Games · Riftbound

Radiance field report

Before Radiance was legal, 13 creators and sites made their calls on it. This page keeps every call, puts them next to what the first preview events showed, and checks both against what actually happens, first after the opening weekend and then at RC Stuttgart.

Calls collected by 22 Oct 2026, before Radiance became legal on 23 Oct 2026. Updated 22 Oct 2026. Next check: First look, 26 Oct 2026.

The short version

  • The one they agree on: Riven. 7 of the 8 creators who graded it put it in S.
  • If you're picking a deck this weekend: Kennen (5 top 8s at the previews) and Riven (4 top 8s at the previews). Rated S by the creators, and already finishing well.
  • The one they fight about: Evelynn, graded everywhere from S to B.

What Radiance gave older legends

The new set handed cards to old legends too. Straight from the public deck lists: each older legend's Vendetta lists (posted by 29 Sep 2026, before any Radiance card existed) against its Radiance lists (posted since 9 Oct 2026, with a Radiance card in them). Legal lists only.

Rek'Sai

6.5 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Bilgewater Tracker in 54% of its lists
  • Hunting Dog in 46% of its lists
  • Lingering Animus in 38% of its lists
  • Banner of Conquest in 31% of its lists

Removed

  • Honest Broker 93% → 46%
  • Ferrous Forerunner 40% → 0%
  • Void Rush 87% → 62%

15 Vendetta lists · 13 Radiance lists

Vex

5.9 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Bedeviling Stranger in 54% of its lists
  • Life from Stone in 34% of its lists
  • Ki Burst in 31% of its lists
  • The Good Stuff in 31% of its lists

Removed

  • Sona, Harmonious 62% → 23%
  • Evelynn, Entrancing 64% → 31%
  • Vilemaw 51% → 23%

47 Vendetta lists · 35 Radiance lists

Zed

5.8 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Runeblade Anvil in 94% of its lists
  • Reckless Innovator in 31% of its lists
  • The Good Stuff in 25% of its lists

Removed

  • Shadow Order Disciple 89% → 31%
  • Switcheroo 47% → 0%
  • Twilight Reveler 47% → 0%

19 Vendetta lists · 16 Radiance lists

Kennen

5.6 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Trifarian Captain in 94% of its lists
  • Bedeviling Stranger in 59% of its lists
  • An Offer You Can't Refuse in 35% of its lists

Removed

  • Baron Nashor 58% → 8%
  • Treasure Hunter 54% → 8%
  • The Harrowing 54% → 12%

24 Vendetta lists · 49 Radiance lists

Irelia

5.1 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Battle Preparations in 67% of its lists
  • Reckless Innovator in 67% of its lists

Removed

  • Edge of Night 57% → 13%
  • En Garde 79% → 40%
  • Lonely Poro 43% → 7%

14 Vendetta lists · 15 Radiance lists

Viktor

4.8 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Concert Poster in 57% of its lists
  • Heimerdinger, Academy Instructor in 29% of its lists

Removed

  • Singularity 70% → 29%
  • Sprite Mother 33% → 0%
  • Cull the Weak 100% → 71%

33 Vendetta lists · 14 Radiance lists

Kai'Sa

4.3 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Bilgewater Tracker in 83% of its lists
  • The Empyrean in 61% of its lists
  • Lost to the Sands in 47% of its lists

Removed

  • Void Seeker 82% → 6%
  • Darius, Trifarian 76% → 0%
  • Retreat 76% → 0%

17 Vendetta lists · 36 Radiance lists

Ahri

4 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Ahri, Confident in 85% of its lists

Removed

  • Singularity 70% → 15%
  • Thousand-Tailed Watcher 100% → 46%
  • Find Your Center 50% → 0%

10 Vendetta lists · 13 Radiance lists

Fiora

3.9 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • One-Two Punch in 27% of its lists

Removed

  • Warmog's Armor 36% → 0%
  • Lucian, Merciless 36% → 7%
  • Harnessed Dragon 64% → 40%

11 Vendetta lists · 15 Radiance lists

Rengar

3.7 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Elnuk Herd in 80% of its lists
  • Hold 'Em in 30% of its lists
  • Graves, Blasting Through in 30% of its lists
  • Bilgewater Tracker in 25% of its lists

Removed

  • Pyke, Dockside Butcher 77% → 10%
  • Brynhir Thundersong 54% → 15%
  • Mischievous Marai 38% → 5%

13 Vendetta lists · 20 Radiance lists

Azir

3.2 Radiance cards per deck

Added

  • Battle Preparations in 64% of its lists

Removed

  • Discipline 96% → 55%
  • Vi, Peacekeeper 50% → 9%
  • En Garde 67% → 27%

24 Vendetta lists · 11 Radiance lists

Added: a Radiance card in 25% or more of the legend's Radiance lists. Removed: a card in 30% or more of its Vendetta lists that fell 20 points or more. Main deck only. Legal means no card on the current ban list; the last bans date from 18 Sep, before both windows, so that also drops 1112 old pre-ban decks that had been re-posted. Lists are what players post publicly to riftbound.gg, not results. Too few lists to tell yet (10 needed in each era): Akali, Ambessa, Darius, Diana, Draven, Ezreal, Garen, Ivern, Jax, Jayce, Jhin, Jinx, Kha'Zix, LeBlanc, Lee Sin, Leona, Lillia, Lucian, Lux, Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman, Master Yi, Wuju Master, Mel, Miss Fortune, Nasus, Ornn, Poppy, Pyke, Renata Glasc, Renekton, Rumble, Sett, Shen, Sivir, Teemo, Vi, Volibear, Yasuo.

The jury: the new legends

Each block is one creator's grade, in the column of the letter they gave; hover one to see whose it is. The highlighted column is the median. Every source is linked at the bottom of the page.

Legend SABCDF Previews
RivenS · 8 calls · S to A#2 of 9 · Riftbound Insider LotharHS: SZelonius ft. TheManLand: STakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1Digi Slots: Tier 1Into the Rift podcast #43: SRiftlab: SJutariko: SX0 Riftbound: A 11 pilots · 4 top 8 · top 16 44%
EvelynnA · 7 calls · S to B#1 of 9 · Riftbound InsiderStar-Crossed + Punch First / The Waters' Wage + Reckless Innovator Into the Rift podcast #43: SJutariko: SRiftlab: AX0 Riftbound: ALotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BDigi Slots: Tier 2 3 pilots · 0 top 8
OriannaB · 8 calls · A to B#4 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Takolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5Into the Rift podcast #43: ARiftlab: ALotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BDigi Slots: Tier 2X0 Riftbound: BJutariko: high B 1 pilot · 1 top 8
MordekaiserB · 9 calls · A to C#3 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Jutariko: ALotharHS: BDigi Slots: Tier 2Into the Rift podcast #43: BRiftlab: BX0 Riftbound: BMiguel Challenger: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: CTakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 2.5 5 pilots · 0 top 8 · top 16 0%
Jarvan IVB · 7 calls · A to C#6 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Miguel Challenger: high AInto the Rift podcast #43: BRiftlab: BJutariko: BLotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: CX0 Riftbound: C 1 pilot · 0 top 8
K'SanteC · 6 calls · A to D#7 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Jutariko: low AZelonius ft. TheManLand: B/CRiftlab: BInto the Rift podcast #43: CMiguel Challenger: CLotharHS: D 1 pilot · 0 top 8
ZiggsC · 8 calls · B to D#5 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Digi Slots: Tier 2Into the Rift podcast #43: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: CTakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 2.5Riftlab: CJutariko: CMiguel Challenger: CLotharHS: D 2 pilots · 0 top 8
EkkoC · 8 calls · A to D#8 of 9 · Riftbound Insider Miguel Challenger: low ARiftlab: BJutariko: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: CDigi Slots: Tier 2.5Into the Rift podcast #43: CX0 Riftbound: CLotharHS: D 2 pilots · 0 top 8
SeraphineD · 7 calls · A to F#9 of 9 · Riftbound InsiderHidden Blade + Vanguard Armory / Supernova + Heimerdinger, Academy Instructor Miguel Challenger: ADigi Slots: Tier 2.5Riftlab: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: DInto the Rift podcast #43: DJutariko: DLotharHS: F 1 pilot · 0 top 8

The jury: everyone else

Only two creators graded every returning legend with Radiance in mind (LotharHS, and Zelonius with TheManLand), so most of these rows are two opinions. Legends with three or more grades come first. Under each name, where it has one, is Team Eclipse's last Vendetta tier, ten days before Radiance: where a proven team had it before the new cards.

Legend SABCDF Previews
KennenS · 4 calls · all STeam Eclipse on Vendetta: AZelonius on Vendetta: S LotharHS: SZelonius ft. TheManLand: STakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1Digi Slots: Tier 1 23 pilots · 5 top 8 · top 16 25%
IreliaS · 3 calls · all STeam Eclipse on Vendetta: SEn Garde + Guardian Angel / Astral Heron + Switcheroo LotharHS: SZelonius ft. TheManLand: STakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1 4 pilots · 1 top 8
Master YiS · 4 calls · S to ATeam Eclipse on Vendetta: S Zelonius ft. TheManLand: S/ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1Digi Slots: Tier 1LotharHS: A 4 pilots · 0 top 8
RengarA · 4 calls · all ATeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: AZelonius ft. TheManLand: ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5Digi Slots: Tier 1.5 7 pilots · 2 top 8
VexA · 4 calls · A to BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: BZelonius on Vendetta: A Zelonius ft. TheManLand: ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5Digi Slots: Tier 1.5LotharHS: B 2 pilots · 0 top 8
AzirA · 4 calls · all ATeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: AZelonius ft. TheManLand: ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5Digi Slots: Tier 1.5 3 pilots · 1 top 8
Kai'SaA · 4 calls · A to BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: BZelonius on Vendetta: B Zelonius ft. TheManLand: ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5Digi Slots: Tier 1.5LotharHS: B 13 pilots · 1 top 8 · top 16 25%
LeBlancA · 3 calls · all ATeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: AZelonius ft. TheManLand: ATakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5 7 pilots · 1 top 8 · top 16 20%
AkaliB · 4 calls · A to BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A Takolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BDigi Slots: Tier 2 4 pilots · 2 top 8
AnnieB · 4 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: C LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BTakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 2Digi Slots: Tier 2 not played yet
EzrealB · 4 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BTakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 2Digi Slots: Tier 2 3 pilots · 2 top 8
TeemoB · 4 calls · A to B Takolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BDigi Slots: Tier 2 2 pilots · 2 top 8
FioraB · 3 calls · A to BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B Takolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 2 pilots · 0 top 8
OrnnB · 3 calls · A to BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B Takolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 1.5LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 1 pilot · 0 top 8
Rek'SaiB · 3 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: BTakolandia ft. Rukaigi & Mosik: Tier 2 5 pilots · 1 top 8
YasuoC · 3 calls · all CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: CDigi Slots: Tier 2.5 not played yet
33 more legends with two grades or fewer
Legend SABCDF Previews
JayceA · 2 calls · all ATeam Eclipse on Vendetta: AFlurry of Blades + Catalyst of Aeons / Patched Porobot + Tools of Empire LotharHS: AZelonius ft. TheManLand: A 3 pilots · 2 top 8
Kha'ZixB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B not played yet
SivirB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: CAcceptable Losses + Edge of Night / Baron Nashor + On the Hunt LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 1 pilot · 0 top 8
LucianB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 1 pilot · 0 top 8
SettB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B not played yet
LilliaB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: C LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 2 pilots · 0 top 8
LeonaB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DBack Off + Kennen, Keeper of Balance / Solari Shieldbearer + Clockwork Keeper LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 1 pilot · 0 top 8
DravenB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: BRide the Wind + Cleave / Blood Rush + Rengar, Pouncing LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B not played yet
DianaB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: A LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 3 pilots · 0 top 8
RumbleB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DDangerous Duo + Wages of Pain / Temporal Breach + Falling Star LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B not played yet
ViktorB · 2 calls · all BTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: B 1 pilot · 0 top 8
AmbessaB · 2 calls · B to CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
PykeB · 2 calls · B to CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: CVoid Seeker + Blood Rush / Treasure Trove + Pack of Wonders Zelonius ft. TheManLand: BLotharHS: C not played yet
DariusB · 2 calls · B to CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: C 1 pilot · 1 top 8
VolibearC · 2 calls · B to CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: C LotharHS: BZelonius ft. TheManLand: C/D 1 pilot · 0 top 8
PoppyC · 2 calls · all CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
NasusC · 2 calls · all CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: B LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
AhriC · 2 calls · all CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
ZedC · 2 calls · all CTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DStar-Crossed + Noxus Hopeful / Wind and Ghosts + Twilight Reveler LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
JaxC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: D not played yet
Master YiC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DZhonya's Hourglass + Back Off / Honeyfruit + Kha'Zix, Evolving Hunter Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: D not played yet
RenektonC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: D not played yet
IvernC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: D not played yet
JinxC · 2 calls · C to D LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: D not played yet
MelC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: CMel, Defiant Soul + Singularity / Smoke Screen LotharHS: CZelonius ft. TheManLand: D not played yet
JhinC · 2 calls · C to DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: D not played yet
Lee SinD · 2 calls · all DMask of Foresight + Stalwart Poro / Scuttle Crab LotharHS: DZelonius ft. TheManLand: D not played yet
ViD · 2 calls · all DTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DHidden Blade + Kennen, Keeper of Balance / Crimson Pigeons + Vi, Hotheaded LotharHS: DZelonius ft. TheManLand: D not played yet
LuxD · 2 calls · C to FTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: DStupefy + Blast of Power / Vanguard Armory + Progress Day Zelonius ft. TheManLand: CLotharHS: F not played yet
ShenD · 2 calls · D to FTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: CDefy + Scuttle Crab / Shen, Scourge of Shadows + Sacred Protector Zelonius ft. TheManLand: DLotharHS: F not played yet
Renata GlascD · 2 calls · D to FTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: DLotharHS: F not played yet
Miss FortuneC · 1 callTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: C not played yet
GarenD · 1 callTeam Eclipse on Vendetta: D Zelonius ft. TheManLand: D not played yet

What the previews showed

5 online events played with Radiance cards before it was legal. They're the only real games so far, and they come with a catch: 12 players hid their decks until the first Regional Championship, and the ones who hide tend to be the strong ones (one hidden list finished 3rd at NovaRiftbound's Showdown 5). So the previews show what people were willing to show. They're a signal, not a result.

  • Fast Cup Radiance #2 20 Oct 2026 · 21 players
  • NovaRiftbound's $2,000 Online Showdown 5 18 Oct 2026 · 74 players · 12 hidden lists
  • League Cup #4 — Cycle 3 12 Oct 2026 · 34 players
  • Haven Online Challenger Series #5 - October 11th 2026 (Radiance Preview) 11 Oct 2026 · 46 players
  • Aserty's Creator Invitational 10 Oct 2026 · 58 players · creators playing for fun, so not counted in the rows above

How this will be judged

Written down before a single sanctioned game, so nobody (me included) can move the goalposts later.

  • Two voices, never individuals. The creators' consensus (the median grades above) and the previews (who finished well in them). No creator gets a grade on this page.
  • What counts as happening: how often a legend's pilots reach the top 8 at Radiance events of 40 or more players, against how often an average deck would, plus Day 2 at Riot's first Radiance Regional Championship. Only legends with enough pilots to read are compared.
  • What "closer" means: whichever voice put the legends in an order nearer to what happened (a rank correlation), with the counts shown so you can check it.
  • First look, 26 Oct 2026: After Radiance's first weekend (Sat 24 and Sun 25 Oct). One weekend is a first look, not a verdict.
  • RC Stuttgart, 9 Nov 2026: After Radiance's first Regional Championship, from 5 Nov.

A small worry, said up front: in a look back at the last set, Vendetta, the creators' consensus picked the obvious winner and was weak on the rest, and a single preview event ranked the new legends better than any of them. That was nine legends and one tournament, so it proves nothing. It's why the previews get a voice here.

Who was on the panel

Most of the 13 are content creators. Two of the lists were made with a proven player on the panel. Their grades were decided together on air, so they're the panel's, not one person's.

How the calls were read

  • Creators with reach or results. A list counts here if its channel or video had 1,000 subscribers or views by 22 Oct 2026, or a proven player was on the panel: the calls people actually heard. 4 smaller channels also made calls; they aren't counted.
  • Grades mean different things. Some creators grade raw power, some expected finishes, one graded only each legend's ability. They're shown as given and compared on one S-to-F line.
  • One line for every scale: letters as given; "low" and "high" a third of a step; Tier 1 / 1.5 / 2 / 2.5 as S / A / B / C; "A/B" between the two. A rank (1st, 2nd…) is shown on the legend's row as given, never turned into a letter; a card score or a single pick is listed with its source but not counted.
  • Read from the videos' captions, four of them in German, Italian or Spanish, and only grades said out loud. If I've misheard you, tell me and I'll fix it.
  • Not 13 independent opinions. Creators watch each other, so agreement here is weaker evidence than it looks.
  • Legends, not decks. A legend can have two very different builds; the main ones are named under each row. LotharHS grades decks, so his letter is his best deck for that legend.
  • Calls made before every card was revealed (preview season ended 9 Oct) count in the jury but aren't featured as takes: their makers didn't have the whole set to go on.

Every source

Changelog

  • 22 Oct 2026: calls frozen and published, before Radiance was legal.

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