"Most Losses aren't RNG. They're Self Inflicted"
Most defeats aren’t RNG. They’re self-inflicted. The danger is that the mistakes you make don’t even feel like mistakes — not until 2-3 turns later, when the game is lost.
Ask yourself these 4 questions every turn, and you’ll always have a plan, always find the line and always stay consistent.
1. What's The Score?
Points determine the tempo in Riftbound — and the system is more complex than most players give it credit for.
The points don't just tell you where you're at, they tell you what you need to have happen this turn.
If you're ahead, you control the pace of the game. If the game continues as is, you'll win. That forces the player behind to act, often in ways they don't want to.
But don't mistake "being up by one" as always being ahead. Point parity can matter more. Because the game ends if both fields are scored in a single turn, having an odd number of points can sometimes be a wasted edge. Timing matters more than a raw lead.
And remember: the score is open information. At higher levels, both players know exactly what the other wants to accomplish based on that number. Use the score as a roadmap of intention for turns.
✅ Actionable Steps
- Check the score first - before looking at your hand, ask: "Am I ahead, behind, or even?"
- Decide your role - Ahead = protecting your lead; Behind = force a shift.
- Plan your point break - If you're about to score, ask: "Is this turn creating wasted points?"
- Predict their intent - Assume your opponent is asking the same questions. What do they want the score to look like after this turn?
- Adjust tempo accordingly - Your plays should match what the score demands, not just what your hand tempts you to cast.
.
Start here. Master it. Then take on the next.
That’s the first question: What’s the Score? Mastering this alone will sharpen your decisions more than you think.
Don’t rush ahead — each question in this series is its own skill, and trying to juggle all four at once will only dilute your progress.
Focus on this one, apply it in your games, and once it feels natural, move on to the next.
