Riftbound Frequently Asked Questions

Ruling: Yes, Ride the Wind can move a unit from one battlefield to another battlefield. Nuances: - Units' standard move cannot move from one battlefield to another without ganking - Spells and abilities that cause units to move are not restricted in the same way as standard moves - Movement spells and abilities describe their own limitations, if any

Ruling: Yes, Ride the Wind can move one of your units from one battlefield to another mid-showdown during your opponent's turn, similar to how Charm works. Nuances: - This can allow you to conquer a field during your opponent's turn - If you manage to do this twice in one turn and conquer both battlefields, you can win on your opponent's turn (if you're at 6 points) - When you move a unit into a battlefield where your opponent already has a unit, your opponent's unit becomes the attacker (they applied contested status first) and your unit becomes the defender

Ruling: Riposte cannot be played after Cleave has resolved. Riposte requires both a friendly unit and a spell on the chain as targets to be played legally. Once Cleave resolves, there is no spell on the chain anymore, making it too late to play Riposte. Sequence: - Cleave is played and opens a Chain - Both players have the opportunity to play Reactions while Cleave is on the chain - Once Cleave resolves, Riposte can no longer be played because there is no spell on the chain to target Nuances: - Units and Gears don't provide Reaction windows as they fall right off the chain - Riposte specifically requires both a friendly unit AND a spell on the chain to be played legally

Ruling: Yes, Riposte can counter your own spells. The card says "counter a spell" without specifying "enemy spell," so it can target any spell including your own. Nuances: - Riftbound card text is very literal - "a spell" means any spell, while "an enemy spell" would specifically mean an opponent's spell - If a card doesn't specify a restriction and it doesn't violate core rules, the action is allowed - This may only be viable in edge cases where it's the only play available to win

Ruling: No, this does not work. Rumble Hothead requires a valid mech target in the graveyard when the trigger is declared and added to the chain, even though the effect itself is optional ("you may") on resolution. Sequence: - When conquering with multiple trigger effects, you choose the order to place them on the chain - Each trigger must have valid targets when declared/added to the chain - The chain then resolves in reverse order (chain 2, then chain 1) - Optional "you may" effects decide whether to execute on resolution, but targeting happens at declaration Nuances: - This differs from the Monastery + Sett ruling because Rumble specifically targets a unit in the graveyard at declaration time - You cannot declare Rumble's trigger without a valid mech target already in the graveyard - The "you may" on Rumble only applies to whether you execute the effect on resolution, not whether you need to target on declaration

Ruling: Yes, you can recycle a Token Unit with Rumble's effect, since the card does not specify "Non-Token Unit." Nuances: - While recycle rules explicitly state recycling is for cards and tokens are not cards, token rules instruct you to treat tokens as the type of card they are for all rules purposes - This ruling was confirmed by the developers (Kelly)

Yes, he can. This is a minor gap in the rules. Main Deck cards are recycled to the Main Deck and runes are recycled to the Rune deck, but tokens aren’t actually either of those things. We’ll be clarifying in a future rules updates that tokens “inherit” the recycle destination of their type(s), so a token that’s a unit or gear is recycled to your Main Deck just like any other gear. It then vanishes, as tokens do any time they leave the board, but it still counts as “the unit you recycled” and Rumble can check its Might.

Ruling: Salvage requires a valid gear target to be played. You must choose a gear when playing the card, then during resolution you may choose whether or not to kill it. Sequence: - Choose a gear as a target when playing Salvage - Pay costs and put Salvage on the chain - Upon resolution, choose whether to kill the targeted gear - Draw 1 card regardless Nuances: - The "may" only applies at resolution, not when choosing targets to play the card - You can target your own gear and choose not to kill it to safely draw a card - This ruling applies to similar cards like Reaver's Row - The card received errata after this discussion to read "You may kill up to one gear" which allows playing without a target

Ruling: Yes, Salvage can now be played even when there is no gear in the game. The "up to one" wording allows you to choose zero gear as targets, play the card, and still draw a card. Sequence: - Play Salvage - Choose zero gear as targets - Draw 1 card Nuances: - This only applies to cards with "up to" wording; cards without "up to" wording still require valid targets to be played - The errata was specifically designed to prevent Salvage from being a dead card when no gear is in play

Ruling: No, a seal can only generate power and cannot generate energy. Nuances: - Seals specifically generate power, not energy - Seals cannot be used to pay non-power costs

Ruling: Yes, Seal of Focus can be used to add a resource on the same turn it is played because gear comes into play ready. Nuances: - Seals can be tapped at reaction speed but cannot be played from hand at reaction speed (only on your own turn at normal speed)

Ruling: Yes, you can tap Seal of Rage to add a Fury Power which can be used to pay for a card's Fury Power cost, including recycle costs. Sequence: - Tap Seal of Rage first to create the Fury Power - Use that Fury Power (along with any other required resources) to pay for playing/recycling the card Nuances: - Seal of Rage creates Fury Power, not Fury Runes (the rune is the source, the power is what you spend) - You must tap Seal of Rage before playing the card to generate the power needed for the cost - Tapping a seal after playing it to generate power for its own costs does not work - Exhausting a seal can only be used to pay Power costs, not Energy costs

Ruling: No, Seal of Rage cannot be used to pay for Sigil of the Storm's recycle cost. Seals can only pay for Power costs, while Sigil of the Storm specifically requires you to recycle a rune. Nuances: - Power costs can normally be paid by recycling a rune, but can also be paid through Seals or card abilities - When a card specifically says "recycle a rune" rather than "pay Power", you must actually recycle a rune and cannot use alternative payment methods

Ruling: No, Seal of Unity cannot pay for itself. Abilities can only be activated when the game object is in the appropriate zone, and permanents like seals need to be on the board to activate their abilities. You have to pay their costs as you finalize them, which is before they are on the board and can be activated. Sequence: - You must pay the seal's costs during finalization - The seal is not yet on the board during finalization - Only after finalization is complete does the seal enter the board - Only once on the board can the seal's ability be activated to add power

Ruling: Players can float Energy and Power between actions. Seals provide Power but not Energy, so you still need enough runes to exhaust for the Energy cost before recycling runes to pay for the Seal. Sequence: - Exhaust runes for Energy (e.g., 4 runes for Sona's Energy cost) - Recycle a rune to pay for the Seal cost - Play the Seal - Tap the Seal for Power - Play the card (e.g., Sona) Nuances: - The ability to float Energy/Power is not unique to Seals; it's a general game mechanic - Multiple sequencing orders may be valid as long as Energy is generated before runes are recycled

Ruling: Yes, Sett - Brawler's ability can be activated multiple times in one turn to stack buffs, as long as you can give him a buff to spend between each activation. Sequence: - Give Sett a buff - Activate Sett's ability - Give Sett another buff - Activate Sett's ability again - Repeat as needed Nuances: - Lee Sin exhausts when used, so you'll need multiple buff sources to activate Sett's ability more than once per turn

Ruling: No, Sett's ability cannot be used during a showdown because it does not have the Action or Reaction keyword. All cards and abilities by default can only be played at base speed (during Action Phase on your turn when nothing is on Chain). Arena Bar also cannot be used during a showdown for the same reason. Sequence: (To achieve +8 Might before a showdown) - During your Action Phase with nothing on Chain, use Arena Bar to buff Sett (requires Sett to be exhausted) - Spend the buff to activate Sett's ability for +4 Might - Use a second Arena Bar to buff Sett again - Spend that buff for another +4 Might - Sett ends with +8 Might total and no buff remaining Nuances: - Arena Bar only buffs exhausted units, so Sett must be exhausted to receive the buff - If Sett is exhausted, he cannot attack unless you have a way to ready him or move him to a battlefield - Cards and abilities without Action or Reaction keywords are sorcery speed (base speed only)

Ruling: If the unit only dies from Imperial Decree's trigger, Sett Legend saves it and it lives. If the unit dies from lethal damage (spell/ability or combat), it will die again when Imperial Decree resolves. Sequence: (when lethal damage is involved) - Unit takes lethal damage - Imperial Decree is added to the chain as pending - Cleanup happens, unit would die - Sett saves the unit (recall/heal/exhaust) - This same cleanup finalizes Imperial Decree - After possible reactions, Imperial Decree resolves to kill the unit Nuances: - Imperial Decree's trigger references the unit that "was" damaged, so removing the damage doesn't remove the trigger - Combat damage follows the same pattern because Imperial Decree going onto the chain transitions from open to closed state, causing a cleanup before the combat cleanup phase

Ruling: Yes, Sett The Boss can save the buffed unit targeted as the cost for Cruel Patron, and Cruel Patron will still successfully enter play. Nuances: - Cruel Patron does not target (it kills as a cost) - If the only unit at a battleground is a buffed unit that gets saved by Sett The Boss, you cannot play Cruel Patron to that battleground because the unit is no longer on the battlefield after being killed as part of the cost, meaning you don't have units there anymore - This interaction is confirmed in the FAQ

Ruling: Yes, Sett leader can protect a unit already at your base from being killed. The targeting requirement is just a buffed unit you control, with no restriction on location. Sequence: - Pay the cost including the buff requirement - Exhaust Sett leader and recycle a rune - The unit doesn't die - The recall portion is ignored under the "do as much as possible" rule since the unit is already at the base Nuances: - You must still pay the full cost including placing a buff on the unit, even though it's already at the base - The recall effect simply doesn't do anything when the unit is already at the base, but the protection still applies

Ruling: Yes, Sett the Boss can protect a unit in your base. Sett the Boss does not limit where the saved unit must be located.

Ruling: Yes, Sett's legend ability is a replacement effect that is active at all times, including during your opponent's turn. Nuances: - The ability is a replacement effect, not a triggered ability - It does not require an action or reaction to use - It resolves whenever a unit is about to die, regardless of whose turn it is

Ruling: Yes, Sett can save a unit in base from dying to Fallen Star as long as there's a buff to spend and Sett is ready. His ability works regardless of where the unit is on the board.

Ruling: Yes, Sett can spend his buff while exhausted, but it gives +4 Might instead of +8. Nuances: - If Sett is buffed again (such as by conquering) while exhausted, he can spend that buff for another +4 Might - The reduced effect (+4 instead of +8) applies because he is exhausted

Ruling: For Hidden Blade, the unit dying is not required for the draw - if Sett saves the unit, you still draw because the unit was a valid target and its controller can be identified. For Cruel Patron, Sett's replacement effect can be used to fulfill the cost because costs that are replaced by other events are still considered paid. Nuances: - Moving a unit in reaction to Hidden Blade (rather than saving it with Sett) cancels the draw because no controller of a unit at a battlefield can be determined - If Hidden Blade targets an invalid target upon resolution, there is no draw

Ruling: Sett Legend's ability can be used on an opponent's turn to save a unit because it is a replacement effect. Sett Brawler's ability cannot be used on an opponent's turn because it is a discretionary activated ability. Nuances: - Replacement effects ("if X would happen, do Y instead") do not go on the chain and can be used during an opponent's turn - Abilities without an action or reaction tag cannot be used on an opponent's turn by default - Activated abilities have a "cost : ability" format with a colon, indicating they are discretionary and cannot be used off-turn - Vi's ability is also a discretionary ability and cannot be used on an opponent's turn

Ruling: Sett's ability can be used to save a unit regardless of its location, including when the unit is exhausted at base and dying from a spell. Nuances: - The unit does not need to be in a showdown for Sett's ability to work - The ability can save units at base that are dying from spell damage

Ruling: Yes, Sett's ability can save a unit with Temporary from being sacrificed. Nuances: - The unit will still have the Temporary keyword after being saved, so it will need to be saved again at the start of your next beginning phase.

Ruling: Sett's effect can only be used on your turn outside of showdowns because it does not have ACTION or REACTION keywords. When you conquer (either attacking or defending), Sett gains a buff. On your turn outside showdowns, you may remove his buff to give him +4 might. Sequence: - Sett gains a buff when he conquers (attacking or defending) - On your turn, outside of showdowns, you may remove the buff to give him +4 might - The +4 might lasts only for that turn - If Sett conquers again, he gains a buff back Nuances: - The +4 might is temporary and ends after the turn it's activated - Conquering works both when attacking and defending to grant buffs

Ruling: Yes, you can use Sett's hero ability to recall a Sett even if it is already in base. Nuances: - The recall ability can be activated on units that are already at the recall destination

Ruling: Yes, Sett's legend ability can be used to save a unit at Vilemaw's Lair during combat because a recall is not considered a move. Nuances: - Vilemaw's Lair prevents moves, but recalls are mechanically distinct from moves - This allows the defending player to use Sett's recall ability even when their unit is buffed and engaged in combat at that location

Ruling: Yes, Sett can use the replacement effect to protect a unit already in base. You do as much of the effect as possible, and being recalled is not a requirement to use the protection. Nuances: - The replacement effect works even when the recall portion cannot be performed - Effects are resolved as much as possible even when some parts cannot be completed

Ruling: Shen cannot be countered by Defy. Shen is a unit, not a spell, and Defy specifically states it counters spells. Additionally, Shen does not linger on the chain - he resolves immediately upon finalization without any window for priority. Nuances: - Units and gear cannot be countered by principle in Riftbound - Even though Shen can be summoned as a reaction, he does not remain on the chain in a way that allows him to be targeted by spells or abilities

Ruling: No, you cannot play Shen as a Reaction to a Showdown on a Battlefield you don't control. Nuances: - Shen's card text specifies that you can only play him to a Battlefield that you control - Even without that specific text, the general rule prohibits playing units to Battlefields you don't control

Ruling: Shen can be played as a reaction to anything that allows reactions, but can only be placed in valid locations: your base or a battlefield you control. You cannot play Shen to a battlefield you are attacking because you do not control it. Sequence: - Shen's reaction timing allows him to be played anytime reactions are allowed - However, placement is restricted to locations you control (base or controlled battlefields) - When attacking a battlefield, you do not control it, so Shen cannot be played there Nuances: - Shen can be played as a reaction on defense at a battlefield you control - Shen can be played as a reaction to other effects (like Ride the Wind) to a battlefield you control - If a card effect explicitly allows playing units to other locations (example given: Purple MF allowing open battlefields), those become valid locations for Shen as well

Ruling: Shen cannot be played to the attacker's side of the battlefield as a reaction because units can only be played to locations you control unless the card explicitly says otherwise, and attackers never control the battlefield. In a hypothetical scenario where a unit appears later as an attacker, it would receive Ahri's -1. Nuances: - Shen being a permanent means neither player can respond to him when played as a reaction - Players can only respond to units if they have an enter the battlefield effect, not to the playing of the unit itself

Ruling: No, this is not legal. You can only play units to battlefields you control, and Shen's opponent does not control Gods Willow in this scenario. Nuances: - The Reaction keyword rules contain the restriction that units can only be played to battlefields you control - Shen's reminder text also mentions this restriction, though reminder text itself has no effect on game function - The hypothetical scoring sequence question becomes moot since the play is illegal

Ruling: No, Shen cannot be played to a free battlefield that another player is conquering because you don't control that battlefield at the start of the showdown. Nuances: - Shen's card text specifies "to a battlefield you control" - Units can only be played to locations you control unless a card effect grants special permission (like Rengar does) - Shen does not grant special permission to play to uncontrolled locations

Ruling: Yes, Showstopper can be used on a unit that is already buffed. The buff will not be applied again, but all other effects of the card will still resolve.

Ruling: Showstopper cannot be used on a unit in a battlefield. The target unit must be in base. Nuances: - The card's first sentence requires buffing a unit in base, which establishes the targeting requirement for the entire card

Ruling: "Up to two" means you can choose zero, one, or two units. Singularity deals 6 damage to each chosen unit. You can deal 6 to just one unit, but you cannot deal 12 damage to the same unit. Nuances: - You can choose to deal 6 damage to one unit and skip the second target entirely - You cannot target the same unit twice to deal 12 damage

Ruling: No, you cannot target the same unit twice with Singularity. The card says "to 2 units" and 1 unit is not 2 units. Sequence: - Singularity can target 0 units (resolves doing nothing) - Singularity can target 1 unit (that unit takes 6 damage) - Singularity can target 2 units (both units take 6 damage each) Nuances: - Singularity does not put two triggers on the stack like cards with "Do this twice" wording (such as Falling Star) - It is a single trigger that requires choosing distinct units if you want to target 2 units

Ruling: Singularity must target two different units (or just one unit). You cannot target the same unit twice to deal 12 damage. Nuances: - "Up to two units" means you can cast it targeting only one unit if needed - Targeting one unit deals only 6 damage to that unit, not 12

Ruling: Yes, Siphon Power applies to all friendly units at one battlefield, including token units. Nuances: - The spell targets a battlefield and affects units at that location when it resolves - Both token units and card units are affected equally

Ruling: No, Skysplitter cannot be countered by Deny even if cost reductions bring its actual cost to 4 energy or less. Nuances: - Deny looks at the printed cost of a card, not the modified cost after reductions

Ruling: Yes, Solari Shieldbearer can stun itself when it enters. Nuances: - This self-stun will not trigger Leona's legend ability since she requires stunning enemies specifically.

Ruling: Yes, if you win combat and the opponent's stunned unit goes to trash, you can exhaust Solari Shrine to draw 1 card. Sequence: - Combat resolves and opponent's unit dies - Unit goes to trash - Solari Shrine can then be exhausted to draw 1 card Nuances: - This works the same way as Deathkneel - it triggers on death and works if a unit dies during combat - The kill does not need to be from a spell specifically saying 'kill'; combat kills count

Ruling: Yes, Solari Shrine can trigger on an opponent's turn. When you kill a stunned unit on an opponent's turn, Shrine puts a trigger on the stack, and when it resolves you can pay the cost (exhaust shrine) to draw 1. Nuances: - Timing restrictions only prevent you from activating abilities or playing cards at discretion - Triggers go off whenever their condition is met, regardless of whose turn it is - The lack of a 'reaction' tag does not prevent triggered abilities from occurring on an opponent's turn

Ruling: Yes, Soraka can save units at base if she is also at base. Base is a location and units at Soraka's location are considered "here" for her ability.

Ruling: No, Spectral Matron cannot be used to play Cruel Patron. Matron looks at the printed cost of the card, and Cruel Patron's printed cost is 4 energy, which exceeds Matron's limit of 3. Nuances: - The cost limit on Matron is not ignored even though Matron sets the actual cost to 0 - The restriction checks the printed cost on the card, not the modified cost you would pay