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When Stormbringer deals lethal damage to all defending units and then moves a unit to that battlefield, what happens? Does combat/showdown occur, and what happens to hidden cards?

verified
FAQ #182·asked by 152504077580894208·December 18, 2025·Rules v1.4·Asked before Vendetta
Answer

Ruling: The rules as written (RAW) do not properly handle this scenario - the game enters a locked state where combat cannot stage properly. This is a known rules issue awaiting fixes in version 1.3.

Sequence: (What happens RAW)

  • Stormbringer deals damage and moves unit to battlefield
  • Contested status is applied as part of the move action
  • Cleanup occurs: defending units die
  • Battlefield remains controlled (cannot lose control while contested)
  • Showdown cannot stage (battlefield is controlled, not uncontrolled)
  • Combat cannot stage (requires units from opposing players present simultaneously)
  • Game locks in invalid state

Nuances:

  • Rules As Intended (RAI): Combat should begin normally, or if units die first, it should become a regular showdown
  • Hidden cards remain because control is never lost (battlefield stays controlled while contested)
  • Temporary judge ruling recommendation: Allow combat to proceed normally until official fix
  • Similar issue exists with Dragon's Rage in 3-player games
  • Making Stormbringer a reflexive trigger would resolve the issue but doesn't fix the underlying rules problem
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