Riftbound Frequently Asked Questions

Ruling: "When I attack/defend" triggers are triggered the first time a unit gains attacker/defender in that combat, regardless of when they enter the combat. Nuances: - The trigger activates even if the unit enters combat mid-combat, as long as it's the first time that unit gains attacker/defender status in that specific combat

Ruling: No, the Merchant ends at 4 Might, not 5. Switcheroo calculates the appropriate bonus/penalty based on the units' total Might at the time it's applied, creating a snapshot. The gear's +1 bonus is already factored into that calculation and doesn't reapply on top of Switcheroo's effect. Sequence: - Merchant starts at base 2 Might + 1 from Cull = 3 Might total - Switcheroo sees a 3 Might unit and 4 Might unit - Switcheroo applies +1 to Merchant and -1 to the other unit - Merchant now has: base 2 + 1 from Cull + 1 from Switcheroo = 4 Might total Nuances: - If Cull is removed after Switcheroo, Merchant drops to 3 Might (the Switcheroo effect doesn't recalculate) - If Cull was removed before Switcheroo then reattached after, Merchant would be 5 Might (base 2 + 2 from Switcheroo + 1 from Cull) - Switcheroo works by applying arithmetic increases/decreases in the arithmetic layer, not by literally swapping Might values in the trait layer - This applies the same way to all Might modifiers (buffs, gear, assault/shield, etc.) - none "reapply" after Switcheroo resolves

Ruling: Yes, the unit will die. When non-zero damage marked on a unit is equal to or above its might, the unit dies. Sequence: - Unit has 2 might with 1 damage marked - Opponent reduces might to 1 - Unit now has 1 damage marked and 1 might - Unit dies because damage marked equals might

Ruling: When a unit is moved away from the battlefield during combat, it loses its attacker (or defender) designation during cleanup, which turns off assault and causes it to die if it has damage equal to or greater than its base might. Sequence: - Unit takes damage during combat while assault is active - Effect moves the unit away from the battlefield and resolves - Cleanup occurs after the effect, removing the attacker/defender designation - Assault turns off - Another cleanup occurs and the unit dies from having damage equal to or greater than its might

Ruling: The unit does NOT get another +1 Might from Mask of Foresight when it returns to battlefield A. Attack and defend triggers only trigger the first time a unit gains the attacker or defender designation. When Tideturner is revealed at battlefield B, it does get +1 Might from Mask of Foresight as it becomes a defender alone at that battlefield. Sequence: - Play Tideturner at battlefield B - Tideturner WYPM goes on chain first, then Mask of Foresight trigger - All players pass - Tideturner gets +1 Might - All players pass - Tideturner and unit swap positions - The current combat at battlefield A must fully resolve before any showdown at battlefield B starts - If you still control units at battlefield B at the end of that showdown, you will score Nuances: - You don't lose control of a battlefield until the end of combat, so hidden cards stay even when units move away during combat - If this interaction happened outside of a showdown, you would lose control of the battlefield when the unit moved away

Ruling: The unit survives and is healed. Each cleanup only kills damaged units once, so a unit that survives the initial death check is then healed in the next step of the special cleanup. Sequence: - Damaged units are checked and killed once (Lee Sin dies) - Surviving units are healed immediately in the next step (Pit Rookie heals from 3 damage back to 3 might) Nuances: - Even if a unit's might drops to equal its assigned damage after another unit dies, it does not die if it survived the initial death check

Ruling: No, units do not instantly die when their might reaches 0 or lower. Units only die if they have damage markers equal to or greater than their might. Nuances: - A unit with 0 might will die if it receives any damage marker, since any amount of damage will be equal to or greater than 0

Ruling: A card with 0 might is not automatically sent to the trash. It still needs to have damage marked on it to be sent to the trash. Nuances: - Removing a buff from a 1 might unit (reducing it to 0 might) does not destroy the unit by itself

Ruling: Showdowns never stop early. Players always continue playing actions and passing focus until both players pass in succession, even if all attacking units are removed. Sequence: - Showdowns are step 1 of 3 in Combat - Even if attackers are removed, both players continue to have focus opportunities - Players must pass focus in succession to end the showdown - Only after the showdown concludes does combat proceed to subsequent steps Nuances: - If a unit is played during the same showdown (like Zenith Blade), it does not create a new combat or new showdown - Defender designation happens once at the start of combat, so playing a unit mid-showdown doesn't re-trigger defender abilities like Reaver's Row - The defender never loses their designation during the same showdown, so they cannot regain it to use location abilities again

Ruling: The rule reference to skipping to "step 4" when no units remain is incorrect. It should refer to skipping the Combat Damage Step, not skipping to step 4 (Cleanup), so that the Resolution Step still occurs. Sequence: - If no Attacking or Defending Units remain after the Showdown Step, skip the Combat Damage Step - Proceed to the Resolution Step where battlefield conquest and Contested status clearing occur - Then perform Cleanup Nuances: - The current rule text incorrectly suggests skipping directly to step 4 (Cleanup), which would bypass important Resolution Step actions like conquering the battlefield and clearing Contested status

Ruling: Yes to both. Even if all units are removed during a showdown, the player still receives focus and priority, and they retain control of the battlefield. Sequence: - Combat/showdown does not end until focus is passed consecutively by all players - Control of the battlefield is retained until end of combat - Players can still play cards (like Recruit the Vanguard) to create units on that battlefield during the showdown Nuances: - Units being removed from a battlefield during combat does not immediately end the combat or change battlefield control

Ruling: Yes, the unit heals. When a showdown begins due to contested control of a battlefield, it is a combat showdown. All damage is healed during the cleanup of a combat showdown regardless of whether any units remain or combat actually occurs. Nuances: - Moving to a battlefield with units creates Combat (with Showdown as the first phase), while moving to an empty battlefield creates only a Showdown - Only ending Combat heals units, not ending a regular Showdown - The damage step is one of the steps of Combat, not Combat itself

Ruling: Yes, the showdown continues even if all units are removed from the battlefield. Players can continue playing actions and reactions until both players pass with focus on an empty chain. Sequence: - Units are removed from the battlefield during the showdown - Players may continue to play actions/reactions - The showdown ends when both players pass consecutively with an empty chain Nuances: - You can play cards like Ride the Wind after all units have been removed, still during the same showdown

Ruling: If combat has fully resolved with no deathknell or other triggers/abilities remaining, you cannot activate the hidden unit. The hidden unit will trash. Nuances: - If there is a deathknell trigger from a unit that died, you can activate the hidden unit during the cleanup step (specifically between the special cleanup and remove control steps) before the cleanup step ends.

Ruling: The player must reveal and use the hidden Zhonyas during the showdown step (before damage is applied) if they want to use it. They cannot wait until cleanup because if all units die and they lose control of the battlefield, the hidden card is trashed before they can move it to base. Sequence: - Showdown step begins and players are given priority - Hidden cards (reactions) must be played during this step if the player wants to use them - Combat damage step occurs where units deal damage - Cleanup step occurs where hidden cards without a unit controlled by the same player are trashed - There is no reaction timing between units dying and hidden cards being trashed Nuances: - Zhonyas can be activated from anywhere (not just the battlefield) and can save any unit during cleanup - Once activated during a showdown, the Zhonyas must be used for that showdown's cleanup and cannot be saved for a future showdown in the same turn - Players can also play cards with the "action" keyword during showdown if the chain is empty

Ruling: Once a combat showdown has started, it remains a combat showdown regardless of whether units disappear from one or both sides. Combat damage and combat resolution still occur. Sequence: - Combat showdown begins - Fast spells/reactions can be played - Combat damage occurs (even if units are gone) - Combat resolution occurs - Only after combat ends do effects like Assault expire Nuances: - Cannon Barrage will deal damage even if the unit playing it has been removed - Assault bonuses persist through the entire combat sequence and only expire after combat ends, at which point healing also occurs

Ruling: Damage does not reduce a unit's Might value. An 8 Might unit with 4 damage on it still has 8 Might, but an opponent only needs 4 Might to kill it in showdown since the unit already has damage equal to the difference. Sequence: - A unit accumulates damage separately from its Might value - When damage on a unit equals or exceeds its current Might value, the unit dies - In showdown, both units deal damage to each other based on their Might values - If an 8 Might unit already has 4 damage, it only needs 4 more damage to reach its Might threshold and die Nuances: - Negative Might effects (like Stupify or Smokescreen) DO reduce current Might value, unlike damage - Might represents both offensive power and the damage threshold for death, but is not the same as HP

Ruling: Only one combat can happen at once. After the first combat finishes and you conquer, units everywhere are healed before the second combat begins. Sequence: - AoE spell damages units at multiple battlefields - First combat occurs and resolves - All units heal after conquest - Second combat begins (damaged units are now healed) Nuances: - You cannot standard move two readied units simultaneously to different battlefields - To take advantage of AoE damage at multiple battlefields, you need to kill units during or before the combat showdown at one battlefield while they are still damaged

Ruling: Abilities check for legality of their target before resolving. If a unit is moved away from the specified location before the ability resolves, the ability will deal 0 damage or fail to resolve properly. Sequence: - The targeting ability is placed on the stack - A movement ability (like Fight or Flight or Flash) moves the target unit - When the targeting ability resolves, it checks if the target is still at the legal location - If the target has moved away, the ability deals no damage Nuances: - For abilities targeting "at a battlefield" (like Iron Ballista): if the unit is moved to base, it deals 0 damage; if moved to the other battlefield, it still resolves dealing damage - For abilities targeting "here" (like Volibear, Furious): if the unit is moved anywhere else, it deals 0 damage - Ride the Wind specifically cannot be used to stop these effects because it is Action speed (too slow to respond)

Ruling: The attacker wins if they have already scored the other battlefield this turn, because they score their last point (reaching 8) before the conquering triggers that would cause them to draw from an empty deck. If they haven't scored the other battlefield yet, they don't gain a point from conquering (staying at 7), but Zaun Warrens still triggers and they draw from an empty deck and lose. Sequence: 1. Attacker conquers the battlefield 2. Attacker scores (gains control and hasn't scored this battlefield yet this turn) 3. If attacker already scored the other battlefield, they reach 8 points and win 4. Conquering triggers (like Zaun Warrens) resolve 5. If attacker didn't win in step 3, they must draw from empty deck and lose Nuances: - You always score when you conquer, even at 7 points. If you're at 7 and score a battlefield without having scored the other this turn, you don't get a point, but it's still considered scoring. - Taking a battlefield you haven't yet scored this turn is always a conquer, regardless of your current score.

Ruling: The attacker is recalled back to base. Nuances: - Being recalled does not count as a move

Ruling: If there are still defending units at a battlefield after combat, then all attackers are recalled to base. This applies whether the attacker initiated combat or is defending against an attack. Nuances: - Recalls after a tied combat are not moves, so they don't cause move triggers to fire

Ruling: Yes, combat resolves regardless of the defender leaving the battlefield. The attacking unit retains its Assault buff and will survive any damage marked on it during combat. Sequence: - Attacker moves into battlefield and attackers/defenders are declared - Assault buff is applied to the attacker - If defender leaves the battlefield during combat, the attacker keeps its Assault buff - Combat resolves with the attacker surviving Nuances: - The Assault might increase is only removed at the battlefield of combat during a specific cleanup step - Attacker/defender designations are removed during Cleanup if units leave the battlefield of combat, but this doesn't affect buffs already applied

Ruling: You do not perform a burn out. You draw 3 cards, shuffle your Trash into your deck, and then draw the fourth card to complete the effect. Sequence: - Draw the first 3 cards from your deck - Shuffle your Trash into your deck - Draw the fourth card - The effect is now fully resolved Nuances: - Burn out only occurs if you attempt to draw while your Main Deck is empty. When you begin resolving a "draw 4" effect with 3 cards in deck, your deck is not empty at the time of the attempt, so burn out does not trigger.

Ruling: When a spell or effect instructs you to play a card, you can play any card regardless of timing restrictions or other limitations. Timing restrictions only apply when playing cards as discretionary actions on your own. Nuances: - The distinction is between playing cards when instructed by a spell/effect versus playing cards as discretionary actions - Promising Future instructs you to play a card, so normal timing restrictions do not apply

Ruling: Yes, you can Conquer the battlefield in this scenario. When you Flash out your only unit, you lose control of the battlefield. When you Ride the Wind back in and win or tie the combat, you gain control at the end of combat and can Conquer (score a point). Sequence: - Enemy attacks your controlled battlefield, making it contested - You Flash your only unit out during the combat showdown - You lose control of the battlefield immediately (no units = no control) - The combat showdown continues (contested status remains until showdown resolves) - You use Ride the Wind to return a unit to the battlefield during your next action step - You win or tie the combat - At the end of combat, you gain control of the battlefield - Because you gained control at the end of a showdown, you Conquer and score a point Nuances: - The attacker does not score when you Flash out, because the combat showdown has not yet resolved - Any Hidden cards you control would be sent to trash when you leave the battlefield (unless you react with them first) - You can only Conquer if you have not already scored from this battlefield this turn - Control can be lost during a contested showdown, but can only be gained when the showdown resolves - The combat showdown continues even after you Flash out because contested status is not cleared until the end of combat

Ruling: Yasuo's attack trigger will target the Poro (the unit already on the battlefield). The defending player can then use Ride the Wind to move Mindsplitter to that battlefield during combat. Mindsplitter will survive by killing Yasuo, but the defending player does not score a point because their control of the battlefield never dropped. Sequence: - Yasuo attacks and gains the Attacker designation during Combat - Yasuo's attack trigger goes on the chain, targeting the Poro - Defending player gets priority and can use Ride the Wind to move Mindsplitter to the battlefield - Combat resolves with Mindsplitter killing Yasuo Nuances: - Yasuo's ability does not trigger during Open Showdown, only during Combat when the unit gains the Attacker designation - No point is scored because the defending player maintained control of the battlefield throughout

Ruling: Yes, you score conquest on battlefield A after the showdowns resolve, assuming you haven't already scored it that turn some other way. Sequence: - Enemy charms your unit from battlefield A to battlefield B - You lose control of battlefield A (no units present) - You use Ride the Wind to move back to battlefield A - Two showdowns occur due to this interaction - After the showdowns resolve, you score conquest on battlefield A Nuances: - You only score if you haven't already scored battlefield A that turn through another method - The scoring happens after the showdowns resolve, not immediately when Ride the Wind resolves

Ruling: No, you do not need to retarget Gust to your own unit. When Gust resolves, it whiffs and resolves to no effect because its target is no longer legal (not at the battlefield). Sequence: - Targeting happens when the spell is put on the chain - The target cannot change after that point - If the target flashes away, it is no longer at the battlefield - When Gust resolves, it has no legal target and resolves to no effect Nuances: - This is different from Firestorm's reflexive trigger behavior

Ruling: No, you cannot pay the Repeat cost after a spell is Defied. Repeat is an additional cost that must be paid before the spell is finalized onto the chain. Sequence: - Declare you are casting the spell - Decide whether to pay the Repeat cost - Finalize the spell onto the chain - Opponent can then Defy the spell Nuances: - If you pay Repeat, the spell counts as one spell with a bigger effect box doing the same thing twice, and can still be Defied as a single spell

Ruling: When an opponent attacks a battlefield you control, you retain control of it while it is simultaneously in a contested state. You can use abilities that require control of the battlefield (like Ornn's Forge) when defending. Nuances: - A battlefield can be both controlled by a player and in a contested state at the same time

Ruling: Shield is a passive/continuous ability that applies when a unit is designated as a defender, not a trigger. Whether Shield applies depends on the timing and who becomes the attacker/defender. Sequence: - When opponent moves to an empty battlefield, a regular showdown begins - If you use Ride the Wind during that regular showdown to move Lee Sin there, he is NOT designated as a defender for that regular showdown, so Shield does not apply - Once the regular showdown ends, if both units are still present, a combat showdown begins immediately - In this combat showdown, Lee Sin becomes the defender (since opponent applied contested status), so Shield now applies and grants +1 might Nuances: - If you move Lee Sin outside of the regular showdown (after opponent already controls the battlefield), you become the attacker when applying contested status, so Lee Sin would not gain might from Shield - When a combat showdown would start during an existing regular showdown, it is marked as pending until the regular showdown ends

Ruling: Ride the Wind cannot be used to escape Hidden Blade because Ride the Wind is an action, not a reaction. Actions can only start chains, not be added in the middle of an existing chain. Once Hidden Blade is revealed and starts a chain, only reactions can be added to that chain before it resolves. Nuances: - If the original target of Hidden Blade becomes invalid (e.g., through a reaction like Flash that moves the unit), Hidden Blade does not kill any unit. You do not have to select another target. - Targets for Hidden Blade are declared when you finalize the spell (add it to the chain), not when it resolves.

Ruling: Yes, the combat showdown still goes through its full processes and healing occurs at the end, even if one or both units are removed before combat damage. Once a combat showdown has started, healing will always occur at the end of it regardless of whether units remain. Sequence: - Challenge is played and kills the attacking unit - The combat showdown continues, passing focus and priority as normal - When the combat showdown ends, healing occurs Nuances: - Combat damage specifically refers to the combat damage step at the very end of a combat showdown - Challenge itself is not a combat - Even if no units remain on one side, the combat still happens (it's just very one-sided) - Healing only occurs after combat showdowns, not after non-combat showdowns

Ruling: You cannot cast Face Breaker without paying the Deflect cost. Deflect increases the cost of your spell or ability, and you cannot put it on the chain unless you also pay the Deflect cost. Nuances: - Face Breaker does not use the word "choose" or "target", but it still counts as choosing a game object in Riftbound's rules system - Any instruction that tells you to do something with a single game object is considered a choice (and therefore subject to Deflect) - This is different from Magic: The Gathering, where "target" must be explicitly stated

Ruling: No, Darius does not get the effect. A countered card does not resolve and is not considered "played" for the purpose of "when you play" type conditions. Nuances: - Cards with "when you target" triggers (like Dreaming Tree) still activate even if the card is countered by Defy, because the targeting happens before the counter - Cards with "when you play" triggers do not count countered cards toward their conditions

Ruling: Dragon's Rage will still fully resolve even if the targeted unit is killed and moved with The Boss in response. The unit remains a valid target because it's the same game object and hasn't changed zones, and Dragon's Rage has no targeting restrictions beyond "enemy unit." Sequence: - Dragon's Rage targets an enemy unit and chooses a destination - If Hidden Blade kills the unit and The Boss moves it to base in response - Dragon's Rage still resolves and attempts to move the unit - If the unit is already at the chosen destination, the movement can't happen (movements require different origin and destination) - The reflexive trigger still goes on the chain using the originally chosen destination - The reflexive trigger resolves normally Nuances: - Even if the movement doesn't actually occur (because the unit is already at the destination), the reflexive trigger still uses the originally chosen destination and proceeds normally - Using Hidden Blade and The Boss will not prevent any part of Dragon's Rage from happening

Ruling: Yes, both Hopefuls die. When Watcher resolves and reduces their might to 1, lethal damage is checked during cleanup after the effect, and the Hopefuls have 3 damage marked with only 1 might, so they are killed. Sequence: - Falling Star deals 3 damage to both 4-might Hopefuls (they survive with 3 damage marked) - Thousand-Tailed Watcher is played and resolves, reducing their might to 1 - During cleanup after the Watcher effect, lethal damage is checked - Hopefuls now have 1 might with 3 damage marked, so they die Nuances: - This same interaction applies to other damage-then-might-reduction combos (e.g., Hextech Ray followed by Stupify on a Hopeful also kills it) - The order of playing cards matters for preventing opponents from making incorrect decisions about unit survival

Ruling: Yes, Singularity still kills the unit. Sett's legend ability only saves the unit from Hidden Blade's effect, but Singularity has not yet resolved and the unit is still in a targetable zone. Sequence: - Singularity is cast targeting the buffed unit - Hidden Blade is revealed in response, targeting the same unit - Sett's legend ability is used to save the unit from Hidden Blade - Hidden Blade resolves (unit survives due to Sett, controller still draws because Hidden Blade can gain information about who controlled the unit) - Singularity resolves and kills the unit Nuances: - Hidden Blade's draw effect works as long as it can gain information about who controlled the targeted unit when it resolves, even if the unit doesn't die - If the unit becomes an illegal target before Hidden Blade starts resolving, no draw occurs - If the unit is moved to a different zone by another effect after Hidden Blade starts resolving (not by Hidden Blade itself), the controller would not draw

Ruling: No, an empty battlefield is not considered conquered. A player loses control of a battlefield when they move all their units away from it. Nuances: - A card requiring "an enemy contested battlefield" would not be usable on an empty battlefield, even if the opponent previously held it - When a player enters an empty battlefield that they don't hold, they will score a point for contesting it

Ruling: Yes, you can score a conquering point even though your opponent already scored from that battlefield this turn. You can score on your opponent's turn. Sequence: - Opponent conquers battlefield with 1 unit and scores a point - Opponent uses Charm to drag your unit into that battlefield - You become the attacker (since opponent controls the battlefield) - If you win the showdown, you can score a conquering point Nuances: - Each player can score 1 point per battlefield per turn (not 1 point total between both players) - The Charm target becomes the attacker because the opponent controls the battlefield

Yes, they do conquer and score that battlefield again. When their unit moves back via Ride the Wind, the battlefield becomes Contested, opening a new Showdown. Upon resolution, they establish control and conquer the battlefield. Since a rule states "once per Battlefield per turn" (meaning once per player's individual turn), they can score the same battlefield twice in one game turn—once during their turn and once during your turn.

Ruling: The combat showdown continues to conclusion even after Rebuke removes the defending unit. Players continue passing focus and priority back and forth, and can still play actions during the showdown. Sequence: - Opponent contests your battlefield with their unit - Opponent plays Rebuke on your unit, returning it to hand - You lose control of the battlefield - Combat showdown continues (does not end) - Players can still play actions and pass priority - If you play an action like Ride the Wind to move a unit into the battlefield and win the combat, you conquer the battlefield and score a point Nuances: - You remain the defender throughout this combat showdown even after losing control of the battlefield - Conquering means taking control of a battlefield, regardless of whether you are attacker or defender - As the defender, if you win the combat after losing control mid-showdown, you conquer the battlefield and can score a point (since it's the opponent's turn and you likely haven't scored there yet) - Once a combat showdown starts, it is played fully no matter what happens to the units

Ruling: When you use Ride the Wind to move to a battlefield your opponent contested, you enter during the open showdown. When that showdown resolves with both players present, a combat showdown begins where your opponent is the Attacker (since they contested first) and you are the Defender. If you win with a unit still present and haven't scored that battlefield this turn, you conquer and score. You cannot use Sprite Call to that battlefield because you do not have control of it. Sequence: - Opponent moves to empty battlefield, applying Contested status - You play Ride the Wind during the open showdown, moving your unit there - Open showdown resolves - Combat showdown begins with opponent as Attacker, you as Defender - Winner conquers if they haven't scored that battlefield this turn Nuances: - The opponent did not "attack" the battlefield - they "contested" it, which is an important distinction - Both players must pass focus in a row before a showdown closes, guaranteeing each player the right to play an action or reaction - When you defend triggers will happen (e.g., Teemo's defend trigger works in this scenario)

Ruling: Yes, the opponent has not missed the trigger until it has a visible effect on the game. They can declare the might increase when it becomes relevant, such as during combat damage or when targeted by removal. Sequence: - Ravenbloom Student triggers do not need to be announced immediately when spells are cast - The trigger only needs to be demonstrated when it has a visible effect on the game state - Visible effects include: taking lethal damage, dealing combat damage, or when the might value is otherwise required - If the trigger is not announced by the time it would affect combat damage calculations or similar visible effects, then it is missed Nuances: - Players should ask their opponent about the unit's might before targeting it if they want clarity - Attempting to catch an opponent in a missed trigger when you know they should have gained might is considered rule sharking - Both players are responsible for maintaining proper game state - Best practice is to announce all triggers as they happen for clarity, even though it's not required until they have visible impact

Ruling: No, the opponent does not score a point because they did not gain control of the battlefield - they already controlled it. Nuances: - Control only changes during the combat resolution step (as of CRD v1.1) - To conquer a battlefield you already control, you must leave it and return in different showdowns - If you move a unit out and back in during the same showdown (e.g., Fight or Flight then Ride the Wind), you maintain control throughout and cannot conquer - If you move out in one showdown and return in a later showdown, you can conquer and score a point (assuming you win the showdown)

Ruling: Yes, Darius sees Possession as the first card played. When Possession resolves, you take control of Darius, and then when you play your second card, Darius triggers under your control. Sequence: - Possession is played as your first card - Possession resolves, switching Darius to your control - You play your second card - Darius triggers because you (his new controller) have played your second card this turn Nuances: - Darius does not need to be under your control when the first card is played; he only checks that his controller has played their second card when a card is played - Darius can trigger off being the second card himself using the same logic - A card only counts as "played" once it has resolved, not when it's cast

Ruling: Brynhir does not prevent already-finalized cards from resolving. Cleave will resolve normally because the "play" action (putting the card on the chain and finalizing it) has already been performed before Brynhir's trigger resolves. Sequence: - Opponent performs the "play" action by putting Cleave on the chain and finalizing it - You react with Here to Help to play Brynhir - Brynhir's trigger resolves, preventing opponents from performing the discretionary action "play" going forward - Cleave resolves normally because it was already finalized before Brynhir's restriction took effect Nuances: - "Play" (the action) and "played" (the designation when a card finishes resolving) are distinct terms in Riftbound - Brynhir prevents opponents from performing the discretionary action of playing cards, but does not stop already-finalized cards from resolving - This is different from countering, which would prevent a card from being considered "played" at all - When a card finishes resolving, it is considered "played" for trigger purposes, even if Brynhir is active

Ruling: Yes, this interaction works as described. As long as the chain is empty when the opponent moves in, combat is initiated and you retain control of that battlefield until the end of that combat, even if you don't have any units there. Sequence: - Opponent sends a unit to initiate showdown at the battlefield - Combat is initiated and you retain control of the battlefield - Use battlefield ability to send Kayn home - Reveal Tide Turner and swap it with Kayn - Kayn returns with his ability active - If enemy unit fails to kill Kayn, it goes back to base

Ruling: You cannot use Fight or Flight (an action speed card) to move Warwick after his trigger is on the chain but before it resolves. If Fight or Flight is already hidden at the battlefield, you can react with it in response to the trigger, and when Warwick's ability resolves, 'here' will refer to your base where he now is, causing the ability to have no effect. Sequence: - Opponent moves Warwick to your battlefield - Warwick's trigger goes on the chain - If Fight or Flight is hidden at the battlefield, you can react to move Warwick back to base - Warwick's trigger resolves, checking 'here' (now your base), resulting in no effect - If Fight or Flight is in your hand, you cannot play it because actions require focus and an empty chain Nuances: - Spells and abilities don't fizzle in this game; they resolve but may have no effect - You can only play actions when you have focus and there is nothing on the chain - While a chain exists, you can only play reactions - Focus does not pass while a chain is present