Open, including what the event felt like on the ground and how Riot’s presence shaped the experience. With Spiritforged already live in China and global release approaching, we talk about how sealed differs from constructed Riftbound, what deck ideas we've come up with, and why the format feels so strong. If you’re preparing for Spiritforged, curious about sealed Riftbound, or want to stay ahead of the evolving meta, this is an episode you don’t want to miss.