If Blue Ezreal is defending alone and I use Arcane Shift to return him to hand during the showdown, can I replay him to the same battlefield and will he trigger his 'When I defend' ability again?

Ruling: Yes, you can replay Blue Ezreal to the same battlefield during combat if you are the defender (since you control the battlefield), and he will trigger his 'When I defend' ability again because he is a new game object that hasn't received the defender designation yet this turn.

Sequence:

• Blue Ezreal defends and triggers his ability (shoots once)
• You play Arcane Shift on priority, returning him to hand
• You replay Blue Ezreal to the same battlefield
• He triggers his 'When I defend' ability again (shoots a second time)
• The showdown continues (it hasn't ended yet)

Nuances:

• This only works if you are defending in combat, because defenders control the battlefield
• If it's a non-combat showdown or you are attacking, you don't control the battlefield and cannot replay him to the same battlefield
• Any attached gear detaches and goes to base when Ezreal leaves play
• Every cleanup step now ensures units have designations appropriate to the current board state
• The showdown doesn't restart; it's still the same showdown that only ends when both players consecutively pass with an empty chain