Riftbound promo cards are official cards with special printing treatments distributed outside of normal booster packs. The rules on the card are identical to the standard version, the only difference is how they look and where they came from. If you have a card in hand with a small mark at the bottom that you do not recognise, this page will help you identify exactly what type of promo it is.
Page last updated: 11 May 2026. Promo details are verified against official Riot announcements. New promos are added as they are announced each season.
What Makes a Card a Promo
Every Riftbound promo card carries a promo mark printed at the bottom of the card face. This is the key identifier. If you see a small emblem or text at the bottom of a card that does not appear on your standard copy of the same card, you are looking at a promo.
The promo mark tells you the card is an officially printed alternate version. It does not change the card’s rules text, cost, or stats. A promo Lee Sin plays exactly the same as a standard Lee Sin. What changes is the printing treatment and how the card was obtained.
There is one important exception: cards marked SAMPLE are not legal for organised play. Sample cards are used for demo and promotional display purposes and are printed with a SAMPLE watermark. If you see that word printed across the card face, it is not a legal copy for tournament or league play. All other officially printed promo cards are legal.
Types of Riftbound Promo Card
There are several distinct types of promo card in Riftbound. Each comes from a different source and carries a different level of scarcity. Here is how to tell them apart.
Nexus Night Promos
Nexus Night promos are the most widely distributed promo type. Every player who attends a Nexus Night event receives a participation pack containing a promo card. Because every attendee gets one, these are broadly available compared to other promo types.
Nexus Night promos feature a specific foil treatment called the Nexus Night foil finish. This is visually distinct from standard foil cards found in booster packs. The card number is the same as the standard set release.
During the Unleashed season, the chase Nexus Night promo is a new Lee Sin variant with the Nexus Night foil treatment. If you have pulled a Lee Sin with this foil finish, that is what you have.
How to identify: Nexus Night foil finish plus the promo mark at the bottom of the card face. The card number matches the standard set version.
Flash Promo Cards
Flash promo cards look almost identical to the standard Flash card at first glance. The only visual difference is the promo mark at the bottom of the card face. There is no different foil treatment.
Flash promos are distributed exclusively through LGS Play Network stores and are not available for purchase. Riot has specifically asked stores not to sell them as singles. If you see a Flash promo listed for sale as a single, it is being sold outside the official guidelines for how these cards are meant to be distributed.
How to identify: Identical to the standard Flash card in appearance. The promo mark at the bottom of the card face is the only distinguishing feature.
Summoner Skirmish Promos
Summoner Skirmish promos are awarded at Summoner Skirmish events run through the organised play programme. Unlike Nexus Night promos, not every player receives one. Distribution is more limited, which makes these more scarce than participation promos.
How to identify: Check the promo mark at the bottom of the card. Summoner Skirmish promos will carry event-specific promo mark text. Check official Riot announcements for the specific visual treatment each season.
For more on how Summoner Skirmish events work and who can enter, see the Summoner Skirmish guide on RiftboundGuide.com.
Regional Qualifier and Championship Promos
These are awarded at premier competitive events and represent the highest prestige promo tier in Riftbound. Distribution is very limited. A Regional Qualifier or Championship promo is genuinely rare in a way that most other promos are not.
How to identify: Promo mark at the bottom of the card. Championship-level promos will be announced by Riot when events are scheduled. Check the organised play hub on RiftboundGuide.com for current event information.
Promo Cards at a Glance
| Promo Type | How to Get | Visual Difference | Scarcity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nexus Night Promo | Attend a Nexus Night event: every player receives one | Nexus Night foil finish plus promo mark | Low: broadly distributed |
| Flash Promo | LGS Play Network stores: not for purchase | Promo mark only: no foil difference | Low-to-medium: not officially for sale |
| Summoner Skirmish Promo | Attend or place at a Summoner Skirmish | Event-specific promo mark | Medium: not every player receives one |
| Regional Qualifier / Championship Promo | Top finishers at premier events | Event-specific promo mark | High: very limited distribution |
For secondary market prices on the most valuable Riftbound promo cards, see the Ahri collector guide.
Are Promo Cards Legal to Play
Yes. Any officially printed promo card is legal for organised play, including Nexus Nights, Summoner Skirmishes, and competitive events. The only rule is that all cards in your deck must be in the same language.
SAMPLE cards are not legal. Cards printed with a SAMPLE watermark across the card face are for display and demonstration use only. They are not legal copies for any organised play format.
Are Promo Cards Worth Anything
It depends on the card and the treatment. Honest answer: Nexus Night participation promos are distributed to every attendee at every Nexus Night worldwide, so they are not scarce. Their secondary market value reflects that.
Flash promos are more interesting. They are not officially for sale, which limits legitimate supply. Secondary market pricing exists but it is unofficial, and stores selling them as singles are going against Riot’s guidelines. That does not mean you cannot buy one, it just means the market is informal.
Regional Qualifier and Championship promos are genuinely rare. Very few copies exist of any given promo at that tier. Whether a specific card has collector value depends on which card it is and how competitive the Riftbound singles market is at the time.
For current secondary market pricing on any promo that appears as a listed single, TCGPlayer is the most reliable place to check. We do not speculate on prices here because promo values shift with the competitive meta and event schedules.
If you want to understand the organised play events where most promos are earned, the organised play hub on RiftboundGuide.com covers the full structure. For a reference to all Riftbound symbols and card markings, browse the keyword index on this site.