Salvage is one of those deceptively simple utility cards that ends up being way more relevant than it looks on first read.
It doesn’t blow anything up in a flashy way or change the board state instantly.
Instead, it quietly reinforces Riftbound’s bigger theme: decision-making under pressure.
At just 2 cost, Salvage is a clean support spell that says a lot about how you plan your deck—and how you pivot mid-game.
Gameplay / Cool Mechanics
Let’s be real. Gear cards are some of the trickiest tools in Riftbound—sometimes high-impact, sometimes just filler.
Salvage leans into that tension by letting you ditch one of your own gears to draw a fresh card.
It doesn’t destroy an opponent’s gear, which makes this more of a deck refinement tool than a tempo play.
But that “may kill a gear” clause is exactly what makes Salvage valuable. You’re not locked into using it only when gear is on board. Need to cycle? Just play it and draw.
Have a useless or obsolete gear on the field? Trash it and replace it. It adds a layer of control to decks that can end up with dead-weight gear later in the match.
Also note: this is an Action spell, meaning it plays during your turn or in Showdowns, giving it more flexibility than most basic cantrips.
In decks that cycle fast, rely on utility gear, or want to lean into discard-style value, Salvage is a cheap enabler. Not broken, but definitely not bulk.
Visuals
The artwork shows a sunken cage of broken tech and discarded crates—half coral, half scrap heap.
You can almost smell the salt and rust. The green murky backdrop reinforces that sense of loss and recovery, while the subtle light filtering down gives it a strangely hopeful glow. It’s not about destruction—it’s about reclaiming.
Pull Rate & Value Speculation
Salvage is card 224/298 in the OGN set and currently appears to be a common or uncommon, judging by the cost, effect simplicity, and visual design.
No alt-art or foil has been confirmed yet, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see Salvage end up in starter decks or bulk foil packs as a playable filler.
From a collector’s point of view, it’s not going to be a chase card—but in a sealed format, or in budget gear-heavy builds, Salvage might be a low-key essential. Especially if gear-heavy metas emerge later on.
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