Riftbound Frequently Asked Questions

Ruling: You can only gain a point from holding and conquering once per battlefield per turn. If you held a battlefield and left it, then reconquered it in the same turn, you do not get another point. Nuances: - You can score on your opponent's turn

Ruling: No, conquer effects do not trigger. Conquer is a subtype of scoring, so if you cannot score (which you cannot do twice on the same battlefield in one turn), you cannot conquer. Sequence: - You hold the battlefield - You retreat, leaving it empty - You move back into the battlefield - A showdown occurs on re-entry - The move completes but no scoring or conquer effects occur Nuances: - You can only score in each battlefield once per turn - Even at 7 points where "scoring" draws a card instead, you still need that scoring action to occur for conquer effects to trigger

Ruling: You win the game with the 8th point. You only need to score on both battlefields to win, not conquer both battlefields in the same turn. Nuances: - A common misconception is that you need to "conquer" both battlefields to win, but the actual requirement is to score on both battlefields

Ruling: You win the game. Scoring a battlefield through holding counts as scoring that battlefield on your turn, so you don't need to conquer both battlefields to win - you just need to score both battlefields on your turn. Sequence: - Hold one battlefield at the start of your turn to score it (reaching 7 points) - Conquer the other battlefield during the same turn - This counts as scoring both battlefields on your turn, triggering the win condition Nuances: - The hold action counts as "scoring" a battlefield for the purpose of the win condition - You do not specifically need to conquer both battlefields; scoring them through any means (hold or conquer) satisfies the requirement

Ruling: Yes, you gain points from holding battlefields on the additional turn granted by Time Warp. An extra turn includes all normal turn phases, including the holding phase where you gain points. Nuances: - Time Warp's power is amplified when combined with battlefield control, as you gain holding points multiple times - The effect can be further enhanced with cards like green Ahri

Ruling: If a combat showdown occurred, the Resolution Step (including healing) will happen regardless of whether units remain at the location. The Combat Damage Step can be skipped if units don't remain, but the Resolution Step still occurs. Sequence: - Combat showdown occurs - Step 2 (Combat Damage Step) is skipped if both attacking and defending units don't remain at the location - Step 3 (Resolution Step) still occurs, healing all units on the board Nuances: - Healing applies to ALL units on the board (both sides), not just units at the battlefield - The Combat Damage Step has specific requirements about units remaining at location, but the Resolution Step does not

Ruling: Yes, Phoenix can trigger and return from the trash when killed by Hidden Blade. The kill effect moves Phoenix to the trash as part of Hidden Blade's resolution, so Phoenix is in the trash when the spell finishes resolving and can trigger its ability. Sequence: - Hidden Blade is played targeting Phoenix (no reactions) - Hidden Blade resolves: Phoenix is killed (moved to trash) and two cards are drawn - Phoenix's triggered ability goes on the chain because it was in the trash when a unit was killed by a spell - Phoenix's ability resolves, allowing you to play it from trash Nuances: - Phoenix must be in the trash for its ability to trigger (similar to other "from trash" triggered abilities) - The kill effect moves the unit to trash during the spell's resolution, not during cleanup - Phoenix is in the trash by the time Hidden Blade finishes resolving, which is when triggers are checked and put on the chain

Ruling: You can move to and conquer the battlefield in the same turn after scoring a hold point there, but you will not score an additional point or trigger any conquer abilities. Nuances: - You can score each battlefield only once per turn - If you've already scored a battlefield on any turn (yours or opponent's), conquering it again that turn triggers no conquer effects and awards no points - You can always move to a battlefield regardless of whether you've scored there - This applies whether the battlefield becomes uncontested due to killing your own unit or your opponent killing your unit

Ruling: No, it does not count as a conquer for triggering 'when you conquer' effects. You can only score a battlefield once per turn, so moving back onto it does not count as conquering it again. Nuances: - This remains true even if your opponent conquered the battlefield after you scored it and you retake it on the same turn - you still don't conquer it again for triggering effects.

Ruling: No, you cannot score each battlefield more than once per turn. Moving a different unit into a battlefield you already control does not allow you to conquer it again. Nuances: - Moving to a battlefield you don't control does count as an open showdown - However, it does not count as a conquer because conquer only happens when you gain control of a battlefield you did not yet score this turn - Conquer and Hold abilities can only trigger when a battlefield is scored, which cannot happen more than once per turn for a player

Ruling: Yes, you score first at the original battlefield, then a showdown happens at the new battlefield (assuming no extra actions are used). Everything at the new battlefield goes on hold until the showdown at the original battlefield concludes. Sequence: - Move to occupied battlefield A - Opponent uses Ride the Wind to move their unit from battlefield A to battlefield B - Score at battlefield A - Showdown at battlefield A resolves completely - Then the staged showdown at battlefield B can proceed Nuances: - The showdown staged at battlefield B is specifically what goes on hold, not necessarily all actions there

Ruling: You must target a friendly unit if you have one, and if that unit is still on the board when the spell resolves, you must return it to hand. You cannot avoid targeting or recalling to keep a unit on the board. Sequence: - You must target the unit (if it's your only friendly unit) - Upon resolution, if the unit is still on the board, you must return it to hand Nuances: - The silver rule (do as much as you can) applies, meaning you cannot choose to do less than what is possible

Ruling: Yes, The Boss ability works even if you only have one buffed creature. As long as the unit that dies has a buff and The Boss is readied, you can pay the cost and apply the replacement effect. Nuances: - The Boss refers to the buffed and killed unit when determining which buff to remove. The unit you want to save needs to have a buff itself; you don't take the buff from other units.

Ruling: No, you do not get the rune back. Countering a spell does not refund any costs paid for that spell, including the mandatory additional cost from deflect. Sequence: - You pay the deflect cost (mandatory additional cost) when targeting a unit with deflect - If the spell is then countered, it does not resolve - The costs paid (including the deflect cost) are not refunded Nuances: - This is similar to how you don't get energy back if a spell is countered - costs are paid regardless of whether the spell resolves - The deflect cost is a mandatory additional cost for targeting, not a cost that depends on resolution

Ruling: Cull the Weak still resolves. Brynhir Thundersong only prevents new things from being played or added to the chain after it resolves, but does not counter cards already on the chain. Sequence: - Opponent plays Cull the Weak - You react with Here to Help to play Brynhir Thundersong - Brynhir resolves, preventing new cards from being played - Cull the Weak still resolves normally

Ruling: Master Yi gets the +2 might bonus only if he is defending in a combat showdown. In a non-combat showdown (when alone on the battlefield), Yi's triggered ability does not activate because he is not attacking. Sequence: - If it's a combat showdown (opponent has something on the battlefield), Yi gets the +2 might as the defender - If it's a non-combat showdown (Yi is alone), Yi does not get the +2 might because the ability requires him to be attacking or defending Nuances: - Yi's ability is a passive ability, not one that uses the chain - The ability only triggers when Yi is actually in combat as a defender, not just when holding a path

Ruling: Yes, you still draw a card. Cleave targets when it is played (not on resolution), which triggers Dreaming Tree. When Defy counters Cleave, the Dreaming Tree trigger remains on the stack and resolves, allowing you to draw. Sequence: - You play Cleave targeting a unit on Dreaming Tree, triggering Dreaming Tree - Stack: Cleave > Dreaming Tree's trigger - Opponent plays Defy targeting Cleave - Stack: Cleave > Dreaming Tree's trigger > Defy - Defy resolves, countering Cleave - Stack: Dreaming Tree's trigger - Dreaming Tree trigger resolves, you draw a card Nuances: - Most spells target on play, not on resolution - Reflexive triggers are different and target on resolution, but Cleave is not a reflexive trigger

Ruling: The units enter ready, but you cannot attack with them because you can only do a standard move during the action phase when there's no showdown and nothing on the chain. Dazzling Aura triggers in the ending step of the end of turn phase. Nuances: - Units do still enter ready even though you cannot attack with them

Ruling: Darius has 5 might during the Challenge. His "When you play your second card each round" ability is a triggered ability that only resolves after Challenge has finished resolving. Sequence: - Darius is played as the first card (5 might) - Challenge is played targeting Darius - Challenge resolves with Darius at 5 might - After Challenge fully resolves, Darius is considered the second card played - Darius's "When" trigger goes on the chain and resolves, giving him +2 might (now 7 might) Nuances: - "When" triggers are triggered abilities that go on the chain, unlike "While" effects which are passive/lingering effects - A card needs to fully resolve to be considered played for the purposes of counting cards played

Ruling: No, Fading Memories is not a kill spell. The unit doesn't die from the spell effect itself, it dies from the Temporary keyword. Nuances: - The Phoenix's ability to be played from the discard pile does not trigger because it requires being killed by a spell, which Fading Memories is not

Ruling: Yes, Irelia gets +7 Might total. Feral Strength with Repeat gives +2 twice (targeting Irelia both times), her Vanguard effect triggers twice when chosen (+1 each time), her Legend ability readies her (+1), and her Vanguard effect triggers again when readied (+1), for a total of +2+2+1+1+1 = +7. Sequence: - Feral Strength with Repeat is played, creating one chain item with doubled text (two instances of "Give a unit +2 this turn") - Target Irelia with both +2 effects - Irelia's Vanguard effect triggers twice (once for each time she's chosen as a target), granting +1 each time - Irelia's Legend ability triggers (since an ally unit was chosen), allowing you to pay 1 Power to ready her - When Irelia is readied, her Vanguard effect triggers again, granting +1 - Total: +2 +2 +1 +1 +1 = +7 Might Nuances: - Repeat does not create a separate chain item; it doubles the effect text on one chain item - You may choose different targets for each instance of the repeated effect - If Feral Strength is countered, Irelia still gets +3 from being chosen twice and readied (the Vanguard triggers still resolve)

Ruling: The Ravenbloom Student will be sent to hand before its trigger can resolve. The student's trigger responds to the resolution of the spell, not to the spell being put on the chain. Sequence: - Gust resolves and sends the 3 might student to hand - The student's trigger (which would give +1 might) does not resolve because the spell must finish its entire process before triggers respond - A spell is only considered "played" when it has finished resolving in its entirety Nuances: - "Play" in this game means resolve, except when used in contexts like "you may play a unit"

Ruling: No, the Hidden Blade controller does not draw 2 cards. When Hidden Blade resolves without a valid target, it cannot determine "its controller" to give them the draw. Sequence: - Hidden Blade is played targeting a unit - Retreat is played in response, returning the unit to hand - Retreat resolves first, removing the unit from the battlefield - Hidden Blade attempts to resolve but has no valid target - Since there is no valid target, "its controller" cannot be determined - No cards are drawn Nuances: - If the unit is moved to base (instead of hand) before Hidden Blade resolves, it also becomes an invalid target and no draw occurs - If the unit's death is replaced (like with Zhonya's) but it stays at the battlefield, it remains a valid target and the controller still draws 2 - The key distinction is whether Hidden Blade has a valid target at resolution - it needs to be able to reference "its controller" which requires a valid target - Moving a unit with Flash has the same effect as Retreat - no valid target means no draw - Targeting in Riftbound is implicit and doesn't require the word "target" to appear on the card

Ruling: Yes, if Retreat and Darius are the only two cards you've played that turn in that order, Darius enters ready with +2 might. Sequence: - Play Retreat on Darius at the battlefield (returns him to hand) - Play Darius from hand by paying 5 energy and 1 red power - Darius enters ready with +2 might (assuming these are the only two cards played this turn) Nuances: - This only works if Retreat and Darius are the only two cards played on your turn in that specific order

Ruling: You can play Nocturne to the battlefield you're defending, as long as you control it, which you almost always do when defending. Nuances: - There are rare cases where you defend but don't control the battlefield, such as when your opponent moves to an open battlefield and you use Ride the Wind to move into the same battlefield (sometimes called "Surprise Defense"). In those cases, you would not be able to play Nocturne to that battlefield.

Ruling: No, you do not get the trigger. The battlefield needs a player to control it to have a valid understanding of "you" in its text, so Surprise Defense does not trigger battlefield abilities that reference "you." Nuances: - This represents a change from previous rules where Reaver's Row did work with Surprise Defense - Battlefields with "you hold" and "you conquer" text are not drastically changed by the new rules clarification

Ruling: No, Travelling Merchant does not trigger if Tideturner targets it at the same location, because no movement occurs. Nuances: - Movement requires going from base to battleground, battleground to base, or battleground to battleground - If both cards are at the same location, no movement happens and the trigger condition is not met

Ruling: If you play Undertitan normally and then play Rengar as a reaction, Rengar does not get the +2 bonus because Undertitan's ability only affects units already on the board when it resolves. However, if you reveal and play Undertitan off Reksai/Swarm Queen's attack ability, you can sequence it so Rengar gets the bonus. Sequence: (when using Reksai/Swarm Queen to reveal Undertitan) - Attack with Reksai/Swarm Queen, triggering its reveal ability - Reveal and play Undertitan from the reveal - Undertitan's "when you play me, give +2" ability goes on the chain - Play Rengar as a reaction to Undertitan's ability (before it resolves) - Rengar resolves and enters the battlefield - Undertitan's ability resolves, giving +2 to all units you control (including Rengar) Nuances: - The key difference is whether Undertitan's ability has already resolved or not when Rengar enters play - You can chain Rengar to either the Swarm Queen attack or to Undertitan's on-play ability - With multiple Reksai/Swarm Queens, you can stack multiple Undertitan triggers, but each resolves sequentially

Ruling: Yes, Zhonya's affects all locations on the board even when played from hidden because its effect doesn't target, so it's not bound by hidden targeting restrictions. Nuances: - Even though gear played from hidden is typically recalled to base, Zhonya's would affect all battlefields regardless because it doesn't target - Non-targeting effects are not restricted by hidden zone limitations

Ruling: No, the unit does not become mighty. When the unit resolves to the battlefield, Trifarian War Camp's passive is immediately applied, so there is no window where it exists as a 4 might unit before becoming 5 might. Nuances: - Because Trifarian War Camp has a "while" effect, the unit is immediately 5 might upon entering play - The unit never exists as a game object on the battlefield without the War Camp passive applying - "Becoming mighty" requires the unit to exist in play and then have its might increased, which doesn't happen here

Ruling: No. For abilities that trigger when a spell is played, the spell needs to resolve. Nuances: - This applies to all abilities that trigger when a spell is played, not just Student specifically

Ruling: Yes, you still draw a card from Dreaming Tree. When you play a spell targeting a unit on Dreaming Tree, the Dreaming Tree trigger is created immediately and goes on the stack. Even if the spell is later Defied, the Dreaming Tree trigger remains on the stack and will resolve. Sequence: - Play spell (e.g., Cleave) targeting a unit on Dreaming Tree, triggering Dreaming Tree - Stack is now: Spell > Dreaming Tree's trigger - Pass priority - Opponent plays Defy targeting the spell - Stack is now: Spell > Dreaming Tree's trigger > Defy - Both players pass priority - Defy resolves, countering the spell - Stack is now: Dreaming Tree's trigger - Both players pass priority - Dreaming Tree trigger resolves and you draw a card Nuances: - This works the same way with any spell that targets (Forge of Flame, Raze the World, etc.) - Targets are declared when the spell/ability is played, before opponents can respond

Ruling: No, it doesn't matter who takes which of the turns in overtime. At the end of the 5th turn, you check point totals and the player with the highest points wins. Nuances: - The overtime rules simply state 5 turns total, without specifying turn ownership - Time warp effects don't affect the overtime turn count or outcome

Ruling: No, you cannot move a unit out of Vilemaw's Lair using Tideturner's swap ability. Since Tideturner uses "move" in its text, Vilemaw's Lair prevents the unit from moving to base. Sequence: - Tideturner is played to base and targets the unit in Vilemaw's Lair - Tideturner moves to Vilemaw's Lair - The targeted unit cannot move to base due to Vilemaw's Lair restriction - The targeted unit stays in Vilemaw's Lair Nuances: - Vilemaw's Lair prevents all movement effects, not just standard moves (including effects like Yasuo and Ride the Wind) - Only recall effects can bypass Vilemaw's Lair restriction - The swap still partially resolves: Tideturner moves to Vilemaw's Lair even though the other unit cannot move out

Ruling: Yes, you trigger a new showdown, you are the attacker, and you can score a point. Sequence: - The current showdown is not interrupted and resolves as usual - When the current showdown is over and you're back in a neutral open state, the next "waiting" showdown begins Nuances: - This scenario requires somehow moving a unit to an enemy-controlled battlefield (Miss Fortune specifically only allows playing to open battlefields)

Ruling: The unit goes to its owner's base, and the owner plays it and gets the "when played" effect. Sequence: - When Portal Rescue targets a unit you control but don't own, the unit goes to its owner's base (not yours) - The owner of the unit plays it - The owner gets the "when played" trigger Nuances: - This is clarified in the errata for Portal Rescue - Rule 107.5d states that a card owned by a player can never be put into the banishment of another player; if it would be, it goes to its owner's banishment instead

Ruling: Yes, the showdown is still considered a combat. Sequence: - Reaver's Row is a "when you defend" trigger, so combat is already happening when it is used - The showdown doesn't end until both players pass focus consecutively - The battlefield stays contested until the showdown ends Nuances: - The key distinction is that it's a combat in the showdown, not just a showdown

Ruling: No, a unit is only dead if it has non-zero damage at least equal to its might. Reducing might to 0 or even negative values without dealing damage does not kill the unit. Nuances: - Might can go negative (e.g., using multiple Frigid Touch effects) - When might is referenced for other effects, negative might is treated as 0 - To kill a unit with 0 or negative might, at least 1 damage must still be dealt to it

Ruling: No, Viktor does not make a recruit token when retreated. Play effects occur after the triggering spell finishes the complete process of being played, which in the case of retreat will be after Viktor is put back in hand. Sequence: - Retreat is played targeting Viktor - Viktor is returned to hand as part of retreat resolving - Play effects would trigger after retreat fully resolves - Since Viktor is no longer on the battlefield, his play effect does not trigger

Ruling: No, you cannot score another point. You can only score each battlefield once each turn, so if you gain a point by holding, you cannot conquer the same battlefield that turn. Nuances: - You will also not get any "When you conquer" triggers if you've already scored from that battlefield by holding it.

Ruling: No, the controller does not draw 2 cards. When Hidden Blade resolves, if its target is no longer a valid unit at a battlefield, the entire instruction is ignored because it cannot determine the controller of the target. Sequence: - Target legality is checked when Hidden Blade is added to the chain - Target legality is checked again when Hidden Blade resolves - If the target is not valid upon resolution (e.g., retreated), the instruction looking for "the controller of the unit at a battlefield" fails - The spell still resolves (for effects that care about spell resolution), but the draw does not happen Nuances: - If the unit dies (like from Zhonya's or Sett), the draw still happens because the unit was still a legal target at a battlefield when Hidden Blade resolved - If the unit is moved to another battlefield, the draw would still happen because the target remains legal - Moving a unit away from the battlefield (Flash, Fade and Flourish, Retreat) makes the target invalid, preventing the draw

Ruling: Yes, you can use Gust to save Teemo after revealing him from hidden and triggering his search ability. Teemo won't deal his damage because he is no longer on the battlefield, but he'll be safe in your hand. Sequence: - Enemy attacks - Reveal hidden Teemo (reaction speed) - Teemo's ability triggers to search top 5 cards - Use Gust as a reaction to save Teemo - Teemo returns to hand safely Nuances: - You can Gust/Flash Teemo after his trigger resolves, allowing you to get the damage from the trigger and also save him - Flash can be used to save multiple units (e.g., Teemo and another card) back to your base - If Teemo is defending (not hidden), you can still Gust him after the chain resolves but before combat damage is applied - If opponent activates hidden Teemo and you Gust it in chain, the revealing part happens but Teemo won't deal damage since he's no longer there

Ruling: No, you cannot buff the unit played from Baited Hook with Vanguard Helm. When Hook kills the buffed unit, Helm's trigger is added to the pending chain first, then the unit from Hook is added to the pending chain second. Pending items are finalized in the order they were added (first in, first out), so Helm finalizes and requires a target before the Hook unit is played. Sequence: - Baited Hook resolves and kills a buffed unit - Vanguard Helm's trigger is added to the pending chain - Hook continues resolving: look through top 5 cards, banish the chosen unit, add it to the pending chain as a pending item - Hook finishes resolving and is recycled - Finalize Helm (choose targets - the Hook unit is not yet played, so cannot be chosen) - Finalize the unit from Hook (the unit is now played) - Resolve the unit's "when you play" triggers (if any) - Resolve Helm's buff effect Nuances: - Nothing goes onto the resolve chain during resolution, only the pending chain - Pending items are finalized in the order they were added (first in, first out) - The resolve chain itself works last in, first out - You cannot play a card while an ability is resolving, which is why the Hook unit must be added as a pending item first

Ruling: No, you cannot score a battlefield more than once per turn. Since conquering is a form of scoring, you cannot conquer the same battlefield again in the same turn even if you move the unit out and back. Nuances: - If your score has its point replaced (e.g., drawing 1 if you can't win the final point), any conquer effects will still trigger in those replacement cases.

Ruling: No, the conquer trigger does not activate. You may only conquer each battlefield once per turn, regardless of how you scored from it (Hold or Conquer). Sequence: - If you score from a battlefield in any way (Hold or Conquer), you cannot conquer that same battlefield again that turn - Moving a unit back to a battlefield you've already scored from does not trigger conquer abilities - You can retake control and start a showdown, but no conquering occurs Nuances: - Conquer abilities still trigger at 7 points when you would draw a card instead of gaining a point - "Score" is the verb that describes what happens when you conquer or hold a battlefield - it usually means +1 point, except at 7 points when you draw a card instead - Moving units to a battlefield you've already scored from can still start a showdown and let you retake control, just without the conquer trigger

Ruling: No, Kai'sa's conquer ability does not trigger. You cannot conquer a battlefield you've already scored on in the same turn by holding, because conquering requires scoring a point and you can only score once per battlefield per turn. Sequence: - You score by holding the battlefield - You leave the battlefield with all units - You move Kai'sa back to the battlefield - You take control of the battlefield but do not conquer (no point gained, no conquer triggers) Nuances: - You do still get conquer triggers when you can't score due to the last point rule (different from the already-scored-by-holding scenario) - Taking control of a battlefield is distinct from conquering it; conquering only occurs when you take control AND score a point

Ruling: Yes, this is a win. You do not need to actively hold both battlefields simultaneously to score the final point via conquest. Sequence: - Start turn holding 1 battlefield, gaining a point (reaching 7) - Lose control of that battlefield during your turn - Take control of the other battlefield during the same turn - Win condition is met Nuances: - You only need to have scored both battlefields at some point during that turn, not hold them simultaneously

Ruling: When you move your last unit out of a battlefield you were holding, you lose control. Moving another unit back in contests the battlefield and opens a showdown where your opponent can react. You cannot score or trigger conquer effects because you already scored that battlefield by holding it that turn. Sequence: - Moving out your last unit causes you to lose control of the battlefield - Moving a new unit into the now-uncontrolled battlefield contests it and opens a showdown - Opponent can respond with abilities during this showdown - You cannot score the battlefield again this turn Nuances: - Moving the new unit in before moving the original unit out prevents losing control, avoiding the showdown entirely - The restriction on scoring twice applies specifically because you scored by holding that turn, not because you were the last controller - If you move out and back in on your opponent's turn (not your own), you can score - This same restriction applies even if your opponent takes the battlefield mid-turn and you recapture it - no conquer triggers will occur - The restriction also applies when you draw instead of scoring a final victory point

Ruling: If both attackers and defenders remain on the battlefield after combat damage has been assigned, all attacking units get recalled back to their owners base. The opponent does not conquer the battlefield. Nuances: - This applies even if the attacking units have more total might than the defending units - Stunned units remain on the battlefield but don't deal damage, so they count as "remaining" after combat

Ruling: Yes, you get a conquest point. When combat ends, control is determined. Since you gain control of a battlefield you didn't control before, you get a conquer. Sequence: - Combat ends - Control is determined - If you now control a battlefield you didn't control before, you gain a conquest point Nuances: - This applies even when you were the defender in the combat - The conquest point is awarded because you're gaining control, not because of your role as attacker or defender