Riftbound Frequently Asked Questions

Ruling: Yes, Ravenbloom Student ends up +1 memory higher than the amount copied by Convergent Mutation. Sequence: - Convergent Mutation resolves first - Ravenbloom Student's ability triggers after the spell fully resolves - Student gains the additional +1 memory

Ruling: Ravenbloom Student gets its +1/+1 counter after each spell resolves. Each spell fully resolves before the triggered ability goes on the chain and resolves. Sequence: - First spell resolves - Ravenbloom Student trigger resolves (gets +1/+1 counter) - Second spell resolves - Ravenbloom Student trigger resolves (gets +1/+1 counter) - Third spell resolves - Ravenbloom Student trigger resolves (gets +1/+1 counter) Nuances: - Each triggered ability that gives the +1/+1 counter is itself a triggered ability that goes on the chain and can be responded to - Opponents can respond to the trigger while it's on the chain (e.g., removing the Student with a Gust before the counter resolves)

Ruling: No, the attacker cannot lock the defender this way. When the action spell resolves, the Student's trigger becomes a pending item on the chain before cleanup completes, so the chain never closes and focus does not pass to the defender. Sequence: - Player A plays Hextech Ray as an action spell - Both players pass priority and the spell resolves - Student's trigger condition is fulfilled and immediately becomes a pending item on the chain - During cleanup, the pending trigger gets finalized - Since the chain is not empty (the pending trigger is already on it), focus does not pass - The chain continues without closing Nuances: - Pending items are placed on the chain as soon as their conditions are fulfilled, which happens before the cleanup checks if the chain is empty - The rule about triggers resulting from playing a spell includes them as part of that spell's resolution sequence

Ruling: You must choose the target when Reaver's Row triggers and goes on the stack, before reactions can be declared. Sequence: - When I attack triggers go on the stack - When I defend triggers go on the stack (including Reaver's Row, with target declared at this time) - Then reactions can be declared

Ruling: You declare the target when the trigger goes on the chain. Everything needs a target to go on the chain. Sequence: - Reaver's Row triggers and goes on the chain - You declare the target at this time - When the trigger resolves, you decide whether to fulfill the "may" clause and move the unit back or not

When you use **Rek'Sai, Breacher** to grant **Accelerate** to a token, you pay the cost as part of the process of playing that token. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9271**, **FAQ #8671**, and **FAQ #9360**, here is how the payment works: 1. **Triggering the Play:** When an ability instructs you to "play" a token, that token is considered to be played from a zone other than your hand. Because of **Rek'Sai, Breacher**, that token gains the **Accelerate** keyword. 2. **Optional Additional Cost:** **Accelerate** is an optional additional cost. As you are playing the token, you must decide whether or not to pay the cost to have it enter the board **ready**. 3. **The Cost:** The cost for **Accelerate** is **[1] Energy and 1 Power**. * Per **Rule 805.1.a.2**, if the unit has no domain or more than one domain, the Power portion can be paid with **[A]** (a Power of any domain). 4. **Payment Timing:** You must pay this cost during the "Pay Costs" step of playing the card (Rule 357). You cannot pay the Accelerate cost later once the token is already on the board. **Sequence:** * An ability (such as a Deathknell or a "When you play me" effect) instructs you to play a token. * As you are playing the token, **Rek'Sai, Breacher** grants it **Accelerate**. * During the "Pay Costs" step, you choose to pay **[1] Energy and 1 Power** for the token. * The token enters the battlefield **ready**. If you choose not to pay, it enters the battlefield **exhausted** (the default state). *Note: If you are playing multiple tokens at once (e.g., from an effect that plays two tokens), you pay the Accelerate cost separately for each token and may choose to pay for one, both, or neither.*

No, **Accelerate is not free.** According to **Rule 805.1.a**, **Accelerate** is functionally short for: *"As you play me, you may pay [1] Energy and 1 Power as an additional cost. If you do, I enter ready."* When you control **Rek'Sai, Breacher**, she grants the **Accelerate** keyword to friendly units played from anywhere other than your hand (such as tokens created by abilities). This gives you the **option** to pay that cost to have the unit enter the battlefield **ready**. Here is how the interaction works: * **Optional Cost:** You are not required to pay the cost. If you choose not to pay it, the unit will enter the battlefield **exhausted** (the default state for units). * **Payment Timing:** If you want the unit to enter the battlefield **ready**, you must pay the **[1] Energy and 1 Power** during the "Pay Costs" step of playing that unit (Rule 805.2). * **Cost Details:** Because tokens (and most units affected by this) have no domain or multiple domains, the Power portion of the cost can be paid with **[A]** (a Power of any domain). In summary, **Rek'Sai, Breacher** grants your units the *opportunity* to use the Accelerate mechanic, but you must still pay the associated cost if you want them to enter the battlefield ready.

No, Rek'Sai, Swarm Queen's ability does not trigger when you move her to an unoccupied battlefield. According to the established rules and **RiftJudge FAQ #8827**: 1. **Open Showdown:** When you move Rek'Sai to an empty battlefield, you initiate an "open showdown." At this stage, there is no combat, and no units have the "Attacker" or "Defender" designation. 2. **Trigger Condition:** Rek'Sai's ability ("When I attack...") is an **Attack Trigger**. According to Rule 383.4.e, these triggers only occur when a unit gains the **Attacker** designation during a **combat showdown**. 3. **Result:** Because moving to an empty battlefield does not initiate combat, Rek'Sai does not gain the "Attacker" designation, and therefore her ability does not trigger. If an opponent later moves a unit into that same battlefield, the open showdown ends and a combat showdown begins. At that moment, Rek'Sai gains the "Attacker" designation, and her ability will trigger then.

When you use *Rengar, Trophy Hunter* to enter a contested battlefield that you do not control, you become the **Defender**. According to the rules for contested battlefields (Rule 442.1.a) and the provided RiftJudge FAQs (specifically FAQ #9992 and #9820), the player who first moved a unit to an unoccupied battlefield is designated as the **Attacker**. When you play *Rengar, Trophy Hunter* to that battlefield as a [Reaction], you are designated as the **Defender**. As noted in the retrieved context, *Rengar, Trophy Hunter*'s ability to be played to a battlefield without your units is a specific, unique permission provided by his card text, which allows him to function as a reaction even when you have no other presence there. Once he enters the battlefield, you are assigned the Defender designation.

Ruling: You always finish the current showdown first, then process the showdown that was staged at the other battlefield. Sequence: - Complete the entire combat at the battlefield where the current showdown is happening - Then start combat at the battlefield where the new showdown was staged Nuances: - If the first showdown results in a player getting their 8th point, the staged showdown will never occur - Even if the moved champion would trigger a conquest at the new battlefield, if it's the first score that turn for that player, they wouldn't win off that conquest

Ruling: Ride the Wind resolves legally. The unit is readied, but does not move because Vilemaw's Lair prevents movement to base. The opponent is not forced to choose a different destination. Sequence: - Opponent plays Ride the Wind, selecting their unit at Vilemaw's Lair and base as the destination - The spell resolves doing as much as possible - The unit readies - The unit does not move (prevented by Vilemaw's Lair) Nuances: - Choosing base as a destination is not an illegal target choice, even though Vilemaw prevents the actual movement - Targeting restrictions (352.8.b) only look at what is written on the card itself, not at passive abilities that would prevent the action from completing - This is a "do as much as you can" (DAMAYC) situation - the ready happens, the move does not - The opponent cannot be forced to select a different destination after the fact - Rule 355.3 prevents rule-sharking by rewinding illegal plays entirely, but this situation doesn't involve an illegal play

Ruling: The Watcher is not healed before the showdown occurs. Units are healed at the end of combat (after combat damage is dealt) and at the end of the turn, but a combat doesn't begin until a unit moves to an occupied enemy battlefield, there is nothing on the chain, and no showdown is in progress. Sequence: - Riptide Rex deals 6 damage to the 7 might Watcher - Opponent moves a unit to the battlefield - Combat begins (no healing has occurred yet) - The Watcher enters combat with 6 damage already on it

Ruling: Yes, Karma triggers when Rumble recycles Ferrous Forerunner because Ferrous Forerunner is a card being recycled to the main deck. Nuances: - Karma does NOT trigger when Rumble recycles mech tokens, because tokens are not cards (similar to how runes are not cards, as noted on Karma's text) - Rumble CAN recycle token units as part of his ability cost, but this won't trigger Karma - The distinction is that Karma specifically requires "a card" to be recycled, not just "a unit"

Ruling: Yes, you can order the triggers so that Sett buffs himself first, then spend that buff with Monastery to draw a card. Both "When I/you Conquer" effects trigger simultaneously, allowing you to choose their order on the chain. Sequence: - Place Monastery on Chain Link 1 - Place Sett on Chain Link 2 - Sett resolves first, giving himself a buff - Monastery resolves second, allowing you to spend the buff to draw a card Nuances: - Monastery does not need a buff already on the field to be placed on the chain, since it is a "may" effect that pays its cost at resolution - Monastery doesn't require a target and doesn't have a mandatory cost, which allows this interaction to work

Ruling: You can immediately spend the buff when Sett Brawler is played. Nuances: - You do not need to wait for Sett Brawler to be in the ready state before spending the buff

Ruling: Yes, Vanguard Helmet can transfer a buff to Sett when he is recalled via his legend ability. The other unit dying and Sett being recalled happen simultaneously, triggering Helmet's ability which can then target the recalled Sett. Sequence: - Both units receive lethal combat damage and cleanup would kill both units - The Legend ability allows you to replace Sett's death with a recall by recycling a rune and exhausting the Legend - If you elect to replace the death, the other unit dies and Sett gets recalled simultaneously - Helmet's ability triggers and is put onto the chain since it saw the other buffed unit die, and you announce Sett as the target - If it resolves, Sett gets the buff

Ruling: No, the saved unit does not maintain its buff. Nuances: - Sett's ability specifically states "spend its buff" - Spending a buff removes that buff from the unit

Ruling: No, you cannot respond. Sett The Boss's ability is a replacement effect that does not use the chain. Once the cost is paid, the unit is immediately recalled exhausted with its buff spent, with no window for response. Sequence: - Buffed unit would die during cleanup - Sett The Boss's replacement effect applies - Owner pays the cost (exhaust Sett and pay power) - The unit is immediately recalled exhausted with buff spent - No opportunity to respond between paying the cost and the recall happening Nuances: - Despite the "when" wording on the printed card, the errata makes this a pure replacement effect, not a triggered ability - Replacement effects do not go on the chain like triggered abilities would

Ruling: Sett will lose Mighty status when you pay the cost to activate his ability, then regain Mighty status when the ability resolves. Sequence: - Sett enters the field with one buff, making him Mighty - You pay the cost (spending the buff) to activate his ability - Sett ceases being Mighty at this point - The ability resolves, granting +4/+4 - Sett becomes Mighty again Nuances: - Because Sett loses and regains Mighty status during this process, yellow Fiora can ready him when he becomes Mighty again

Ruling: Healing only removes damage from a unit. Temporary effects like might alterations remain on the unit after healing. Nuances: - If Smokescreen reduces a unit's might, that reduction persists even after the unit is healed - Healing specifically clears damage, not other effects applied to the unit

Ruling: Shield is a passive ability, not a triggered ability, so Shen gains the additional might immediately when he becomes a defender. There is no window to react before he has the bonus. Nuances: - "While" and "if" indicate passive abilities that apply immediately - "When" and "at" indicate triggered abilities that use the chain - Shield is a keyword with reminder text explaining it means "While I am a defender, I have +X [S]"

Ruling: Shen is a unit with reaction speed, not a spell. When played as a reaction, he resolves immediately and enters the battlefield as soon as he is finalized. He cannot be targeted by Wind Wall or countered by other reaction spells because units are not reactable. Sequence: - Player 1 plays a unit to start showdown - Player 2 reacts with Shen - Shen immediately enters the battlefield upon finalization - Priority is held by the player who had it (does not reset) - Player 1 can then play Cannon Barrage - Cannon Barrage resolves, dealing 2 damage to Shen and everything else Nuances: - Units cannot be reacted to and resolve immediately, regardless of being played at reaction speed - Priority does not reset when a unit is played; the player with priority retains it until they pass - A player can play multiple reactions during one priority window before passing priority back

Ruling: Shen enters the board with 3 might and then becomes mighty (gaining 2 might from Shield) during the cleanup phase after he resolves. This does trigger effects that care about units becoming mighty. Sequence: - Shen is played and resolves, entering the board with 3 might - During the cleanup phase after he resolves, he gains the defender designation - Once he has the defender designation, his Shield passive ability activates, increasing his might to 5 - This transition from 3 to 5 might counts as "becoming mighty" for trigger purposes Nuances: - There is no window to respond between Shen entering at 3 might and him gaining the defender designation during cleanup, as cleanups do not use the chain and cannot be reacted to - Players cannot cast damage spells to kill Shen while he is at 3 might because the cleanup happens before any player can react - This interaction is relevant for cards like Fiora Legend that care about units becoming mighty

Ruling: The person who controls Zhonya's gets to choose which unit uses the ability. Nuances: - Singularity deals damage to all targets at the same time, which is different from cards like Falling Star

Ruling: You do not choose a new target. You choose your target when casting Sky Splitter. If that target is no longer valid when resolving, you skip that part of the effect and Sky Splitter does nothing and goes to your trash. Nuances: - You still count as having played a card for effects like Legion or Ravenbloom Student, even though Sky Splitter did nothing.

Jinx survives with 0 Might and 0 marked damage. Smoke Screen reduces Jinx from 6 Might (4 base + 2 Assault) to 2 Might. The 1 damage taken is cleared during cleanup. When Jinx loses Attacker designation at the end of combat, the Assault bonus is removed (2 - 2 = 0 Might). Since the kill condition requires nonzero marked damage equaling or exceeding Might, and Jinx has 0 marked damage after cleanup, it survives.

Ruling: Smoke Screen locks in the magnitude of its might penalty when it resolves and never changes thereafter. So it reduces might to 1, then Call to Glory brings it up to 4, resulting in a final might of 4. Nuances: - The opponent could instead let Call to Glory resolve first, then play Smoke Screen to reduce the unit down to 3 might - The "minimum of 1" clause on Smoke Screen applies when it resolves, not after all modifiers are calculated

Ruling: Ravenbloom Student stays at 1M. Smoke Screen snapshots the unit's momentum when it resolves and applies a fixed -1M reduction for the rest of the turn, regardless of other momentum changes. Sequence: - Smoke Screen resolves on Ravenbloom Student (2M base) - Smoke Screen snapshots the momentum and applies -1M for the rest of the turn - Ravenbloom Student is now at 1M - Hextech Ray kills one Recruit, triggering Ravenbloom Student's ability - Ravenbloom Student would gain +1M (going to 2M base), but Smoke Screen's -1M still applies - Final result: 1M Nuances: - Smoke Screen does not continuously reapply or recalculate; it takes a snapshot at resolution and maintains that fixed modifier

Ruling: When Smoke Screen is played, it snapshots the current Might value and sets it to half (minimum 1). Any buffs that happen after Smoke Screen resolves apply normally starting from that new value. Sequence: - Smoke Screen reduces Daring Poro from 2 Might to 1 Might (half of 2, minimum 1) - Any subsequent buffs (like Assault when attacking) apply starting from that 1 Might base

Ruling: Smoke Screen applies its -4 might reduction (to a minimum of 1) at the moment it resolves, then the effect ceases to exist. It does not create a lingering -4 modifier that continues to track the unit's might after resolution. Sequence: - Opponent's Smoke Screen resolves first, reducing Student from 2 might to 1 might (minimum of 1) - Student's trigger activates, increasing might from 1 to 2 - Player's Smoke Screen resolves, reducing the Yordle's might Nuances: - This is due to the "Snapshot" property - once an effect resolves and is applied, it does not continue to track or influence the unit afterward - The "to a minimum of 1" clause on Smoke Screen means it cannot reduce a unit below 1 might at the moment of resolution - Any might changes that occur after Smoke Screen resolves are not affected by the previously resolved -4 modifier

Ruling: The unit gets +1 might from Ravenbloom Student's ability. The minimum of 1 might only applies when the Smoke Screen debuff is applied, not afterwards. Sequence: - Smoke Screen reduces Ravenbloom Student to 1 might (minimum) - When opponent plays a spell, Ravenbloom Student's ability triggers - The unit gains +1 might, going above the 1 might minimum

Ruling: Jinx will be at 0 Might in base after Smoke Screen is applied. Smoke Screen snapshots the reduction amount when it resolves (seeing 6 Might from base 4 + Assault 2, reducing to 2), then applies that -4 Might reduction for the entire turn. When Jinx loses attacker status and the Assault bonus, she becomes 0 Might (4 base - 4 from Smoke Screen). Sequence: - Smoke Screen resolves while Jinx is attacking with 6 Might (4 base + 2 Assault) - In the arithmetic layer, increases are applied before reductions, so Smoke Screen sees 6 Might and snapshots a -4 Might reduction - The -4 Might reduction applies for the entire turn - When Jinx returns to base and loses attacker status, she loses the +2 Assault bonus - Jinx's final Might is: 4 (base) + 0 (no longer attacking) - 4 (Smoke Screen) = 0 Might Nuances: - Units only die when they have non-zero damage marked on them that is greater than or equal to their Might - Smoke Screen's snapshotted reduction doesn't care about further additions or reductions after it's applied - In the arithmetic layer, additions are performed before subtractions - When a unit's Might would be negative, it's treated as 0 for interaction purposes, but the arithmetic layer still tracks the actual negative value for further calculations - Snapshot only applies to effects that alter Might with restrictions (like Smoke Screen's "reduce to at least 1") - it locks in the actual amount of change that occurred

Ruling: Smokescreen reduces the total might of the unit including any battlefield bonuses. The battlefield effect is not calculated separately - all positive modifiers are calculated first, then negative modifiers are applied to that total. Sequence: - Calculate all positive might modifiers (base might + battlefield bonuses + other buffs) - Apply Smokescreen's reduction to that total (reduce by half, minimum 1) - The reduction amount stays fixed for the rest of the turn, even if the unit moves and loses the battlefield bonus - If the unit leaves the battlefield that turn, it can drop below 1 might (even to 0 or negative) Nuances: - Smokescreen calculates its reduction once based on current might, then applies that fixed reduction for the rest of the turn - If a unit moves after being Smokescreened, the reduction stays but the battlefield bonus is lost, potentially resulting in 0 or negative might - Units at 0 might stay alive unless damaged - Might reduction is not the same as damage - Negative might is treated as 0 for interactions, but still counts from the negative value for subsequent might alterations

Ruling: Smokescreen's effect is "snapshotted" when it resolves, meaning the might reduction is determined by the unit's might at the time Smokescreen resolves and that reduction amount applies for the rest of the turn. Sequence: - If Smokescreen is played before Cleaver resolves, it checks the unit's might at that moment and applies the corresponding reduction for the rest of the turn - If Smokescreen is played after Cleaver has completely resolved, it checks the unit's might (including the Cleaver bonus) and applies the corresponding reduction for the rest of the turn Nuances: - In the example given, if the Noxus Hopeful has 4 might when Smokescreen resolves, Smokescreen only applies -3 might for the rest of the turn (not -4) - Waiting for Cleaver to fully resolve before playing Smokescreen allows the full -4 might reduction to apply, since the unit would be at 7 might when Smokescreen resolves

Ruling: Smokescreen and similar debuff effects only affect the unit's Might at the moment they are played, not permanently. Subsequent buffs will increase the unit's Might normally from whatever value it currently has. Sequence: - Poro starts at 2 Might - Smokescreen reduces Might by 4, but minimum is 1, so Poro is at 1 Might - Shield triggers when defending, adding +1 Might (now at 2) - Mask of Foresight triggers when defending, adding +1 Might (now at 3) - Final result: Poro has 3 Might

Ruling: Volibear remains at 10 might with 6 marked damage. The damage is marked on the unit rather than reducing its might value. Nuances: - This interaction is specific to units with damage prevention effects like Volibear at a Bastion Fortress

Ruling: No, Accelerate is an additional cost, so it is not included in effects that ignore costs (which implicitly means base costs only). Nuances: - The same principle applies to other additional costs like Cruel Patron's requirement to kill a unit

Ruling: No, these effects look at printed cost, so you cannot use Kraken Hunter's Power discount when playing it from Trash via Spectral Matron.

Ruling: When cards say "ignoring costs" they refer to the base costs in the top left only. Additional costs still need to be paid. Sequence: - You play Matron, resolve it, and put it on board - Matron's "when played" ability triggers, targeting a unit from trash, and goes on the chain - You don't pay for the targeted unit yet at this point - Opponent can respond to the trigger - When the ability resolves, you play the targeted unit and must pay any additional costs - If you cannot pay the additional costs (e.g., no unit to sacrifice), the ability fails Nuances: - "When you play" is the same as enters the battlefield; there is no separate "cast" concept in this game - The unit from trash is not "pending" when the trigger goes on the chain - it only gets played during resolution

Whether a unit benefits from the Master Yi legend bonus (+2 Might) when using the spell **Challenge** depends entirely on **when** the spell is played. According to the official FAQ and Master Yi's legend ability ("Wuju Bladesman, Starter"): 1. **During a Combat Showdown:** If your unit is currently the **only defender** at a battlefield during a combat showdown (meaning an opponent has units there and is attacking), the +2 Might bonus is active. If you play **Challenge** at this time, the unit **will** benefit from the +2 Might because the bonus is a passive state that is constantly checked. The spell uses the unit's current Might at the moment of resolution. 2. **Outside of Combat:** If you play **Challenge** on your turn outside of a showdown, or during a showdown where you are not the defender (e.g., you are the only one with units at that battlefield), the unit **does not** get the +2 Might. The "defend" status only applies during active combat where your controller is the defending player. 3. **Targeted by Spells:** Being targeted by a spell (like Challenge) does not grant a unit "defender" status. **Summary of Ruling:** The unit only benefits from the Master Yi bonus if it is already in the state of "defending alone" at a battlefield when **Challenge** resolves. As noted in the FAQ: *"The unit has the increased might while the showdown is ongoing, so Challenge uses that total might."*

Ruling: When a hidden spell causes you to play a unit, you must play that unit at the battlefield where the hidden card was located. Nuances: - If Sprite Call were played from hand instead of as a hidden card, the Sprite could be played to any battlefield you control or to the base - The restriction applies specifically because the card is hidden, not because of the showdown timing

Ruling: No, the Sprite does not come out if Sprite Mother is killed before the triggered effect resolves, because the effect specifies "here" which requires Sprite Mother to still be on the field. Sequence: - Sprite Mother is played and its triggered effect goes on the chain - There is a window to react before the effect resolves - If Sprite Mother is removed from the field during this window, the "here" clause fails and no Sprite is created Nuances: - The triggered effect can be responded to with Reaction timing - The "here" text on the card is location-dependent and requires Sprite Mother to remain on the field for the effect to fully resolve

Ruling: Stand United gives a unit a Buff (if it didn't already have one) and makes all your Buffs give +2 Might instead of +1 Might for the turn. When the turn ends, all Buffs return to their normal +1 Might. Sequence: - Stand United is played - Target unit receives a Buff if it didn't have one - All Buffs you control become +2 Might for the turn - Turn ends and all Buffs return to +1 Might Nuances: - Each existing Buff on a unit (such as 7 Buffs on Lee Sin champion) gets the +1 bonus, effectively doubling the Might contribution from Buffs for that turn

Ruling: When Stand United is revealed from hidden, the targeting portion (giving a buff to a unit) is restricted to the current battlefield only. However, the passive effect that gives all your buffs +1 this turn is a global effect that affects buffs everywhere on all battlefields. Sequence: - Stand United is revealed from hidden on a specific battlefield - Choose a target unit on that battlefield to receive the buff - The +1 bonus to all buffs applies globally to all your buffs on every battlefield Nuances: - The restriction to the current battlefield only applies to the targeting portion of the card - Effects that do not specify targeting or location can affect units globally

Yes, the unit will be **Ready** when it returns to the base. According to **Rule 453.1** and the **Recall** clarifications in the patch notes, recalls do not affect the state of the permanent being recalled. Unless the source of the recall specifically states otherwise, any damage, exhausted status, or ready status remains exactly as it was on the battlefield. Here is the breakdown of your scenario: 1. **Ride the Wind:** You play this spell to move your unit and ready it. The unit arrives at the battlefield in a **Ready** state. 2. **Thwonk!:** Your opponent plays this spell to **Stun** your unit. The unit is now both **Ready** and **Stunned**. 3. **Recall:** When the unit is recalled to the base (e.g., due to combat resolution or another effect), it retains its current state. Because it was **Ready** when it was recalled, it remains **Ready** at the base. **Note:** While the unit is **Ready**, it is still **Stunned**. It will remain Stunned until the beginning of the next Ending Step (Rule 423.1.a.2). Being Ready allows it to be available for actions, but being Stunned prevents it from contributing its might to combat damage if it were to fight again before the Stunned status wears off.

Ruling: Stormbringer causes two cleanups in this situation. The first cleanup occurs after the move effect (killing units with lethal damage and reducing Sett Kingpin's might), and the second cleanup occurs after chain resolution (killing Sett Kingpin as a "zombie unit"). Sequence: - Stormbringer resolves, moving Volibear Furious and marking 9 damage to everything - First cleanup occurs, removing the 3 buffed units and reducing Sett Kingpin to 7 might with 9 damage marked - Sett Kingpin temporarily survives as a "zombie unit" and combat is marked as pending - Combat starts with Volibear Furious attacking - Volibear's When Attacking ability triggers, creating an opportunity for Player 2 to use Hidden Blade - Second cleanup would occur after chain resolution Nuances: - A cleanup that impacts the board will trigger another cleanup - The "zombie unit" interaction (units that should be dead but temporarily survive) will be addressed in the next Comprehensive Rules Document

Ruling: Yes, the unit moves to the battlefield first via Stormbringer, then Kog'maw's Deathknell trigger resolves and deals damage to the moved unit. Sequence: - Stormbringer resolves completely, moving the unit to Kog'maw's battlefield - Kog'maw dies and its Deathknell trigger goes into a pending state - After the initial chain completes, Kog'maw's trigger goes on the chain - The Deathknell damage resolves, affecting the unit that was moved there Nuances: - Deathknell triggers go into a pending state when the unit dies and trigger after the initial chain that caused the death completes - Stormbringer is not broken up into separate effects like Falling Star

Ruling: Stormbringer deals damage to all enemy units at the chosen battlefield, then moves the friendly unit (Sand Wurm) to that battlefield. When the unit moves, contested is applied immediately (before cleanup), which locks control of the battlefield. During the subsequent cleanup, Kai'Sa dies from damage, but the hidden Fae card is NOT discarded because the battlefield remains controlled (contested prevents control change). A combat is then staged, and during the showdown for this combat, the player can play the hidden Fae card. Sequence: - Stormbringer resolves: deals damage to enemy units at the battlefield, then moves the friendly unit - Contested is applied immediately when the enemy unit arrives - Cleanup occurs: Kai'Sa dies from marked damage - Control cannot change because the battlefield is contested - Hidden card remains (not discarded) because the player still controls the battlefield - Combat is staged - During the showdown, the player has priority to play the hidden Fae card Nuances: - You cannot react with the hidden card during cleanup itself - you must wait until the showdown - If the moved unit has Assault, it will trigger during the combat because it becomes designated as an attacker when combat is staged - Contested is applied as a state-based effect when the unit moves, not during cleanup steps - The hidden card would only be discarded if control was lost, which cannot happen while contested

Ruling: Smoke Screen reduces the unit to minimum 1 might (not -4). Cleave's +3 might bonus is then applied along with the snapshotted -1 modifier from Smoke Screen. Sequence: - Student starts at 1 might (base) + 1 (trigger) - Smoke Screen applies -1 (bringing it to minimum, not below) - Cleave resolves: 2 (current) + 3 (assault bonus) - 1 (snapshotted Smoke Screen modifier) = 4 total - If Student trigger resolves after: 2 + 1 (trigger) + 3 (assault) - 1 (Smoke Screen) = 5 total Nuances: - Smoke Screen's modifier is snapshotted, so the -1 continues to apply even after other modifiers are added - Assault from Cleave only applies if moving to an opponent-controlled battlefield

When Svellsongur is attached to Aphelios, Exalted for the first time, it triggers **twice**. According to RiftJudge FAQ #541 and #8411: 1. **Attachment and Copying:** As Svellsongur attaches to Aphelios, it copies his printed text. This grants Aphelios a second instance of his triggered ability. 2. **Triggering:** Because the copied text becomes active during the attachment process, both the original printed ability and the newly granted ability trigger simultaneously in response to the equipment being attached. 3. **Resolution:** Each instance of the ability is independent. The restriction "choose one that hasn't been chosen this turn" applies separately to each instance. This means you can choose the same mode for both triggers, or different modes, as long as you track the choices made for each specific instance of the ability. **Sequence:** * Svellsongur is attached to Aphelios. * The attachment event triggers both the original ability and the copied ability. * Both abilities are placed on the Chain. * You resolve each trigger independently, allowing you to make a choice for each instance.