When Player 1 moves a unit to Reaver's Row, then Player 2 plays Ride the Wind to contest it, can Player 1 use Reaver's Row's ability to retreat?

Ruling: No, Player 1 cannot use Reaver's Row's ability to retreat. Player 2 is the defender in this combat because Player 1 was the one who applied contested to the battlefield first, so Player 2 gets to use Reaver's Row's ability.

Sequence:

• Player 1 moves a unit to Reaver's Row (applies contested)
• Player 2 plays Ride the Wind to contest (stages a combat but doesn't immediately start it)
• Both players must pass focus in succession without starting a chain to end the showdown
• When the showdown ends, combat begins
• Combat opens with an initial chain including Reaver's Row's trigger
• Player 2, as the defender, has the choice to move a unit to base when Reaver's Row resolves

Nuances:

• The player who applied contested to the battlefield is NOT the defender; the other player is
• Moving a unit to contest does not immediately end the showdown and start combat