Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 105 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
what rule says rengar is defender when he ambushes into a battlefield the enemy moved into which was open before. with no friendly unit
According to the game's rules for **Attacker/Defender designations**, your status is determined by who initiated the contest of the battlefield and when you joined it.
Can Renata Hostile Takeover her own unit that was Hostile Taken Over?
Yes, you can use **Hostile Takeover** on a unit you have already taken control of with a previous **Hostile Takeover**, provided that unit is currently considered an "enemy unit" from the perspective of the *second* spell you are casting.
Does the card gained from Stacked Deck count as drawing a card?
Based on the card text and related FAQs, **no, the card gained from *Stacked Deck* does not count as drawing a card.**
Does Rek'Sai Swarm trigger on a non-combat Showdown?
No, **Rek'Sai, Swarm Queen** does not trigger on a non-combat showdown. According to the established rules and RiftJudge FAQs (#8827 and #9415):
If you Hidden Blade your own unit then recall it, do you draw 2 and channel 1?
To answer your question directly: **No, Hidden Blade does not channel a rune.** According to the text of the card, **Hidden Blade** only has two instructions: "Kill a unit at a battlefield" and "Its controller draws 2." It does not contain an instruction to channel a rune.
If someone reacts to my Kha'zix, and plays a unit, does it get +2 might still?
Yes, your **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror** will still receive the +2 Might bonus and gain 2 XP. ### Reasoning According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9849**, **#10176**, **#10198**, and **#9937**, the condition for Kha'Zix's ability is checked at the exact moment he enters the battlefield and gains the combat designation ("Attacker" or "Defender").
If you use sacrifice on a unit with deathknell, can you stack the trigger? Or do they go off in a specific order?
When you use **Sacrifice** to kill a friendly unit that has a **Deathknell** ability, the effects do not "stack" into a single combined trigger. Instead, they are processed as two separate events that are placed on the chain.
Can I play Flurry of Feathers during my beginning phase even if nothing triggered to chain off of?
No, you cannot play *Flurry of Feathers* during your Beginning Phase if there is nothing on the chain. According to **Rule 315** and **RiftJudge FAQ #9066**, there is no priority window to play spells before the Beginning Phase, and spells can only be played during an **Open State** (typically during your Main Phase) or in response to something on the...
If I hold to 6 points, conquer the other battlefield to 7 points and then play the baron scoring the baron pit for the first time in the game do I move to 8 points and win?
Yes, you win the game. Here is the step-by-step breakdown of your score progression and the rules governing the final point:
If Sivir, Battle Mistress Legend recycles a rune and exhausts herself to gain the gold gear token, then kills a unit like with Challenge, can she exhaust herself again after readying, or does she need to recycle another rune beforehand?
To answer your question: **Yes, you must recycle another rune to exhaust Sivir, Battle Mistress again.** Here is the breakdown based on the game's mechanics:
Can you counter Charm with Not So Fast?
Ruling: Yes, you can counter Charm with Not So Fast. When your opponent plays Charm targeting your unit, it is an enemy spell that chooses a friendly unit, meeting both requirements of Not So Fast.
Does Unyielding Spirit prevent Elder Passive lethal damage?
No, **Unyielding Spirit** does not prevent the effect of **Elder Dragon's** passive ability, but it does prevent the damage that would otherwise mark a unit for that death.
If I play Hard Bargain repeatedly, can the enemy use Defy? I paid 4.
Yes, your opponent can use **Defy** to counter your **Hard Bargain**, even if you paid the additional cost to **Repeat** it.
Can I cast a reaction (En Garde) as my opponent passes focus in a showdown, without actually receiving focus yet, and then doing nothing and passing focus when it is given to me so that the showdown resolves immediately?
To answer your question, we need to clarify how priority and focus function during a showdown. According to **Rule 313.4**, "A player may not make discretionary actions with Focus unless they also possess Priority." Additionally, as clarified in the **RiftJudge FAQ (id 7484, 8470)**, focus and priority are distinct: focus is the "home base" permission to start a chain in...
I have a sprite token and hidden sprite call at a battlefield. It's the beginning of my turn. If I play the sprite call, do both sprites die since it's the beginning of turn?
No, your original sprite will die, but the new sprite summoned by *Sprite Call* will survive until the beginning of your next turn.
If I attack a battlefield with Ava Achiever, can I play Hostile Takeover for a power? Hostile Takeover is a normal spell (not action or reaction), but it does have the hidden tag.
Yes, you can play **Hostile Takeover** using **Ava Achiever**'s ability when she attacks, provided you pay the required cost. ### Ruling Breakdown * **Ava Achiever's Ability:** When she attacks, her ability allows you to play a card with the **Hidden** keyword directly from your hand, ignoring its normal energy cost. * **Interaction:** Hostile Takeover has the **Hidden** keyword, making it...
If you Ruination and your opponent has Karthus, are all Deathknells still doubled?
Yes, all **Deathknell** effects will still trigger twice (the base trigger plus one additional trigger from Karthus). According to multiple **RiftJudge FAQs (including #9028, #9711, and #10162)**, this interaction occurs because Karthus, Eternal's ability ("Your [Deathknell] effects trigger an additional time") is a **passive ability**, not a triggered ability.
Can you play Acceptable Losses to kill an enemy Gear if you don't own any?
Yes, you can play **Acceptable Losses** even if you do not control any gear, as long as your opponent does.
If my opponent plays Hidden Blade and I move a unit to another battlefield, does my unit survive?
Whether your unit survives a **Hidden Blade** targeting depends on whether the card was played from your opponent's **hand** or from a **Hidden** (facedown) state.
Can my opponent use Ruined Rex's Deathknell to kill the 2 Mechs that will appear from Ferrous Forerunner's Deathknell as a result of the same combat?
No, your opponent cannot use **Ruined Rex**’s Deathknell to kill the two Mech tokens produced by **Ferrous Forerunner**’s Deathknell in this scenario.
Do you still kill your own unit if your opponent counters your "Sacrifice" with "Defy"?
Yes, you still kill your own unit. According to **Rule 357** and **RiftJudge FAQ #9906**, the process of playing a spell includes paying its costs *before* the spell is added to the chain and becomes eligible to be countered.
Can I use Void Assault on a battlefield that is already a unit, to target that enemy unit and move my unit to that battlefield?
No, you cannot use **Void Assault** in that manner for two reasons: 1. **Targeting Restriction:** **Void Assault** does not target a battlefield; it targets units. The card text is: "Move a friendly unit, then move an enemy unit." You must have a friendly unit to move and an enemy unit to move. 2. **Card Mechanics:** According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9965**,...
If Fading Memories gives a unit temporary and it dies at the start of its controller's beginning phase, does it trigger a Hidden Sprite call? If so, does the called sprite also die due to its own temporary, or does this trigger the next round?
Yes, you can use a hidden *Sprite Call* to react to a unit dying from *Temporary*. Because *Temporary* creates a triggered ability that goes on the chain at the start of your turn, you have the opportunity to respond to it.
Do I need to declare all targets of Void Assault before a counter-spell is chosen to be played?
Yes, you must declare all targets (the friendly unit to be moved and the enemy unit to be moved) and all destinations (where each unit will be moved) when you play Void Assault, before any opponent has the opportunity to play a counter-spell.
Can I gust the reflection token after he discards if my opponent conquers and creates a reflection of ruined Rex? Would this trigger deathknell?
Yes, you can **Gust** the **Reflection** token after your opponent discards, but doing so will **not** trigger its **Deathknell** ability.
How does Portal Rescue and Reflection tokens with When I am played triggers work?
To understand how **Portal Rescue** interacts with **Reflection tokens** and "When you play me" triggers, we must examine the rules governing tokens, the "play" action, and the specific behavior of Portal Rescue.
My opponent has 2 Rift Heralds controlling a battlefield. I attack with Irelia and kill both his Heralds. The first Deathknell triggers and he plays Elder Dragon. I Starcross it. Can he play it again with the second Deathknell? Also, if the Irelia dies during the Elder Dragon being played, does she still conquer the battlefield? The Dragon is played during the Deathknell phase of the Rift Herald.
To resolve this situation, we must follow the specific timing and chain mechanics of Riftbound. ### Part 1: The Elder Dragon and the Second Deathknell **Yes, your opponent can play a unit with the second *Rift Herald* Deathknell.**
Does Kai'Sa Daughter of the Void give floating energy or floating power?
Kai'Sa, Daughter of the Void gives floating **power**, not energy. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2634** and **#5342**, Kai'Sa's ability specifically adds power to your rune pool. This power is restricted and can only be used to pay for the power costs of spells; it cannot be used to pay for energy costs (the numbered cost in the top corner of...
Can I continue to look at my opponent's hand throughout the entire turn with Scuttle Crab Deathknell? So if he plays a secret after the Deathknell trigger, can I re-look at his hand?
No, you cannot continue to look at your opponent's hand throughout the entire turn following the resolution of **Scuttle Crab**'s *Deathknell* effect.
Does LeBlanc's hold effect "Deceiver" trigger before or after the draw phase?
The "Deceiver" ability (triggered by LeBlanc when you hold a battlefield) occurs **during the Beginning Phase**, which is before your Draw Phase.
Can I choose to recycle runes at any point during my or my opponent's turn even without having to pay to play something? For a concrete example, if I don't have anything to play but I want to get the Sivir +2 Might from recycling 2 runes on my opponent's turn, can I just recycle two runes?
Yes, you can absolutely recycle runes at any time you have priority, even if you are not currently paying for a card or ability.
I have a Sprite with Mischievous Marai hidden at a Battlefield. My opponent contests the Battlefield by moving in a Tasty Faefolk and Watcher Sentry. They win the combat and I choose to deal combat damage to kill Watcher Sentry, but their Tasty Faefolk survives. Can I react to the Watcher Sentry Deathknell with my hidden Mischievous Marai to start a new Showdown and deal 2 damage to Tasty Faefolk?
It appears you are referring to **Watchful Sentry**. Here is the ruling based on the game's mechanics regarding this interaction.
If I have a sprite on the Rockfall Path battlefield and hide a Mischievous Marai, on my next turn, can I unhide and play Mischievous Marai there, or if not, what happens?
No, you cannot play *Mischievous Marai* at Rockfall Path (or Rockfall Vale). According to RiftJudge FAQ #3284 and #6500, playing a hidden unit at Rockfall Path is an illegal activation. Here is what happens:
If I play a unit or spell that says it targets all enemy units, if the enemy has Deflect do I still need to pay the power cost?
It depends on whether your spell or ability actually **targets** those enemy units. ### 1. Does it Target? * **If the card text says "all" (e.g., "Deal 2 damage to all enemy units"):** This generally does **not** target. According to Rule 355.10.d, instructions that programmatically select objects based on characteristics (like "all units at a battlefield") do not target. If...
Can Ahri Alluring stack? Like if I have 2 on one BF, do I get 3 points from holding?
Yes, **Ahri, Alluring**'s ability does stack. If you control two copies of Ahri, Alluring on the same battlefield and you hold that battlefield, each of their triggered abilities will fire.
Can you accelerate a creature played by Baited Hook?
Yes, you can pay the Accelerate cost when playing a unit via **Baited Hook**. According to RiftJudge FAQ #5335 and #7120:
As Irelia I have a unit in base and I play Tideturner in base, can I choose another unit in base and make it ready with Irelia?
No, you cannot successfully use **Tideturner** to target a unit in your base while **Tideturner** is also in your base.
If I play Challenge with a unit in Abandoned Hall, will the unit gain the +1 Might from Abandoned Hall before fighting?
Ruling: No. The unit will not receive the +1 Might from Abandoned Hall before Challenge resolves. Abandoned Hall's "when you play a spell" trigger occurs after the spell has completed its resolution, not when it is placed on the chain.
If Tianna Crownguard is at a battlefield, do I draw a card when I conquer but cannot score the winning point?
Ruling: Yes, you draw a card. Tianna Crownguard only prevents gaining points; she does not prevent the act of Scoring (Conquering or Holding) or interfere with the card draw replacement effect when you cannot claim the winning point.
Can an enemy use The List's activated ability to target Ruin Runner?
Ruling: No. The List's activated ability requires choosing a specific unit with the named tag, which counts as targeting that unit. Since Ruin Runner has "I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities," an enemy cannot target it with The List's ability.
Does the buff bonus from Stand United stack if you play multiple copies in the same turn?
Ruling: Yes, the "Buffs give an additional +1 [Might] to friendly units this turn" effect from Stand United does stack. Each copy of Stand United you play creates a separate instance of this duration effect that lasts until end of turn.
Can you use Not So Fast to counter Mirror Image?
Ruling: Yes, but only if your opponent chooses one of your units as the target. Not So Fast requires countering an enemy spell or ability that chooses a friendly unit or gear. When your opponent plays Mirror Image targeting your unit, it meets both conditions: it is an enemy spell, and the chosen unit is friendly to you.
Can Vi, Peacekeeper stun Baron Nashor with her 'When I attack' ability?
Ruling: No. Vi, Peacekeeper's ability requires you to choose an enemy unit, which makes it a targeted ability. Baron Nashor's protection ("I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities") prevents him from being a legal target for Vi's stun effect.
with weaponmaster can I grab an attached gear on one of my units on a battlefield to a newly played unit without paying
Yes, you can use the **Weaponmaster** keyword to take an equipment currently attached to one of your units on a battlefield and attach it to the unit you just played. However, it is not necessarily "without paying."
Do the effects of Shard of undoing stack if I have multiple in play?
Yes, the effects of *Shard of Undoing* stack. If you have multiple *Shard of Undoing* cards in play, each one will trigger independently when the condition is met.
can i conquer same battlefield multiple time in one turn for the sake of card trigger ?
No, you cannot. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ (ID 2676, 7023, 2805, 1500)** and **Rule 465**, you can only score each battlefield once per turn, regardless of whether you score it by holding it (at the beginning of your turn) or by conquering it (during the main phase).
can I respond to thousand tail watcher play effect?
Yes, you can respond to **Thousand-Tailed Watcher**'s "When you play me" ability. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (#93, #4730, and #6628), Thousand-Tailed Watcher has a triggered ability that uses the chain, which means it can be responded to with [Reaction] speed cards just like any other triggered or activated ability.
If my opponent kills a bird token to play Stalking Wolf, can he react to that by playing Friendship to give +2 to the Stalking Wolf?
No, the player casting *Stalking Wolf* cannot react to the sacrifice of the Bird token. ### Ruling No, you cannot react to the sacrifice of the Bird token.
if sett has 5 might with buff. and you trigger to get +4. does he become mighting aka go from 5 to 4 to 8? or just 5 to 8?
Based on the card text for **Sett, Brawler** and the relevant RiftJudge FAQ, when you activate his ability to gain +4 Might, he effectively goes from 5 Might down to 4 Might, and then up to 8 Might.
If I attack a battlefield with 2 Gemhand Hunters while Ahri holds, does she reduce the might of one of my units or both?
Ahri's ability triggers **individually for each enemy unit** that attacks. If you attack a battlefield where Ahri is holding with 2 Gemhand Hunters, her ability will trigger twice—once for each of your units—and both Gemhand Hunters will receive the -1 Might reduction.