The Guangzhou Riftbound TCG Regional Open (August 2025) showcased some of the most exciting competitive play we’ve seen this season. With strong turnout and a highly competitive field, the event ended in a thrilling final between FoxSad and 幻影 (Phantom) — two players piloting very different approaches to Tempo strategies.
Let’s break down who won, what they played, and what lessons we can take away for the evolving meta.
Winner: FoxSad (Kai’Sa Tempo)
FoxSad secured first place with a creative Kai’Sa Tempo deck. Unlike slower control shells, this list leaned heavily on flexibility and aggressive pressure while still offering ways to outmaneuver opponents in grindy matchups.
Key highlights of the deck:
- Champions: Kai’Sa featured in both her Daughter of the Void and Survivor forms, providing both explosive offense and mid-game stability.
- Removal and tempo tools: Cards like Stupefy, Hextech Ray, and Falling Star helped maintain board control.
- Tech landmarks: A one-of Targon’s Peak and Void Gate added resilience against specific matchups.
- Sideboard power: Immortal Phoenix and Iron Ballista gave the deck reach against board-heavy strategies like Viktor and Master Yi.
Full Decklist – Kai’Sa Tempo (FoxSad)
1 Kai’Sa, Daughter of the Void
3 Kai’Sa, Survivor
3 Stupefy
2 Cleave
3 Hextech Ray
2 Retreat
2 Pouty Poro
3 Ravenbloom Student
3 Falling Star
2 Smoke Screen
3 Watchful Sentry
1 Lecturing Yordle
3 Void Seeker
2 Noxus Hopeful
2 Sprite Mother
2 Darius, Trifarian
1 Singularity
2 Thousand-Tailed Watcher
1 Icathian Rain
1 Targon’s Peak
1 Void Gate
1 Reaver’s Row
7 Fury Rune
5 Mind Rune
Sideboard:
2 Immortal Phoenix, 2 Iron Ballista, 1 Darius, 1 Thousand-Tailed Watcher, 1 Icathian Rain, 1 Dr. Mundo
Runner-Up: 幻影 (Phantom) (Master Yi Tempo)
Key highlights of the deck:
- Efficient tempo tools: Defy, En Garde, and Charm to disrupt enemy plays while advancing its own board.
- Mid-game stabilization: Qiyana, Victorious and Snapvine offered durable threats.
- Sideboard counters: Unyielding Spirit and Sabotage allowed the deck to pivot against control and spell-heavy strategies.
Full Decklist – Master Yi Tempo (Phantom)
1 Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman
1 Master Yi, Honed
3 Defy
3 En Garde
3 Charm
3 Pit Rookie
3 Stalwart Poro
3 Discipline
3 Clockwork Keeper
3 Zhonya’s Hourglass
1 Wielder of Water
3 First Mate
2 Primal Strength
3 Qiyana, Victorious
3 Carnivorous Snapvine
3 Whiteflame Protector
1 Grove of the God-Willow
1 The Dreaming Tree
1 Startipped Peak
5 Calm Rune
7 Body Rune
Sideboard:
2 Unyielding Spirit, 2 Sabotage, 2 Wielder of Water, 2 Blitzcrank, Impassive
What This Means for the Meta
The Guangzhou finals showed us two important things about the current Riftbound TCG landscape:
- Tempo is king right now.
Both finalists leaned on tempo-based strategies — using efficient removal, versatile champions, and proactive plays to stay ahead. - Sideboard flexibility matters.
FoxSad’s victory came in part from smart sideboard calls (Immortal Phoenix vs board-reliant decks), while Phantom’s Master Yi list prepared strong answers like Unyielding Spirit. In high-level play, sideboards are often the difference between victory and defeat. - Kai’Sa remains a tier-one threat.
With her ability to pressure the board early and scale with powerful finishers, Kai’Sa continues to be one of the most dangerous champions in the meta.
Takeaways for Players
- If you’re preparing for upcoming tournaments, consider tempo shells as your baseline, since they remain highly competitive.
- Don’t underestimate the importance of your sideboard tech choices — they can swing entire matchups.
- Study how these two finalists piloted their decks — FoxSad with aggressive tempo pushes, Phantom with disciplined reactive play — and apply those lessons to your own games.
The Guangzhou Riftbound Regional Open was a showcase of high-level play, and it’s safe to say the meta will keep evolving from here. Whether you’re a Kai’Sa loyalist or a Master Yi devotee, these lists prove there’s more than one way to win in Riftbound right now. To see more awesome decklists headover to Decks – Browse Riftbound Deck Lists | Piltover Archive for more Riftbound TCG decklists.
Want to stay ahead on the latest TCG news and strategy insights? Sign up for our newsletter and never miss an update. If you want to get in touch you can contact us at info@mechashield.com.
