Unleashed has been the most interesting expansion to follow in Riftbound's short history. Not only there wasn't a clear dominant legend like Kai'Sa in Origins or Draven in Spiritforged, shake ups happened frequently, at all tiers of the competitive spectrum.
Among top performers, Irelia started as the obvious front-runner, and felt like an unsolvable problem when her win in Sydney proved Aurora wasn't a reliable way to keep her check. Yet, the Blade Dancer ultimately slowed down, especially in the fast-paced western metagame, leaving Diana and Master Yi as the only candidates to earn the distinction of Riftbound's finest.
For many, the Scorn of the Moon deserves the title due to being the sole legend with seven top 8 spots alongside 5 finals. Yet, Diana only won one regional qualifier while Master Yi will end Unleashed as the only legend with 3 crowns.
Azir tried to join that race for a little bit, with a win in Xi'an followed by a top 8 in Vancouver and an undefeated run to win Utrecht not so long after. Yet, the Emperor of the Sands had too many missteps to be considered a reliable tier 1 contender, as its top 128 finish in Tianjin also happened in that same time frame.
This lack of consistent results has been the theme of the Unleashed expansion, which featured multiple mind-boggling results in every regional tournaments. Some were great, such as Rek'Sai waking up in June to post back to back Top 8 in Tianjin and Utrecht, or Viktor, Rengar finding their way to the finals of Utrecht and Vancouver.
Others went the other way, losing all their momentum as time passed. Sivir, who started off as the Aurora boogeyman everyone feared, failed to record a single top 8 in June. Vex followed a similar path, going from unexpected top cut material to a top 128 serial finisher.
Overall, Unleashed erased the one-sided environments we endured during Origins and Spiritforged, only saved by world-class players displaying their skill for us mortals to take notes. This time, each regional tournament was packed with unforeseen developments. Even if only four legends managed to win a big one, fifteen reached the top 8 at least once.
At the end of it, I'm not even certain the metagame has been fully solved. We know Diana is the best if you put in the time, while Master Yi is an easier top performer to learn, but also more predictable to play against.
Irelia remains a fantastic pick in a slower environment, but struggles a bit when more aggressive decks join the fray. Azir and Annie look like the most reliable top 8 contenders behind the dominant trio, but also benefit from world class players paving their way to success.
Past those five, 10 legends managed to record at least one top 8 during the Unleashed expansion. Keep in mind, most of those 10 also have a top 128 or worse finish attached to their name. So what was the winning recipe in Unleashed ? To bring a decklist that made sense in the current metagame, alongside a pilot with extensive training and understanding of that particular legend.
Unleashed rewarded the best Riftbound players, it's that simple.
Riftbound Unleashed Meta Tier List
Tournaments used to create this Meta Tier List:
- Suzhou Regional Open
- Sydney Regional Qualifier
- Xi'an Regional Open
- Vancouver Regional Qualifier
- Tianjin Regional Open
- Utrecht Regional Qualifier
- Changsha Regional Open
- Hartford Regional Qualifier
- 55 tournaments with 64+ players since May 15, 2026
| Tier | Legend Best Performance in Regional Tournaments Top Cut Performances in 64+ Tournaments |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 | Diana Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 2 / Top 2 / Top 2 Western Regionals: Top 4 / Win / Top 4 / Top 2 64+ Players tournaments: 9 Win / 39 Top 8 |
| Tier 1 | Origins Master Yi Chinese Regionals: Win / Top 16 / Win / Top 8 Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 4 / Top 8 / Win 64+ Players tournaments: 5 Win / 64 Top 8 |
| Tier 1 | Irelia Chinese Regionals: Top 2 / Top 4 / Top 8 / Win Western Regionals: Win / Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16 64+ Players tournaments: 5 Win / 32 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Azir Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Win / Top 128 / Top 32 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 8 / Win / Top 16 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 19 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Annie Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 32 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 8 / Top 8 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 4 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | LeBlanc Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 8 / Top 64 / Top 32 Western Regionals: Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 64 64+ Players tournaments: 6 Win / 21 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Ezreal Chinese Regionals: Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 32 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 4 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Win / 8 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Rek'Sai Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 4 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 8 / Top 16 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 3 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Sivir Chinese Regionals: Top 4 / Top 32 / Top 256 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 2 / Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16 64+ Players tournaments: 9 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Viktor Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 2 / Top 64 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 11 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Miss Fortune Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 32 / Top 32 / top 32 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 16 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Win / 4 Top 8 |
| Tier 2 | Rengar Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 2 / Top 32 / Top 32 64+ Players tournaments: 4 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Kha'Zix Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 32 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 64 64+ Players tournaments: 4 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Darius Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 16 / Top 64 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 8 / top 32 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Draven Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 16 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 6 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Vex Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 8 / Top 16 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 4 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 19 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Sett Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 4 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 6 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Fiora Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 13 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Pyke Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 4 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 8 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Lux Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 512 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 8 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Lillia Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 3 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Kai'Sa Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 7 Top 8 |
| Tier 3 | Teemo Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 8 / Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8 |
| Tier 4 | Unleashed Yi Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 8 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 4 | Poppy Chinese Regionals: Top 4 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 128 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8 |
| Tier 4 | Volibear Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 16 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 4 | Ahri Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 32 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8 |
| Tier 4 | Jax Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 64 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 4 | Jhin Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 64 / Top 32 64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8 |
| Tier 4 | Lucian Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 4 | Ornn Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8 |
| Tier 5 | Vi Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 512 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 512 64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top |
| Tier 5 | Yasuo Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 28 / Top 128 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 512 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 5 | Lee Sin Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 5 | Leona Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: 1 top 8 |
| Tier 5 | Jinx Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128 Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 512 64+ Players tournaments: 1 top 8 |
| Tier 5 | Ivern Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 5 | Renata Glasc Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 1024 / Top 256 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 5 | Rumble Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 128 /Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 1024 / Top 512 64+ Players tournaments: None |
| Tier 5 | Garen Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256 Western Regionals: Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 512 64+ Players tournaments: None |
- Tier 1: Expected top cut performer and potential winner in high-stakes tournaments.
- Tier 2: Top 16 or 32 contender, typically a wins or two short of top 8.
- Tier 3: Able to compete for Top 64 spots with an experienced pilot, combining both a good understanding of this legend and the tournament metagame.
- Tier 4: Competitive sparks here and there, capable to reach the top 64 when the draws align or in the right environment.
- Tier 5: Best-of cards are worth good money.
Tier 1
Diana
Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 2 / Top 2 / Top 2
Western Regionals: Top 4 / Win / Top 4 / Top 2
64+ Players tournaments: 9 Win / 39 Top 8
With Irelia stumbling in the last two western regional tournaments, Diana ends the Unleashed expansion with most records, except the one for most wins.
Indeed, the Scorn of the Moon is the only one with seven top 8 cuts and five finals out of eight possible. If only she had not lost four of those five finals, Diana might have been the S tier competitor of this expansion.
Master Yi - Wuju Bladesman
Chinese Regionals: Win / Top 16 / Win / Top 8
Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 4 / Top 8 / Win
64+ Players tournaments: 5 Win / 64 Top 8
In May, Master Yi won a regional, but also missed 2 top cuts, leaving many questions regarding its ability to dominate. In June however, the Wuju Bladesman has been the best legend in Riftbound, with a win plus a top 8 spot in both regions.
Diana did enough to keep her #1 spot with three finals out of four tournaments in that same period. Yet, those who value overall wins might want to put Master Yi at the top.
Irelia
Chinese Regionals: Top 2 / Top 4 / Top 8 / Win
Western Regionals: Win / Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16
64+ Players tournaments: 5 Win / 32 Top 8
Irelia was the undisputed best legend in Riftbound as soon as she won in Sydney, proving she could beat the Aurora match-up. However, as time passed, the Blade Dancer started to show some fatigue, to the point she missed the top 8 in the last two western regional tournaments.
Most likely, the slower, more value oriented metagame of the early days suited her play style a lot better than the more aggressive, fast-paced environment we saw in the last tournaments.
Tier 2
Azir
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Win / Top 128 / Top 32
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 8 / Win / Top 16
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 19 Top 8
In the right hands, Azir is a Tier 1 menace capable of an undefeated run to win a regional tournament. However, only 3 top cuts across 8 tournaments also shows some reliability issues, or that the pilot matters more than the legend itself.
Annie
Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 32
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 8 / Top 8
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 4 Top 8
Annie has been a one player army in this set, with Prismaticism grabbing all the best-of cards for that legend in the West. It took a month to reach the top 8, but going back to back in Utrecht and Hartford shows the Dark Child is a strong performer in the right hands.
LeBlanc
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 8 / Top 64 / Top 32
Western Regionals: Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 64
64+ Players tournaments: 6 Win / 21 Top 8
The Deceiver started the new set as the new release to beat. Unfortunately, she has been beat, victim of her inability to build around anything else but her signature synergy.
In the best-of-1, more casual environment, LeBlanc is a Tier 1 competitor for sure. However, the more competitive metagame of regional tournaments requires a bit more flexibility than she possesses.
Ezreal
Chinese Regionals: Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 32
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 4
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Win / 8 Top 8
Except for a disappointing performance in Utrecht, Ezreal has been extremely consistent during the Unleashed set, consistently making it to the top 32. With a top 4 to close this competitive period, the Prodigal Explorer showed the Mind - Chaos tandem isn't just about Diana.
Rek'Sai
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 4 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 8 / Top 16
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 3 Top 8
Early in Unleashed, Rek'Sai was inconsistent, often more disappointing than a serious competitor. The more the metagame developed, and the better the Void Burrower became.
Over the first four regional tournaments, Rek'sai had two bad performances for a strong one. In the second half of the set, Rek'Sai had three great showings with two top cut appearances. Without that top 128 stain, reminding us of that inconsistency problem, Rek'Sai would be with Azir and Annie, at the top of this tier.
Sivir
Chinese Regionals: Top 4 / Top 32 / Top 256 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 2 / Top 8 / Top 32 / Top 16
64+ Players tournaments: 9 Top 8
Sivir really struggled in the Chinese metagame once the switch to counter Aurora decks happened. However, the Battle Mistress remained a solid performer in the west for the entirety of the Unleashed expansion. Sure, she failed to reach the top cut since Vancouver, which explains why other legends climbed past her in the rankings. Still, Sivir remains a legend you expect to see among top cut competitor once the later rounds start.
Viktor
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 2 / Top 64
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 11 Top 8
Viktor has been a discreet legend in Unleashed, except for that cinderella run to the finals in Utrecht. At least, that will be something to remember the Herald of the arcane, as Azir took the title of best Token legend, while LeBlanc was the dominant Order - Mind one.
Miss Fortune
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 32 / Top 32 / top 32
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 16
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Win / 4 Top 8
Overall, Miss Fortune has been more reliable than Sivir during the Unleashed set, and will be the only legend in Tier 2 without a top 8 recorded. Sadly, it also means the Bounty Hunter never made it to the top cut while Sivir, even with her catastrophic showing in the last to regional tournaments in China, will be remembered as a menace in the first tournaments.
Now, with best-of cards for Origins legends removed from competitive play, it is safe to say Sivir will be the best Body-Chaos legend to play Aurora.
Rengar
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 2 / Top 32 / Top 32
64+ Players tournaments: 4 Top 8
Rengar had a solid run in the western metagame, with a fantastic run to Vancouver's finals while in the hunt for another top 8 spot in most other tournaments. It was shakier in the Chinese metagame, but just like Annie, aggressive legends typically fare much better with European or American players at the helm.
Tier 3
Kha'Zix
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 32
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 64
64+ Players tournaments: 4 Top 8
Alongside Miss Fortune, Kha'Zix was the other legend worthy of Tier 2 without ever making it into a top cut. The Voidreaver was close on multiple occasions, with a pair of top 16 and as many top 32 finishes.
However, The performance in the second half of the Unleashed set doesn't deserve a tier 2 finish, hence why Kha'Zix will have to settle for first in tier 3. Overall, midrange legends didn't fare very well in this metagame except for Master Yi.
Early on, they were a little too slow to develop against Aurora decks. Later, they were either a bit too slow to develop to contain the likes of Annie, or lacked some value to beat an Azir.
Darius
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 16 / Top 64 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 8 / top 32
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8
Darius and Rek'Sai had a similar progression in Unleashed, with much better results in June compared to May. For the Hand of Noxus, the improvement wasn't enough to record multiple top 8. Yet, I would assume Darius to be a competitive pick for those with a tournament left to play in this set.
Draven
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 16 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 6 Top 8
Top 64 is an important threshold as it grants the player an invite for the continental tournament, typically was is expected from legends in this third tier. Draven fits that description perfectly, being the legend with the most top 64 finishes in this set.
The Glorious Executioner also recorded a pair of top 16, which got him close to climbing to the upper tier. Unfortunately, the last regional was Draven's worst of the set.
Vex
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 8 / Top 16 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 4 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 19 Top 8
Vex looked like a possible Tier 1 threat after two top cuts in three regional tournaments. Sadly, that fortune completely changed in Vancouver with a top 128 that set the tone for a very disappointing month of June.
The same duality can be observed in the best-of-1 metagame whereVex ranks sixth overall if we look at the amount of top 8 recorded. However, Vex is not part of the 13 legends with at least one win recorded.
Sett
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 4 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 6 Top 8
Sett's run to Utrecht Top 4 had many wondering if everyone except Colin K. missed something about the Boss in the Unleashed metagame. Looking back to it, that player definitely was the best Sett in the world, and found the right play style for that legend to have a shot. Yet, it still wasn't enough to make Sett a consistent threat.
Fiora
Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 13 Top 8
Fiora had a good start to this set, with impressive results in the early Best-of-1 tournaments. Then, the first four regional qualifiers pointed at a legend capable of competing for top 8 spots. After all, Fiora felt very flexible, able to build around Baited Hook, Aurora or a unit heavy midrange playstyle.
All that momentum disappeared in Utrecht, with a surprising top 128 finish, soon followed by a top 256 in Hartford to cement Fiora's downfall in the last weeks of the Unleashed metagame.
Pyke
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 4 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 32 / Top 128 / Top 8
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8
Two top cuts alongside a top 16 finish should rank Pyke in the second tier, especially as both his best results came in June, showing the legend improved over the course of this expansion.
However, the Bloodharbor Ripper is so inconsistent, I just ranked it in the middle of its two competitive identities. Indeed, Pyke posted as many top 256 as top cuts, while his top 16 or top 32 finish don't erased his couple of top 128 finishes.
Lux
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 512
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 32 / Top 8
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8
In the third Chinese regional, Lux became the talk of social media with a new combo list able to generate infinite value and points. Many believed this would change the legend's fortune, turning the mage into an unexpected contender for the remainder of Unleashed.
It did, as Lux recorded her best three runs in that period, with another top 32 shortly after the new deck came out, and a top 8 in Hartford, the last regional tournament in this expansion.
However, be wary this isn't a magical deck at all, since Lux also recorded her worst performance of this expansion in that time frame, a catastrophic top 512 in Changsha.
Lillia
Chinese Regionals: Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Win / 3 Top 8
Lillia is tied with Draven at five top 64 finishes. However, while the Chaos - Fury legend managed to progress further in some tournaments, it feels like top 64 is as high as Lillia can go in this metagame.
Kai'sa
Chinese Regionals: Top 16 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 16 / Top 256 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 7 Top 8
With a pair of top 16, one in each region, Kai'sa looked like she had some gas left in the tank for a third set in a row. Yet, the momentum completely stopped in June, when legends seemingly unable to run out of cards started to dominate, while the Chaos and Calm domain alongside their counter spell cards were both very popular.
Teemo
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 8 / Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8
Teemo had a strong month of May, appearing as a reliable day 2 competitor thanks to new hidden cards, and a metagame rewarding legends able to go at a hundred miles an hour early on.
Sadly, June went the other way, and the Swift Scout was unable to post the same results, slowly losing all its momentum while Diana and Ezreal carried the Mind - Chaos tandem to once again be among the best in Riftbound.
Tier 4
Master Yi - Wuju Master
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 8
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
The top 8 in Changsha is way too late to consider the second Master Yi a competitive threat. However, with that great run plus a pair of top 64 finishes, one can wonder if the legend is inconsistent, or maybe not as basic as the "gain XP every turn" synergy pointed at.
Poppy
Chinese Regionals: Top 4 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 32 / Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 128
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8
Poppy started this new set as an unexpected competitive pick, but quickly lost her way as the metagame evolved to target the Aurora synergy.
Volibear
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 16 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
After a shocking top 16 in Utrecht, Volibear was unable to ride that momentum, ending the Unleashed expansion with a pair of Top 256 finishes.
The legend had two playable decks in this set, Aurora and a Dragon heavy midrange build. The second felt like a clever way to dodge all those side-decks designed to punish the 9-cost gear. Unfortunately, that strategy lacked a bit of raw power to carry Volibear.
Ahri
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 32 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8
Always a fan favourite, I'm curious to see if some will still play Ahri even if there isn't a best-of card to earn from now on.
If you do, make sure you consider the Nine-tailed Fox for a slower, more value oriented metagame like Chinese tournaments typically features. It suits her play style a lot more.
Jax
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 64 / Top 64
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
Jax found a way to win more games in the Chinese metagame towards the end of this set, but never found the formula in the west. Overall, the hate towards Aurora must have had repercussions on other gear heavy decks, such as the Master-at-arms.
Jhin
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 64 / Top 32
64+ Players tournaments: 2 Top 8
Jhin found its best list very late in the set, as the top 64 in Utrecht followed by a top 32 in Hartford attest. This unexpected improvement will earn Jhin its way out of the last tier, even if the Virtuoso has yet to post a meaningful result in the Chinese metagame.
For those with a tournament left, or just looking to have fun in casual play, this is one of the few legends that might still surprise your opponent if they aren't up to date on the latest builds.
Lucian
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
Lucian completely disappeared in this set, with only a pair of top 64 finishes to add to its pedigree. The Purifier felt to of a shinier Body-Fury legend in Rengar, while side-decks designed to destroy gears didn't help either.
Ornn
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 64 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top 8
Ornn had a promising start, similarly to what it did in Spiritforged, but unfortunately ended both sets the same way : Far from a competitive threat.
In Spiritforged, the dominance of the Chaos domain, able to send its most important unit back in the hand no matter its might was to blame. In Unleashed, that problem still existed, but Ornn also had to deal with more gear removal, and a fast pace in the second half of the set.
Tier 5
Vi
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 64 / Top 512 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 512
64+ Players tournaments: 1 Top
Darius and Rek'Sai had to wait until June came around to become threatening legends, turning the Fury - Order tandem into a real domain pair. Unfortunately, Vi never followed that lead, most of the time struggling to even be a part of Day 2.
Yasuo
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 512
64+ Players tournaments: None
Even when he copies Irelia's deck card for card, Yasuo is incapable of reliably reaching a regional tournament's day 2. With best-of cards for Origins legend gone from now on, this is likely goodbye for the Unforgiven.
Lee Sin
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
Lee Sin has been consistent in both regions, always close to a potential day 2 appearance in China, while a constant non-factor in the West.
The slower metagame fits this legend better, as Lee Sin needs time to get set on the board. That window doesn't exist in the West, typically featuring a faster pace and more aggressive scoring patterns.
Leona
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: 1 top 8
There was a good amount of support for the stun synergy in the Unleashed set, but it seems like nothing will ever be enough to make Leona as good as some want her to be.
At least, Yvern has been equally bad, so we can just blame it on the domain combination, who seems to only work for Azir, sporting a very different play style.
Jinx
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 128
Western Regionals: Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 512
64+ Players tournaments: 1 top 8
I'm still a little shocked at how good Annie is able to perform while Jinx is a terrible competitive pick. I understand how good getting two runes back at the end of a turn is and how it gives Annie a fantastic opportunity to be a fast-paced legend with reactive abilities.
Still, this was the last set for Jinx to shine with best-of cards gone for Origins legends, and the Loose Cannon was nowhere to be seen.
Ivern
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 512 / Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
Ivern will go down as the worst legend to come out of the Unleashed set, alongside being the worst in its domain combination as well.
The requirement to constantly fulfil certain conditions for the units to be at full strength is too demanding when you go against legends with an arsenal of removals, or a flurry of strong standalone units with not strings attached.
Renata Glasc
Chinese Regionals: Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 256 / Top 1024 / Top 256
64+ Players tournaments: None
While Lux managed to find a competitive build, Renata Glasc is still looking for hers after two expansions. Just like many other legends in this tier, you simply can't play reactively in Riftbound, even if both your domains are pretty good at doing.
Unfortunately, Renata still has to figure a way to pressure her opponent.
Rumble
Chinese Regionals: Top 128 / Top 256 / Top 128 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 256 / Top 512 / Top 1024 / Top 512
64+ Players Tournaments: None
For a bit, Rumble felt like it wouldn't be the worst Mind - Fury legend in the game, as Jhin was off to an equally terrible start. Sadly, the Unleashed legend ultimately found a good list, while Rumble kept posting disappointing results one after another.
Garen
Chinese Regionals: Top 64 / Top 128 / Top 512 / Top 256
Western Regionals: Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 512 / Top 512
64+ Players tournaments: None
Garen had a good run in the first tournament of the Unleashed set. Then, he quietly went back to being the worst legend in the game as soon as Aurora wasn't able to carry every legend from the Body domain.
