The sizing question for Riftbound has a short answer and a longer set of consequences. The cards are the standard trading card size, which means the common sleeve and holder sizes fit them, and no special purchase is needed. What is worth more attention is what else in this game needs protecting, because a Riftbound deck is not the only thing on the table. This page covers the size, the sleeves, the rigid holders, and the parts of the game people forget.
Quick answer
Riftbound cards measure 63 by 88 millimetres and have rounded corners, which is the standard trading card size, so standard-size sleeves and rigid holders fit them. That is the same size used by the other large card games, and different from Yu-Gi-Oh!, whose cards are slightly smaller with square corners. The parts to remember beyond the deck are the separate rune deck, the tokens and the battlefield cards, since all of them come into contact with hands and the table.
The size question, answered once
Riftbound cards are 63 by 88 millimetres with rounded corners. That is the standard size, and it is the size most of the hobby is built around, so the sleeves and holders sold as standard size fit without any adjustment.
It is worth knowing where the exception sits, because it is the reason some collectors end up with a sleeve that does not fit. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are smaller, at 59 by 86 millimetres, and they are cut with square corners. A Yu-Gi-Oh! card will slide inside a standard sleeve but will not fill it, which is exactly the situation that damages corners in play. the card size guide sets out the sizes side by side.
Sleeves: what standard size means
A standard-size sleeve is built for a 63 by 88 millimetre card, so it fits with a margin of a millimetre or so. That margin is the point: the sleeve is meant to be slightly larger than the card so the card goes in and out without being forced.
Two practical notes follow. Fit matters more than brand, because a sleeve the card moves inside is a sleeve that lets the card rub its own edges. And for a deck that gets shuffled, sleeves should be replaced as a set rather than one at a time, because a single new sleeve sits differently in a stack from the worn ones around it.
Rigid holders
A rigid holder is for cards that are not being played with. Where a sleeve protects through handling, a holder protects through storage, and the two do different jobs.
The sizing rule is the same as for sleeves: standard size fits, and the card should not need to be forced. For a premium treatment, a holder is the better choice than a sleeve, because the finishes that carry the most value are also the ones that show surface marks soonest. the treatment page explains which treatments those are and how they sit in the ladder. the card protection range lists the ranges we keep.
The parts that are not the deck
Three things in this game sit outside the deck and all three are handled, which is why they are worth sleeving too.
| Component | Why it needs protecting |
|---|---|
| Runes | A separate rune deck is used in every game, so it is shuffled as much as the main deck and wears the same way. |
| Tokens | They are placed, moved and stacked on the table throughout a game. |
| Battlefield cards | They sit on the table as targets rather than being held in hand, but they are still cards and they still show handling. |
Because the runes form their own deck, a player who sleeves only the main deck will find that the second half of the game they shuffle is unprotected. Sleeving both at once keeps the wear even, which also keeps the two decks feeling the same in hand.
Handling a premium treatment
Riftbound prints its premium cards in finishes rather than as different cards, so a premium card behaves like a finish: it is the same card, and it shows handling sooner. what is in a pack sets out what a pack can carry and the Ultimate Rare page covers the top of the ladder.
The handling rules are short. Sleeve before you compare two copies, so the only difference you are seeing is the card. Inspect at a tilt rather than straight down, because a reflective surface hides handling marks under direct light. And if you are buying a premium card, ask for photographs out of the sleeve and at an angle, since a photograph taken flat and square hides exactly the problems you are trying to find. the Riftbound card index collects the rest of the game structure, and the decks page covers the ready-to-play products if you are still deciding what to put in a sleeve.
For the rest of the game’s structure — the set list, the rules and the other article lines — the Riftbound card index is the place to start.
Frequently asked questions
What size are Riftbound cards?
63 by 88 millimetres with rounded corners, which is the standard trading card size. Standard-size sleeves and rigid holders fit them without any adjustment.
Do standard sleeves fit Riftbound cards?
Yes. The cards are the standard size, so standard-size sleeves fit. The margin is small, which is intended: the card should slide in without being forced.
Are Riftbound cards the same size as Yu-Gi-Oh! cards?
No. Yu-Gi-Oh! cards are 59 by 86 millimetres with square corners, slightly smaller and a different shape. A Yu-Gi-Oh! card will slide inside a standard sleeve without filling it.
Should I sleeve the rune deck as well?
The runes form a separate deck that is shuffled every game, so they wear the same way the main deck does. Sleeving both at once keeps the two decks feeling consistent in hand as well as protected.
Do I need a rigid holder or is a sleeve enough?
A sleeve is enough for cards you are playing with. A rigid holder is for cards you are storing, and for a premium treatment it is the better choice, because the finishes that carry the most value show surface marks soonest.
Sources
Sources and further reading
- Riot Games — Riftbound official product pages
- Riot Games — Riftbound State of the Game articles
- Riftbound official card gallery
Game rules, product contents and card counts are quoted from the publisher’s own materials at the date stated and can change without notice. Prices quoted anywhere on this site are secondary-market observations and move quickly; nothing here is a valuation or an investment recommendation. Our own asking prices for the cards we hold are on each product page.
Where to go next
- The CardSpicy card index — every card we track, with its PSA 10 population and market history (195 cards).
- The illustrator index — every artist behind those cards, card by card (110 artists).
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