Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 108 of 145 · 7,246 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If a player plays Vanguard Armory and taps it, can I react to either of those?
Yes, you can react to the activation of **Vanguard Armory**, but you cannot react to the act of playing the Vanguard Armory card itself.
Does Mask of Foresight target Ireila to get +1?
No, **Mask of Foresight does not target Irelia, Fervent**. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 9418) and Core Rules regarding targeting (Rule 355.10):
Do buffs stay after Zhonya's on a unit that is buffed?
Yes, a unit retains all of its buffs when it is saved from death by Zhonya's Hourglass. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #4022**: "When Zhonya's Hourglass saves a unit from death, the unit keeps its buffs because the unit never actually dies."
If the opponent uses Ashe to view my hand, can I react on top with two spells which have react or only 1?
Yes, you can react with two or more spells that have the **Reaction** keyword in response to the triggered ability of **Ashe, Focused**.
How many times can Death from Below be played from the trash in 1 turn?
In a single turn, you can play **Death from Below** from your trash **as many times as you have the resources (Energy and Power) to pay for it**, provided each cast successfully resolves and its target meets the condition.
Is any card above 5 might considered mighty?
Yes, any unit with a current Might of 5 or greater is considered "Mighty." According to **Rule 708**: "A Unit 'is Mighty' as long as its Might is 5 or greater."
If an opponent plays Kha'zix Ambush to a battlefield where I am alone, and I react with Inferna Ambush so I have 2 units there, does Kha'zix have 4 or 6 might?
In this scenario, **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror will have 6 Might.** ### Reasoning
Can I react to Mind Splitter with Star-Crossed?
Yes, you can react to **Mindsplitter** with **Star-Crossed**, but there is an important distinction regarding *what* you are reacting to.
Does Janna heal the damage from the Elder Dragon, making Elder Dragon not kill them?
To answer your question: **No, healing your unit with Janna will not save it from the damage dealt by Elder Dragon’s play effect.**
If Vi Peacekeeper attacks a battlefield and in reaction the her "when I attack, stun an enemy unit here" the opponent plays Star-Crossed targeting Vi, does the stun still resolve?
No, the stun will not resolve. ### Explanation of the Sequence 1. **Attack:** You move **Vi, Peacekeeper** into an enemy battlefield, initiating a combat. Vi gains the "Attacker" designation. 2. **Trigger:** Vi's ability ("When I attack, [Stun] an enemy unit here") is placed on the chain. 3. **Reaction:** Your opponent plays **Star-Crossed** in response, targeting **Vi, Peacekeeper** and an enemy...
Can I use a hidden Back Off on another battlefield to stun something when I move in?
No, you cannot. According to **Rule 811.1.d.2**, if a hidden spell chooses any targets, those targets must be chosen from among options at the same battlefield where the card was hidden, unless the card explicitly contains a targeting restriction that makes this impossible.
Do Deathknells trigger when saved by Zhonya's Hourglass or other replacement effects?
No, Deathknell triggers do not activate if the unit is saved by Zhonya's Hourglass or another replacement effect. According to Rule 808.1.d.1: "If the Permanent with the effect is not sent to the Trash, for example because its 'killed' event was replaced with a recall, the Deathknell will not occur."
Unit at Forbidding Waste is 4. I attack with unit that is 4. Their unit is 2 due to -2. They Switcharoo. Are they still 2?
Yes, the opponent's unit will no longer have the 2 Might it had before the *Switcheroo* resolved; its Might will have changed.
Can I tap a Seal for "Sigil of the Storm"?
No, you cannot use a Seal to pay for the recycle cost required by the *Sigil of the Storm* battlefield.
Can you respond to Void Assault with Crescent Strike, and does Void Assault resolve entirely before a combat showdown starts?
Ruling: You cannot respond to Void Assault with Crescent Strike because Crescent Strike is an [Action] spell, and only [Reaction] cards can be played during a closed state (when a chain exists). Void Assault resolves entirely—moving both the friendly unit and then the enemy unit—before any combat showdown begins.
If an enemy unit with Eye of the Herald moves to defend against Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror, does Kha'Zix's ability trigger before or after the Recruit token is created?
Ruling: Kha'Zix's ability does not trigger because the Recruit token is created before combat begins. Eye of the Herald's "When I move" trigger resolves completely before combat designations are assigned, so by the time Kha'Zix checks whether an enemy unit is alone, the Recruit token already exists at the battlefield.
If a Ruined Rex dies in combat and its Deathknell kills the last remaining enemy unit, does that prevent scoring from that combat?
Ruling: Yes, the Deathknell can prevent scoring. Ruined Rex's Deathknell ability resolves during Combat Special Cleanup, which occurs before the Determine Combat Result step. If the Deathknell kills the last remaining enemy unit, leaving no units on either side, the combat ends with "No Result" and no player conquers or scores from that combat.
If a unit with Guardian Angel or Zhonya's Hourglass is killed by an effect that would banish it instead (like Smite), does the unit get banished or saved?
Ruling: The owner of the unit determines the order in which replacement effects apply. If they choose to apply the protective gear's effect first, the unit is saved and not banished.
If I attack with multiple units that have triggered abilities targeting the same unit with Deflect, do I have to pay the Deflect cost for each trigger?
Ruling: You must pay the Deflect cost separately for each triggered ability that targets the unit with Deflect. However, you are not required to pay for all triggers—you may decline to pay the cost for any triggered ability, and that ability will be removed from the chain without effect.
Can you react when equipment is being attached?
Ruling: Whether you can react depends on how the equipment is being attached. Sequence: - **Using the Equip activated ability:** Yes, you can react. Activating Equip places the ability on the chain, creating a closed state where players can respond with Reaction cards or abilities. If the target unit is removed before resolution, the equipment fails to attach. - **Playing...
If Soraka, Wanderer is destroyed simultaneously with other units at her battlefield (e.g., by Unchecked Power), can she still save those units?
Ruling: Yes. When multiple units die simultaneously, Soraka can save other units at her location that meet her conditions (friendly, at her location, less Might than her). Because the deaths are simultaneous, Soraka is still considered to be "here" at the battlefield when her replacement effect is applied to the other units' deaths.
When a card instructs you to channel runes without specifying a state, do they enter the board ready or exhausted?
Ruling: Runes channeled by a card effect enter the board ready unless the effect explicitly specifies otherwise. For example, when Jhin's Virtuoso legend ability instructs you to "channel 4 runes," those runes enter ready.
If I play Flurry of Blades and then pull Elder Dragon from Dazzling Aurora at end of turn, will all the units on the battlefield with damage die?
Ruling: Yes. Elder Dragon's passive ability ("Any amount of your damage is enough to kill enemy units") applies to damage already marked on units before it entered play. When Elder Dragon enters the battlefield via Dazzling Aurora, the 1 damage from Flurry of Blades immediately becomes lethal, and all enemy units with that damage die during the cleanup that occurs...
Can Emperor's Divide move units from different battlefields back to base?
Ruling: No. Emperor's Divide can only move units from a single battlefield. The card text specifies "any number of friendly units at a battlefield" (singular), meaning you must choose one battlefield and move units only from that location.
If my opponent plays Downwell and returns all units and gear (including Treasure Trove) to hand, can they react with their hidden unit using Treasure Trove's trigger to maintain battlefield control?
Ruling: Yes. When Downwell resolves and returns Treasure Trove to hand, Treasure Trove's "When this leaves the board" trigger is placed on the chain as a pending item. Because the chain is not empty, the game is not in an open state, so your opponent does not lose control of the battlefield during cleanup. When Treasure Trove's trigger finalizes and...
If I use Sett Legend to save the unit I targeted with Deathgrip to kill, do I still get to give the might bonus to another unit?
No, you do not get to give the Might bonus to another unit if you use Sett’s legend ability to save the unit targeted by **Deathgrip**.
According to the new rules on conditional triggers like Jinx Legend and Gutter Palace, in order to create the trigger it must fulfill all the conditions. Based on this fact, I want to know how Warwick Hunter trigger works, like: does it always create a trigger even if there is no damaged unit on the battlefield he is moving on?
Yes, Warwick’s "When I attack" ability will **always** go on the chain when he becomes an attacker, regardless of whether there are any damaged units on the battlefield at that moment.
If I am attempting to conquer a battlefield currently held by my opponent who has a 3 might and a 2 might unit on it, I move a 2 might unit to the battlefield then ambush in Vi Peacekeeper. Since Vi has 5 might, can she attack both units and stun them both?
No, **Vi, Peacekeeper** cannot attack both units, nor can she stun both of them. ### Why Vi cannot stun both units According to her card text and **RiftJudge FAQ #10205**, Vi's ability is a triggered ability that happens exactly once: * **Trigger Condition:** "When I attack, [Stun] an enemy unit here." * **Single Effect:** This ability triggers only when she...
I played a spell with my unit on Abandoned Hall. My opponent defies it and resolves. Does my unit still get the +1 from Abandoned Hall even if it was countered?
No, your unit does not receive the +1 Might from **Abandoned Hall**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10093** and **Rule 412.1.b**, a spell that is countered is not considered to have been played. Because the spell never finishes the resolution process, the "when you play a spell" trigger condition on **Abandoned Hall** is never met.
Can a Hidden Windsinger return a unit to hand on another battlefield?
No, you cannot. When you play a unit from "Hidden," the targeting choices for its play effect are restricted to the battlefield where the card was hidden (Rule 811.1.d.2).
Can I take any buffed unit to pay the additional cost for Call of Glory?
Yes, you can spend a buff from **any unit you control** to pay the additional cost for **Call to Glory**, regardless of where that unit is located (on a battlefield or in your base).
Is Battlefield to hand considered a move?
No, moving a permanent from a battlefield to your hand is **not** a move. According to **Rule 442.3**, only units are capable of performing a "Move" action, and by definition, a Move action specifically refers to relocating a permanent between locations on the board (e.g., from base to a battlefield or between two battlefields).
Does Friendship give +1 Might per unit with the listed tags, or +1 Might per unique tag present among your units?
Ruling: Friendship gives +1 Might for each unique tag (Bird, Cat, Dog, or Poro) present among your units, not for each individual unit with those tags. The maximum bonus is +4 Might if you control at least one unit with each of the four listed tags.
If I activate Sacrifice and target my Mighty unit with a buff, can I use my Sett the Boss legend ability to save my unit and also draw 2 and channel a rune from Sacrifice's effect?
Yes, you can do this. You will successfully save your unit and receive the full effect of *Sacrifice* (drawing 2 cards and channeling 1 rune).
Can I respond to the trigger of Frigid Jewel with Gust when my opponent goes to showdown with a 3 might unit and then draws a 2nd card?
Yes, you can respond to the *Frigid Jewel* trigger with *Gust*. ### The Sequence
Provide examples of when I can play the card "drag under" discounted.
To play *Drag Under* with its cost reduction, you must play it from a zone other than your hand, as specified by its card text. Per Rule 356.4 and Rule 356.4.c, discounts are applied during the "Determine Total Cost" step of the play sequence.
If my opponent has a unit at Rippers Pay, and hides their Pyke there, then use Pyke legend ability to return their unit to their hand, their hidden card goes to the trash correct?
Yes, that is correct. If your opponent recalls their only unit at a battlefield to their hand, they lose control of that battlefield, and any hidden card located there is sent to the trash.
If I cast Thrill of the Hunt on my only unit at a battlefield that I have control of on my opponent's turn, do I score a point?
To determine if you score a point in this scenario, we must look at the rules for **Control** and **Scoring** (Rules 185-187, 464-466).
I move my unit into a BF controlled by my opponent. Can I play Flurry of Feathers to put 4 birds on the BF I am attacking?
No, you cannot play the Bird tokens from *Flurry of Feathers* onto the battlefield you are attacking. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10013**, you cannot play units to a battlefield you do not control. When you are attacking a battlefield, it is under your opponent's control, and units must be played to your base or a battlefield you control.
Will Skyfall trigger Candlelit Sanctum on holding?
No, **Skyfall of Areion** will not cause **The Candlelit Sanctum** to trigger on a Hold action. ### Why this interaction does not work: 1. **Skyfall's Scope:** According to its card text and related FAQs (e.g., FAQ #288), **Skyfall of Areion** only modifies the triggered abilities of the **equipped unit**. It does not modify the abilities of the battlefield. 2. **Candlelit...
Do Scuttle Crab or all 0 might units have 1 health, because they need to be damaged to die? Like if I attack with a 5 might unit into the opponent's 5 might unit accompanied by Scuttle Crab, do I have enough damage to kill both? Or does Scuttle die because it's 0 might? Or is it a tie and the attacker returns and Scuttle Crab keeps the battlefield?
To address your questions regarding 0-Might units like **Scuttle Crab** and combat mechanics, here is the official ruling based on the *Riftbound* rules:
I cast a Hidden Wages of Pain and my opponent responds with a Hidden Tideturner, does Wages still resolve?
Yes, your **Wages of Pain** will still resolve. Here is the breakdown of the timing and chain resolution:
During a showdown if attacker pass his Focus and defender plays a reaction during his Focus, does the attacker get the Focus back once the reaction resolves?
Yes, the attacker regains Focus after the reaction resolves. According to FAQ #5067, when a reaction is played in a showdown and subsequently resolves, priority (and the associated permission to act) returns to the attacker. In a showdown, the state only closes and the showdown ends when both players pass priority in succession without playing any cards.
If my opponent moves both Hwei and Vex Apathetic to a battlefield together, can I react to the Hwei movement and flip my hidden Purple Teemo at a battlefield, so that he is not stunned because he is played before Vex is "at" the battlefield?
### The Ruling **No, you cannot prevent Teemo from being stunned in this scenario.** Even if you reveal and play Teemo as a reaction to your opponent moving Hwei and Vex to your battlefield, Vex’s ability will still stun him.
For Mutated Mouser and Switcheroo, can I activate Switcheroo from hidden before Shield activates on Mutated Mouser?
No, you cannot "activate" *Switcheroo* before *Shield* activates because **Shield is not a triggered ability**—it is a passive effect that applies continuously as long as the unit has the "Defender" designation during combat.
If I move Irelia Fervant to a battlefield and I have Mask of Foresight, will she gain 2 Might due to Mask & Unit ability?
No, Irelia, Fervent will not gain +2 Might in this scenario. She will only gain +1 Might from the **Mask of Foresight**, and she will not trigger her own ability.
Can you immediately cast Reaction without focus as defender in Showdown start while attacker has focus?
No, you cannot. According to **Rule 313.4**, "A player may not make discretionary actions with Focus unless they also possess Priority." Furthermore, as established in the **RiftJudge FAQ (id 9012)**, the attacker always gains focus first at the start of a showdown.
Can you play Rengar Ambush as a reaction to a different battlefield from a spell that targets your unit in a different battlefield?
Yes, you can play **Rengar, Trophy Hunter** as a reaction to a spell that targets your unit at a different battlefield, provided you meet the conditions of his ability.
If I have Lillia Fae Fawn at a battlefield with a trap card and next turn I move her back to base, would the trap card disappear or stay with the new sprite spawning from Lillia?
In *Riftbound*, there is no official card type or mechanic officially named a "trap." Assuming you are referring to a **hidden card** (a card placed facedown at a battlefield, as described in Rule 421.1), here is how your scenario resolves:
If my Sand Soldier with Sacred Shears gets returned to hand using Windsinger, do I draw from Sacred Shears?
No, you do not draw a card from **Sacred Shears** in this scenario. ### Reasoning