Riftbound's Nations Clash Brings Team Competition and Inclusivity to the TCG Scene

Riftbound, the popular Trading Card Game (TCG), has been gaining momentum with its various initiatives and projects. One of the most exciting developments is the Nations Clash event, created by French organizer Leeroy Stinson. This event brings a team-focused format to the Riftbound TCG scene, with a draft structure designed to enable comeback storytelling and generate its own moments. ## A Team-Focused Format for Riftbound Riftbound is largely a 1v1 game, with a growing 2v2 event mode and casual FFA play. However, the Nations Clash event is designed to turn this solo experience into a more team-focused format. The event features teams, some with personalities and followings already built up, competing in a more spectator-friendly online format. This allows fans to get involved and invested in the teams and their stories, rather than just individual players. The draft structure itself is designed to enable comeback storytelling. The Omega Draft uses a snake draft system, where each team gets one ban, removing eight legends from the pool entirely. From there, picks proceed in snake order to balance priority across the field. This results in 48 of the 49 available legends being picked or banned across the tournament. Teams then build their lists around the few legends they know they will encounter in their draft pool. ## The Power of National Competition The Nations Clash event is not just about competition; it's also about national pride and community. Teams are assembled through a national committee selection process, and the event is designed to generate its own moments and stories. The King of the Hill structure used in earlier Nations Clash events, where losing a game eliminates that player from the round, is specifically designed to enable comeback narratives. At the time of writing, Nations Clash is nearing the end of its Group Stages, and it has already delivered the kind of storytelling the event set out to create. Team Poland, assembled through a national committee selection process, is making waves, having defeated Germany and Spain. Team USA's Challenger TCG is also performing strongly, giving their players some competitive game time and familiarity ahead of RQ Barcelona in a few weeks. ## Making Riftbound a Space for Everyone However, the Nations Clash is not the only project Leeroy wants to help build. As mentioned, Leeroy came to Riftbound from the VALORANT Game Changers scene, where he realized the need for more inclusivity and diversity in the space. He's come up with the idea of creating a Game Changers EMEA Discord, with several women stepping up to help create it. The group is forming along nicely, and will likely know more in the near future about their plans and dates. The Riftbaddies community, a place for women in the Riftbound scene to meet and socialize, and Liftbound, where players of all genders share a passion for health and Riftbound, are also working to create a more inclusive and diverse space for players. TCGs truly do live and breathe by the grassroots, and speaking to both Stinson and Marsh made that very clear.