Riftbound Rules Questions (Page 106)

If the opponent plays Unchecked Power while I have Glasc Mixologist on the battlefield, am I able to play units from the discard to the battlefield Glasc Mixologist was on?

Yes, you are able to play a unit from your trash to the battlefield where your **Glasc Mixologist** died. This interaction is confirmed by **RiftJudge FAQ #10406**. Here is the breakdown of why this works:

If my opponents play an Elder Dragon to his base, and I play Star Crossed to send it back to his hand, does the 1 damage play effect from Elder still resolve? Or does it not since he goes back to hand first?

Yes, the 1 damage from Elder Dragon's "When you play me" ability will still resolve. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10299**, when you play a unit with a "When you play me" (WYPM) ability, the unit enters the battlefield, and its triggered ability is placed on the chain. This creates a **Closed State**, allowing you to play **Star-Crossed**.

Does Vanguard Armory proc Karma's ability for every token unit played for vision? Or once for all three?

To determine how these cards interact, we must look at how the tokens enter play and how Karma's ability triggers.

When I reveal Teemo and they react with Gust, do I still get Teemo's effect or no?

Yes, you still get Teemo's effect, though its impact will be limited. According to the **RiftJudge FAQs (3559, 3204)**, when you reveal a unit like Teemo Strategist from Hidden, its "When I defend" ability triggers and is placed on the chain. If your opponent reacts by playing Gust to return Teemo to your hand, the following occurs:

If my opponent plays Star Crossed on my Vex and his Scuttle Crab, but I react with my own Star Crossed and my Ravenbloom Student, and his Scuttle Crab will his Star Crossed no longer be valid due to his Scuttle Crab no longer being a valid target?

No, your opponent’s *Star-Crossed* will not "fizzle" or become invalid. It will still resolve and attempt to return any remaining valid targets to their owners' hands.

Does Dusk Rose Lab's trigger go on the stack if you decide not to use it?

No, the trigger does not go on the chain (stack) if you decide not to use it. According to the card text, **Dusk Rose Lab** reads: *"At the start of your Beginning Phase, **you may** kill a unit you control here to draw 1."*

if i have vex apathetic at a battlefield does its ability refer to the enemy unit’s standard move, or does it also apply to the enemy using a card like ride the wind to move the unit? Also can I choose to charm the enemy unit?

Vex, Apathetic's ability applies to both **Standard Moves** and **moves caused by card effects** like *Ride the Wind*. Here is the breakdown of your questions based on the game rules and provided FAQs:

If I use Baited Hook on my last unit at a battlefield, can I still play the unit from Baited Hook to that battlefield?

Yes, you can play the unit to the battlefield where the original unit was killed. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8752** (which addresses this specific interaction), battlefields only become uncontrolled when they are empty during an **Open State**. Because the game enters a **Closed State** while *Baited Hook* is resolving on the chain, control of the battlefield is locked throughout the...

When my opponent equips a gear, can I react with Gust?

Yes, you can react to your opponent equipping a gear with *Gust*, provided the gear is being attached using the **Equip** ability and the target unit meets the criteria for *Gust*.

When playing Arise, what is the correct order of operations for using Weaponmaster and readying up to two units?

When playing **Arise!**, the correct order of operations is as follows: ### 1. Playing the Spell You play **Arise!** as a spell. Once its costs are paid, it is placed on the chain as a pending item.

How does the buff in Rally the Troops work?

According to the RiftJudge FAQ (#600) and the card's mechanics, here is how the buff in **Rally the Troops** works:

Can Thrill of the Hunt with Brynhildr Thundersong counter Dazzling Aurora?

To answer your question: **No, *Thrill of the Hunt* (using *Brynhir Thundersong*) does not "counter" *Dazzling Aurora* in the game's rules sense**, but playing it in response can effectively prevent the opponent from using the unit played by *Dazzling Aurora*.

The opponent has units on both battlefields. They play a card with Flash, and in response, I want to play Rengar, Trophy Hunter onto the battlefield. Do we resolve the combat first, or do the units retreat and I receive a point for the capture?

To determine the outcome of this situation, we must follow the sequence of the Chain and the rules for combat and state changes.

Can I react to Holding Point Scoring?

No, you cannot react to holding a point for scoring. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2429** and **RiftJudge FAQ #5620**, scoring a point from holding a battlefield at the beginning of your turn happens automatically and does not trigger an ability, nor does it create a priority window. Because there is no trigger to respond to and no chain is opened,...

Can I cast a Hidden Back off into a different battlefield?

No, you cannot use a hidden **Back Off** to target a unit at a different battlefield. According to **Rule 811.1.d.2**: "If a hidden spell or a play effect of a hidden permanent chooses any targets, those targets must be chosen from among options at that battlefield, unless the ability explicitly restricts targeting in a way that makes this impossible."

Where is the ruling that hidden cards need to be revealed at the end of a game even if they weren't used?

According to **Rule 421.4** of the Core Rules, you must reveal all facedown cards at the end of a game:

If I move an enemy unit to an open battlefield with blast cone then do they conquer?

Yes, if an effect moves an enemy unit to an open battlefield and that unit remains there at the end of the showdown, your opponent will establish control of that battlefield and potentially conquer it.

Do spells in the same Showdown contribute to Tryndamere Overkill damage requirement?

No, spells in the same showdown do not contribute to Tryndamere's "excess damage" requirement. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5311** and **RiftJudge FAQ #10022**, Tryndamere's ability specifically counts only **combat damage** assigned during the combat damage step of the showdown. Spell damage dealt during the showdown does not factor into the calculation for the 5+ excess damage threshold.

If I deal 3 damage using Wages of Pain to a 5 might unit and start a showdown bringing in my 3 might unit to that battlefield, do both units die from combat?

To determine the outcome of this scenario, we must look at how damage, Might, and the combat sequence interact. ### The Short Answer **No, both units will not necessarily die.**

If you falling star Karthus and Black Rose Dignitary, does the Karthus player get to select who dies first to trigger Karthus double Deathknell effect?

Yes, you will get the extra *Deathknell* trigger, and no, you do not need to choose who "dies first" because they die simultaneously.

If my opponent uses Unyielding Spirit and they have an Elder Dragon at base, then they play Fury of Blades, will the dragon ability still work?

To answer your question: **No, the Elder Dragon’s ability will not kill your units in this scenario.** ### Ruling Because **Unyielding Spirit** prevents all spell and ability damage, the damage from **Flurry of Blades** is prevented. Since no damage is actually dealt, the Elder Dragon’s ability (which modifies the lethality threshold of *your* damage) never triggers or applies to your...

If I use Unyielding Spirit, then I use Fury of Blades, and I have an Elder Dragon in my base, and my opponent has two Ruined Rex in a battlefield, how would it resolve?

To resolve this interaction, we must follow the chain mechanics and the passive effect of *Elder Dragon*. Here is the step-by-step resolution:

Can I use Chosed Champ Teemo and hide it when I play?

Yes, you can hide your Chosen Champion Teemo. According to the rules and FAQs, you can perform the **Hide** action directly from your **Champion Zone**.

When Teemo Strategist is defending, does the ability proc first?

Yes, when **Teemo, Strategist** is defending, its ability triggers and resolves before any combat damage is calculated or applied. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2687**: "Teemo's ability resolves and deals damage before combat damage is calculated or applied, which can kill the attacking unit before it deals its combat damage."

If I play Cursed Sarcophagus and send all my units in the trash to be banished, and then play Zero Drive and pay 3 energy and 1 blue power to "play all units banished with this, ignoring their costs," do I play all units that were banished from the trash too from Cursed Sarcophagus or only the units that were banished with Zero Drive?

No, you will **not** play the units banished by *Cursed Sarcophagus* when you activate *The Zero Drive*. According to the cards' effects and established rules:

If you choose a unit with two spells, even if the spells are countered, can you trigger Ezreal's legend ability? Or would it not count because the spells do not take effect to choose?

Yes, you can still trigger your **Ezreal** legend ability in this scenario. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9631**, **RiftJudge FAQ #8979**, and **RiftJudge FAQ #9463**, the requirement for Ezreal’s legend ability is satisfied the moment you choose your targets and the spell is finalized on the chain, not when the spell successfully resolves.

Can I use The Syren to target my teammate's unit?

No, you cannot use **The Syren** to move your teammate's unit. According to **Rule 484.8.c.2** and **Rule 484.8.c**, while "friendly" in 2v2 (Magma Chamber) generally includes both you and your teammate, control is not shared. Specifically, you may not issue movement to your teammate's units.

Can I exhaust teammate's unit to pay additional cost for Meditation?

No, you cannot exhaust a teammate's unit to pay for the additional cost of **Meditation**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #7727**, a player can only spend buffs or perform cost-related interactions (like exhausting) on units they control, unless a card explicitly specifies otherwise. Since Meditation requires you to exhaust a "friendly unit," and "friendly" in Riftbound refers to units controlled by...

When you flip Pyke Dockside Butcher over from hidden, can you pay 1 red to have him ready and +2 this turn?

When you play a card from Hidden, you may choose to pay any optional additional costs specified on the card to receive their associated benefits. You do not pay the card's printed base Energy or Power costs.

Does Ezreal Prodigy discount Bellows Breath?

Yes, **Ezreal, Prodigy** can discount the cost of **Bellows Breath**, but specifically only the **Repeat** cost. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8415** and **Rule 356.4**, Ezreal, Prodigy's ability applies to **optional additional costs**, which are costs that must specifically use the text "as an additional cost" and the word "may" (or are inherent in keywords like **Repeat** and **Accelerate**).

My opponent plays a spell, I countered with Not So Fast, does my opponent keep the keyword legion activated or do they need to play another card?

Yes, your opponent keeps the **Legion** effect active for the rest of the turn, even though their spell was countered.

If Singularity is played on Hwei, and the opponent reacts with Tideturner to move Hwei around, can Hwei use his movement trigger still or does he die to Singularity first?

Whether Hwei survives or his movement trigger occurs depends on the exact sequence of the chain. According to the **Showdown Timing** and **Chain Rules**, when your opponent plays Singularity, they place it on the chain. Because it is a spell, it creates a **CLOSED** state, allowing you to react.

Can I conquer with Phoenix with Assault, then on conquer use Reksai Legend, can I then use Sacrifice on Phoenix as a reaction to Reksai Legend to kill Phoenix, draw cards from Sacrifice, and then reveal from Legend? Or do I lose Assault before I can do all that?

To clarify your scenario, let's break down the timing and the game mechanics involved: ### 1. Does the Assault bonus expire? **No, your Assault bonus remains for the duration of the combat.** According to **Rule 807.1.d.1**, Assault remains in effect as long as the unit maintains the Attacker designation. Even after the showdown transitions from the "Initial Chain" (where you...

If Kha'Zix, Evolving Hunter attacks Diana, Lunari and Tactical Retreat is on top of the deck, can Diana's player draw and play it before Kha'Zix's ability kills Diana?

Ruling: No. When the showdown begins, both Diana's "When a showdown begins here" trigger and Kha'Zix's "When I attack" trigger go on the chain. Diana's trigger is placed on the chain first (bottom), and Kha'Zix's trigger is placed second (top). Because chains resolve in Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) order, Kha'Zix's trigger resolves first, dealing damage and killing Diana before her trigger...

If Ruined Rex dies in the middle of a showdown, can I kill an 8 might unit with the trigger?

No, you cannot kill an 8 Might unit with Ruined Rex's **Deathknell** trigger. According to the card's data, Ruined Rex's **Deathknell** ability deals **4 damage** to an enemy unit. Since an 8 Might unit requires at least 8 damage to be killed, the 4 damage from the **Deathknell** trigger is insufficient to kill it.

If I play Switcheroo and the enemy Gusts my unit in reaction, does the enemy still get reduced Might?

To determine the outcome of this interaction, we must analyze how the chain resolves when a target of a spell becomes invalid before that spell executes.

When in combat showdown, if a unit with deathknell is killed, does the deathknell trigger and resolve before healing or after?

In a combat showdown, **Deathknell abilities resolve after the units are healed.** According to the official combat sequence (Rules 461.1, FAQ #9514, and FAQ #10157), the process is as follows:

If my opponent has Vex Apathetic at a battlefield and I play Bard Mercurial, can I move him into an open battlefield?

Yes, you can move Bard, Mercurial, but whether you can move him to an open battlefield depends on where you play him.

If you star crossed out of a showdown is it considered a combat?

No, playing *Star-Crossed* does not determine whether a situation is a "combat"—the existence of combat is determined by the units present at the battlefield, not by the spells played.

If I play the signature spell Death from below, and repeat it, does it stack to reduce the cost of battering ram?

No, playing *Death from Below* with the *Repeat* keyword does not count as playing two cards toward the cost reduction of *Battering Ram*.

If my opponent has a Vex, Apathetic at a battlefield and I attack into it with a unit and then play Vi, Peacekeeper with ambush, do I get to stun the Vex?

To determine if you can stun **Vex, Apathetic** with **Vi, Peacekeeper** in this scenario, we must analyze the order in which triggered abilities are placed on the chain and how they resolve.

If I am defending with Kayn, can I play two Ride the Winds (or 1 Flash and 1 Ride the Wind) to move elsewhere and back to proc the invulnerability? Or does the showdown immediately end and I lose control the moment Kayn leaves the battlefield?

You can perform that sequence, and the showdown will not end. You will maintain control of the battlefield, and Kayn will gain his invulnerability effect.

If I have 2 Karthus and I kill a Ruined Rex with sacrifice and get 3 triggers of the Rex 4 damage, do I have to choose all targets first then opponent can decide which one they "not so fast," or can I do them one by one and wait for each to resolve the damage before targeting the next one? Could I target a unit with GA so it first dies and GA goes off and then target it again to actually kill the unit, or do I target first 2 times and then it still dies? Or do all damage from the Deathknells resolve and then GA procs? The main question is if the targets for multiple Deathknells need to be chosen before opponent reacts to any specific one in the stack.

To address your question, we must look at how the chain, Deathknell triggers, and targeting work. ### The Short Answer No, you do not choose all targets upfront. Each **Deathknell** trigger is a separate item on the chain. You will place them on the chain, and then resolve them one by one. You choose the target for a specific **Deathknell**...

Can you Mirror Image a sprite token?

Yes, you can target a Sprite token with **Mirror Image**. According to **Rule 182.1.d**, a Sprite token is a unit. Since **Mirror Image** instructs you to "Choose a unit," a Sprite token is a valid target for the spell.

If Karthus and Watchful Sentry die at the same time, do you draw 2 cards?

Yes, you draw 2 cards. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10438**, *Karthus, Eternal*'s ability ("Your [Deathknell] effects trigger an additional time") is a **passive ability**, not a triggered ability. Because it is a passive, it remains active at the exact moment the *Deathknell* trigger for the *Watchful Sentry* is created, even though both units are being destroyed simultaneously.

I am attacking an uncontested battlefield. My opponent plays Rengar the new orange one. He has Master Yi leader from Proving Grounds. Is it now a surprise defender with the +2 from Yi?

Yes, *Rengar, Trophy Hunter* will be designated as a **Defender**, and he will receive the +2 might bonus from your *Wuju Bladesman, Starter* legend (assuming he is the only friendly unit at that battlefield).

Can you explain how hidden works. If I have a unit and a hidden card at a BF and during a showdown my unit dies, can I then flip my hidden card after it dies?

The **Hidden** keyword allows you to place a card facedown at a battlefield you control. Here is how it functions:

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