Riftbound Rules Questions (Page 107)

If you play a card from hidden, does it count toward legion?

Yes, playing a card from **Hidden** counts toward **Legion**. According to **Rule 811.1.c.3**, playing a card from Hidden opens a chain. Once that card is "Finalized" on the chain (targets chosen and costs paid), it satisfies the requirement for any **Legion** abilities you may have active for the remainder of the turn (as described in **Rule 812.1.c** and confirmed by...

If I hold with 2 of the same units with a hold effect do I get the effect twice?

Yes, you get the effect twice. According to **Rule 383.4.d.2.a**, when you hold a battlefield, the hold abilities of each individual unit present at that location are triggered independently and placed on the chain as separate pending items. Because each of your two units possesses its own instance of the hold effect, each one will trigger separately when you hold...

where in the CR does it reference you needing to have control of a battlefield or the battlefield triggers that reference "you" dont work?

According to **Rule 187.6.c** in the Core Rules (2026-03-30), the reference for this mechanic is: > "187.6.c. “You” in a battlefield’s abilities refers to the battlefield’s Controller, as does the implied “you” in instructions like “draw 1.” If the battlefield has no Controller, “you” refers to no one, and all such instructions are ignored."

Can you play 2 reaction spells on your opponent's turn in reaction to something?

Yes, you can play two (or more) reaction spells on your opponent's turn in reaction to something. According to the **Riftbound FAQ #10041**, you can chain multiple reaction spells together before passing priority back to your opponent. Because you retain priority after playing a reaction spell, you are not forced to pass immediately, allowing you to add more reactions to...

can you play a hidden card at a battlefield in reaction to your unit moving from that battlefield to base?

Yes, you can react to a card or ability that moves your unit from a battlefield to your base, provided that the move is caused by an effect (spell or ability) and not by a "Standard Move."

Can you react with Gust to the "move a friendly unit" portion of Relentless Pursuit before the equipment is attached to the unit?

No, you cannot react to the "move a friendly unit" portion of *Relentless Pursuit* to prevent or interrupt the attachment of an equipment.

If Vex stuns Teemo Strategist, does Teemo Strategist still do ability damage?

Yes, **Teemo, Strategist** will still deal its ability damage even if it is stunned. According to **Rule 423.1.b**, being stunned only prevents a unit from contributing its might to combat damage during the Combat Damage Step. It does not disable triggered abilities, and it does not prevent a unit from dealing damage via a triggered ability.

If someone plays Lucian, does the Weapon Master effect happen first before Gust?

To address your question, it is important to clarify a few points: First, **Lucian, Gunslinger** does not have the *Weaponmaster* keyword, so he does not have a "Weaponmaster effect" that triggers when he is played.

if i conquer a brush battlefield and change it back to sunken temple, can i still pay 1 energy to draw 1 for sunken temple if my unit is mighty?

No, you cannot. According to the rules regarding conquering and scoring, you may only score each battlefield **once per turn** (Rule 465). Because "conquering" is a method of scoring a battlefield (Rule 464.1), you have already used your ability to score that location for the turn by conquering the Brush battlefield.

If I have red reksai in play and then I play rumble from champion zone. Do I have to pay an accelarate cost for that rumble to enter ready via red reksai ability?

Yes, you must pay the Accelerate cost if you want **Rumble** to enter the battlefield ready. According to the rules for **Rek'Sai, Breacher**, she grants the **[Accelerate]** keyword to friendly units played from anywhere other than your hand. Because you are playing **Rumble** from your Champion Zone (which is not your hand), he gains the **[Accelerate]** keyword.

does the move trigger resolve first before "when i attack or defend" trigger?

Yes, "When I move" triggers resolve completely before a showdown (combat) begins, and therefore before any "When I attack" or "When I defend" triggers are placed on the chain.

Does Bellows Breath repeated deal 6 bonus damage if Rabadon's is equipped?

No, *Bellows Breath* will not deal 6 bonus damage, nor will it deal a total of 6 damage per target.

Explain the wording that makes Cull the Weak is not choosing on activation but Beast Below is.

The difference lies in **how the instructions are phrased** and **whether they are categorized as targeting**. In *Riftbound*, a spell or ability must "target" any object it selects if that selection is made when the card is played (finalized on the chain). If the selection is made during resolution, it is not considered a target.

Does playing Rocket Barrage with Repeat trigger Lux, Lady of Luminosity's legend ability to draw a card?

Ruling: No. Lux's legend ability checks the printed cost of a resolved spell, not any additional or modified costs. Rocket Barrage has a printed energy cost of 4, which does not meet the threshold of 5 or more energy required to trigger Lux's ability, even when the Repeat cost is paid.

If Darius Trifarian is played to the board from deck from Rek'Sai's legend ability after 2+ cards have already played, does he ready and get +2 from his effect?

No, Darius, Trifarian will **not** ready or gain +2 Might in this scenario. According to the rules and FAQs regarding Darius, Trifarian:

What is the result of reacting with Star Cross to Akshan ability?

When you react with **Star-Crossed** to an ability played by **Akshan**, the result depends on whether the unit (Akshan) remains on the board when his ability resolves.

If Watcher reduces the might of something to 1 (but the unit is only -1 from being at 2 originally) then the unit gets +2 from Wuju Bladesman, does the unit go up to 3 or stay at 1 because Watcher's full -3 is now in effect?

To answer your question, we must look at how *Thousand-Tailed Watcher*'s ability interacts with subsequent might buffs. According to the official rules and FAQs for *Thousand-Tailed Watcher* (such as FAQ #8931), the effect does **not** create a static lock at 1 might. Instead, when the ability resolves, it snapshots the actual amount of might it reduced the unit by as...

A unit pushes in by itself to forbidden for 5, then wins combat, after showdown sacrifice is played, however forbidden says you have -2 when defending. After showdown is it considered defending?

No, the unit is no longer considered defending. According to **Rule 459.2.b.4** and **FAQ #2171**, a unit is only considered a "defender" when it possesses the **Defender designation** during an active combat. Per the **Showdown Flow** guidelines, once a combat showdown concludes, all designations (including "attacker" and "defender") are removed from units.

Can I use the Blade Dancer ready when chosen ability to ready Irelia in the middle of a showdown assuming I've chosen her with En Garde for example?

Yes, you can use the **Blade Dancer** legend ability to ready **Irelia, Fervent** in the middle of a showdown after playing **En Garde** on her.

Can Lucian Gunslinger deal damage before Shield apply?

To determine if **Lucian, Gunslinger** can deal damage before a defending unit's **Shield** applies, we must look at the timing of combat and how **Shield** functions.

If I Charm an opponent's unit into my controlled battlefield may I use Vi Peacekeeper's ambush to stun the Charmed unit?

Yes, you can use **Vi, Peacekeeper**'s **Ambush** ability to stun the unit you just moved with **Charm**, provided you meet the requirements for **Ambush**.

Is focus and priority the same thing?

No, Focus and Priority are not the same thing. While they are related, they serve different functions during a showdown.

Would the amateur recital Battlefield be able to move a Baron Nashor at the Baron Pit Battlefield back to base?

No, Amateur Recital cannot move Baron Nashor to its base. According to the rules and the retrieved **RiftJudge FAQ #8771**, Amateur Recital's ability requires you to select a specific unit to move, which counts as "choosing" that unit. Because **Baron Nashor** has the ability "I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities," he is an illegal target for Amateur...

When attacking with Showstopper, can another unit come with the spell target?

No, another unit cannot join the attack alongside the unit targeted by **Showstopper**. According to RiftJudge FAQ #4987: > "Ruling: When you move a unit with a spell like Showstopper or Leona's spell, you cannot move other units alongside it - the unit must attack alone."

I have a Kaisa Survivor at base and have the Pridestalker legend. If I play a Kinkou Initiate from hand, can I trigger Pridestalker's ability to give my Kaisa +1 might and then resolve Kinkou Initiate to draw a card now that my Kaisa is 5 might?

Yes, you can sequence these effects to draw a card with *Kinkou Initiate*. When you play *Kinkou Initiate*, both its "When you play me" triggered ability and your *Pridestalker* (Rengar) legend ability trigger simultaneously because they share the same trigger condition ("When you play a unit").

If you hide a Back Off at one battlefield, can you reveal it to stun a unit at another battlefield?

No, you cannot. 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."

What happens if my Baited Hook target gets Star-Crossed?

If you activate **Baited Hook** and your opponent responds by playing **Star-Crossed** to return your targeted unit to your hand, your **Baited Hook** will resolve, but you will not be able to play a unit from your deck.

How does Thousand Tailed Watcher's effect interact with units being buffed by a Brush?

Thousand-Tailed Watcher’s ability creates a "snapshot" effect that reduces the Might of all enemy units currently in play by 3 (to a minimum of 1).

Can you use a reaction to an equipment being played or equipped?

Whether you can use a reaction depends on how the Equipment is entering play or being attached. ### 1. Attaching via an "Equip" Ability **Yes, you can react.** According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9560** and **Rule 818.1**, **Equip** is an activated ability. Activating it places the ability on the chain, which creates a **Closed State** and allows players to respond with...

If I attacked with multiple units and successfully conquer but one gets stunned with back off, does the stunned unit get recalled to base?

To answer your question: **No, the stunned unit is not recalled to your base.** According to the rules of combat and the established flow of the Resolution Step, the recall of attackers is conditional upon the presence of defenders.

Does a Reflection token also copy buffs on a unit, or any Might changes prior to copying?

No, a **Reflection** token does not inherit buffs, gear, or any "appended or granted" modifications (such as might counters) from the unit it copies.

Does "when move" trigger and resolve before any showdown happened?

Yes, "When I move" triggers resolve completely before a showdown (combat) begins. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10571** and **Rule 441.3**, the sequence is as follows:

Opponent has a 5 might unit alone at a Forbidding Waste. I enter with a unit; cast Arcane Shift targeting my unit (replaying it to base) and my opponent's unit. Does his unit die?

To answer your question: **Yes, the opponent's unit dies.** ### 1. Targeting and Playing *Arcane Shift* * **Targeting:** *Arcane Shift* requires targeting both a friendly unit and an enemy unit at a battlefield to be played (see RiftJudge FAQ #378, #10139). * **Legality:** Your unit and your opponent's unit are both at the battlefield. Because *Arcane Shift* is an **[Action]**...

When Baron Nashor dies, what happens with the Baron Pit?

When Baron Nashor dies, the Baron Pit battlefield token does **not** disappear and remains on the board. According to RiftJudge FAQ #9867, the Baron Pit exists as an independent game object once created. There is no rule that causes a battlefield token created by a unit's "When you play me" ability to leave the game when that unit dies or...

What makes Hidden Tideturner ignore hidden restrictions?

Tideturner is able to ignore the standard targeting restrictions for cards played from **Hidden** because its ability possesses a specific targeting requirement that cannot be fulfilled by units at its battlefield.

Does Frozen Fortress work with Imperial Decree?

Yes, *Frozen Fortress* works with *Imperial Decree*. If *Imperial Decree* is active, the 1 damage dealt by *Frozen Fortress* during the Beginning Phase will trigger *Imperial Decree*, causing those units to be killed.

Does Weaponmaster only work when my unit is played, not after two turns?

Yes, **Weaponmaster** only works when you play the unit. It does not stay in effect to allow you to equip gear at a discount after the unit is already on the board.

Can I activate Unlicensed Armory any time during my turn or do I have to assign it before I start a combat?

You cannot activate **Unlicensed Armory** at any time during your turn. According to **Rule 145.2** (Core Rules 2026-03-30), the activated abilities of units (and gear, per RiftJudge FAQ 8278) can only be executed during your Main Phase when the game state is **Open** (i.e., the chain is empty).

Would Frozen Fortress kill a 1 might unit that controls it at the start of the turn?

Yes, Frozen Fortress will kill a 1-Might unit at that battlefield. According to the ability text, "At the start of each player's Beginning Phase, deal 1 to each unit here." When that 1 damage is dealt to a unit with 1 Might, the unit has damage marked on it equal to its Might, which results in it being killed during...

If I'm attacking two tanks at a battlefield, does the tank with the highest might become the first target, or can the attacker choose between the two?

If you are attacking two units with the **Tank** keyword at the same battlefield, the attacker can choose between them when assigning combat damage.

If Ruined Rex attacks into a Shen and dies because of Hidden Blade, does the Deathknell trigger kill Shen or does he still have 5 might when Deathknell resolves?

To resolve this interaction, we must look at the combat sequence, the timing of **Deathknell**, and the mechanics of **Shield**.

Does a unit have assault if it's conquering an open Battlefield?

No, a unit does not have the **Assault** bonus when it moves into and conquers an open (unoccupied) battlefield. According to **Rule 807.1.c** and **Rule 807.1.d**, **Assault** is functionally short for "+X Might while I am an attacker," and a unit only gains the "Attacker" designation during **Combat**.

Does Ivern lose his tag when he is being put in the graveyard?

Yes, when **Ivern, Friend to All** moves to the trash (your graveyard), he loses the additional tag he gained. According to **Rule 110**: "Whenever a Game Object changes zones to or from a Non-Board Zone, all Temporary Modifications of all kinds cease to be tracked on it in all capacities."

If I use Atakan eff to reduce his cost sacrificing my only unit on battlefield, can I play Atakan on that battlefield or do I lose the control before it?

Yes, you can play Atakhan to the same battlefield. According to **Rule 187.4.c** (as updated in the *Unleashed* rules), you do not lose control of a battlefield while there are items on the chain.

If a 2 cost spell gets Hard bargained and you pay it, do you reckon that counts towards Jhin's legend ability?

No, paying the cost for *Hard Bargain* does not count toward Jhin, Meticulous Killer's legend ability. There are two primary reasons why this interaction does not trigger Jhin’s ability:

Does reacting with Discipline to Gust fizzles Gust if a unit is now 5 might?

No, *Gust* does not "fizzle." In Riftbound, spells do not fizzle in the traditional sense. When a spell resolves, it resolves as much as possible, even if its targets have become illegal.

Why does Turn to Dust turn attached gear, but Spinning Axe doesn't die when attached? Aren't they the same effect?

It is understandable why this is confusing, as both cards involve the **[Temporary]** keyword. However, they function differently because of how the keyword is applied and the specific rules regarding when an attached card's text is active or inactive.

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