Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 115 of 145 · 7,246 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If I Wages of Pain enemy on BF and go in to attack, he flashes to go back to base, does that unit heal from combat cleanup?
Yes, the unit will still heal during the Combat Cleanup, even though it was moved back to base before combat damage could be dealt.
Does Skyfall of Areion apply to other equipment items on a unit? In this example I have Skyfall and Trinity Force attached to Lucain that just conquered so do I get two points?
Yes, you do. According to the official Riftbound FAQs regarding the interaction between **Skyfall of Areion** and **Trinity Force**:
If I Star-Crossed a Leona Determined, does the stun still go off on my unit?
To determine if the stun still occurs, we must look at how Leona's ability interacts with the chain and the status of the game board.
Do you have to pay extra cost on Guards! before playing Sand Soldier to have it ready?
To determine if you must pay an extra cost on **Guards!** to have the Sand Soldier enter play ready, it is important to clarify that you do **not** have to pay the [C] (Calm power) cost to "have the Sand Soldier ready" upon playing the card. The Sand Soldier enters play as a standard unit, and the option to pay...
Does a unit gain the Might Assault bonus on an empty battlefield?
No, a unit does not gain the might bonus from **Assault** when moving to an empty battlefield. According to **Rule 807.1.c**, **Assault** is functionally short for "While I am an attacker, I have +X Might." **Rule 807.1.d** clarifies that a unit only gains the "Attacker" designation during **Combat**.
When an opponent targets my Jae Medarda with a spell, do I draw a card?
Ruling: No. In Riftbound, "you" in card text refers to the controller of the card. Jae Medarda's ability "When you choose me with a spell, draw 1" only triggers when you (the controller of Jae Medarda) target her with a spell you control. When an opponent targets Jae Medarda, the ability does not trigger because the opponent is not "you"...
If I move Kato the Arm to a battlefield and then play an Ambush unit to that battlefield, can I give the Ambush unit the additional Might and keywords from Kato the Arm's move ability?
Ruling: No. You cannot target the Ambush unit with Kato the Arm's triggered ability because targets must be chosen when the ability is placed on the chain, before you have the opportunity to play the Ambush unit as a reaction.
If my opponent plays Star-Crossed and I respond by playing Sacrifice targeting my own unit with Deathknell, what is the resolution order?
Ruling: The Deathknell ability resolves first, then Sacrifice, then Star-Crossed. Because killing a friendly unit is a cost for Sacrifice (paid during finalization, not resolution), the Deathknell trigger is created and added to the chain as a pending item before Sacrifice becomes finalized.
Does "not so fast" counter both Deathknell triggers of Ruined Rex with Karthus on the field?
No, **"Not So Fast"** (assuming you are referring to a card effect that counters a triggered ability) will not counter both *Deathknell* triggers.
I play against Yi. I go in with Diana on a BF with one Yi. I use Moonfall to bring Akshan. Does the Yi have +2 Might from defending alone at the beginning of Showdown?
To answer your question: **Yes**, at the very beginning of the showdown, Master Yi's defending unit will have the +2 Might bonus, but it will lose that bonus as soon as Akshan enters the battlefield.
Does Teemo Strategist work on all attacking units while he is defending?
No, **Teemo, Strategist** does not work on all attacking units. According to his card text and the RiftJudge FAQ, when Teemo defends, you **choose only one** enemy unit at his battlefield to target with his ability. The damage is then dealt specifically to that single chosen unit based on the number of cards with [Hidden] you reveal.
Can I reveal a hidden Evelyn at a battlefield after my opponent plays Ruination and keep control of the battlefield?
Whether you can keep control of the battlefield depends on the state of the battlefield at the moment *The Ruination* resolves.
Can Brynhildr be reacted to when I play it?
No, you cannot react to Brynhir Thundersong herself being played, but you can react to her "When you play me" triggered ability.
Can you use an action spell after somebody uses an action spell, when your unit is the only unit on the battlefield?
No, you cannot. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8963**, you cannot play an **Action** spell in response to an opponent's **Action** spell during a showdown.
I have a Kha'Zix on one battlefield, in the other one the opponent has Ferrous Runner, another unit, and a hidden. I played Void Assault to go in with Kha'Zix and move Ferrous Runner to base. So I get the +2 or no?
To determine if **Kha’Zix, Mutating Horror** receives the +2 Might bonus, we must look at the battlefield state at the exact moment Kha'Zix gains the "Attacker" designation.
Does my Star Crossed resolve or not if I play it and my opponent plays Thrill of the Hunt on that unit?
To determine whether your *Star-Crossed* resolves, we must look at the rules regarding targeting and zone changes. ### The Ruling Yes, your *Star-Crossed* will still resolve, but its effect on the unit targeted by *Thrill of the Hunt* will fail.
Is there any way to react to a Glasc Mixologist getting killed by sacrifice?
Yes, you can react to a *Glasc Mixologist* being killed by a sacrifice effect. According to **Rule 428.1.a.1.b**, when a unit with a *Deathknell* ability is killed due to a kill instruction (such as a sacrifice effect), its *Deathknell* is added to the chain as a pending item before the unit is moved to the trash.
If the target of Discipline isn't in play anymore upon resolution, does the player playing it still get the draw 1? And does it work the same for Stupify and Void Seaker?
Yes, the player who played **Discipline** still draws 1 card, even if the targeted unit is no longer in play when *Discipline* resolves.
Can my opponent use Sacrifice on Glasc Mixologist and can I react with Star Cross to cancel Sacrifice?
No, you cannot use *Star-Crossed* to cancel your opponent's *Sacrifice*. ### The Ruling In *Riftbound*, "canceling" a spell or ability is not a standard mechanic. The only way to stop a spell or ability from resolving is to **Counter** it, and *Star-Crossed* does not have an effect that counters spells.
Can I play Grim Apothecary, trigger effect on itself, react with Rengar Legend effect on another unit and take back to hand the Apothecary?
Yes, you can do this. As the controller of both the **Grim Apothecary** "When you play me" trigger and the **Pridestalker** (Rengar Legend) trigger (both triggered by the same event: playing a unit), you choose the order in which they are placed on the chain. To achieve your goal, you should order them so that the Grim Apothecary trigger is...
I just guessed a target opponent plays a reaction to get it over 3 might, I have a Ravenbloom Student, does she get +1?
Yes, your Ravenbloom Student will get +1 Might in this scenario. According to Rule 359.3.e.10, if all targets for a spell become invalid (such as the target's Might increasing above the allowed limit while the spell is on the stack), the spell has no effect but is still considered "played." Because the spell is still considered "played," "When you play...
When I play Akshan and steal a tapped gear, does it stay tapped or untapped?
When you use Akshan's ability to steal a piece of gear, the gear's status (tapped/exhausted or untapped/ready) does not change.
Smoke Screen on a Rift Herald then Gust on the same reaction chain, does the Gust resolve before the Smoke Screen and make the Rift Herald not mighty? If not, can you react with sacrifice to kill the Rift Herald before Gust resolves?
To determine the resolution of this chain, we must follow the **Last-In, First-Out (LIFO)** rule for chain resolution. ### The Chain Sequence 1. **Smoke Screen** is played targeting your **Rift Herald**. It is added to the chain. 2. **Gust** is played as a reaction, also targeting **Rift Herald**. It is added to the top of the chain.
Can I chain Zhonyas to my Lonely Poro Deathnell out of Showdown if they use Singularity on Lonely Poro?
Yes, you can react to the *Lonely Poro* *Deathknell* trigger with *Zhonya's Hourglass*, but there is a crucial timing distinction to understand regarding how *Zhonya's* works.
Do I need another friendly unit to play Beast Below?
No, you do not need another friendly unit to play **Beast Below**. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (#466, #9370, #9889):
When Vex Apathetic is at the battlefield and Elder Drake is played, does he still do damage?
Yes, **Elder Dragon** still deals damage and its passive ability will still function, even if it is stunned by **Vex, Apathetic**.
Does The List work for Ezreal's legend ability when exhausting it?
No, **The List** does not count toward **Ezreal’s** legend ability. ### The Ruling Ezreal’s legend ability requires that you have chosen enemy units and/or gear twice this turn with **spells or unit abilities**.
If my opponent plays Elder Dragon and targets my unit on the bf with its effect but I flash my unit back to base, does my unit still die?
Your unit will **live**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9919** and the **Rules FAQ Clarification (2026-04-29)**, *Elder Dragon's* "When you play me" ability has specific targeting restrictions based on location. It targets "up to one enemy unit at [a specific location]."
If I'm attacking a battlefield with Ezreal, and my opponent has a Yuumi, who's attacking/defending trigger resolves first?
In a combat showdown, the order in which triggered abilities resolve is determined by the **Last-In, First-Out (LIFO)** principle as applied to the chain. Because the defender adds their triggers to the chain after the attacker, the defender’s trigger will resolve first, and the attacker’s trigger will resolve last.
Does removing a unit in reaction chain prevent its when I'm played ability from activating?
No, removing a unit in response to its "When I'm played" ability does **not** prevent that ability from activating or resolving.
If Irresistible Faefolk moves to an empty battlefield and chooses to move an enemy unit in, and the enemy wants to cast Gust, is the Gust castable before or after the enemy unit is moved in?
When you move **Irresistible Faefolk** to an unoccupied battlefield, the sequence proceeds as follows: 1. **Trigger:** The "When I move to a battlefield..." triggered ability of Irresistible Faefolk is placed on the chain. 2. **Priority Window:** A priority window opens while this ability is on the chain. Your opponent may cast **Gust** at this time as a reaction, provided the...
Can you use a unit with ganking at a battlefield after a showdown?
Yes, a unit with **Ganking** can move to another battlefield after participating in a showdown, provided the unit is ready (unexhausted).
Do I have to use Leblanc Deceiver's ability when I conquer or hold, or anytime as long as the condition was met?
You do **not** have to use LeBlanc's "Deceiver" ability. According to the card text, the ability is optional: "...**you may** discard 1 and exhaust me..."
Who draws the card?
The opponent is the one who draws the card. According to the text provided ("If you do, they discard that card and draw 1"), the pronoun "they" refers to the opponent who was chosen and had their hand revealed. Therefore, the opponent performs the discard and the subsequent draw action.
If Pyke dies and an enemy unit dies at the same time, does Pyke still grant 1 gold?
No, Pyke will not grant the gold token in that scenario. Because Pyke's ability ("Once each turn, when an enemy unit dies while I'm at a battlefield...") requires him to be at a battlefield to trigger, he must be present on the board to "see" the death of the enemy unit. If Pyke dies at the same time as the...
Redbrambleback conquer a battlefield. He is equipped with Skyfall of Areion and Trinity Force. How many points does his controller get?
You score a total of **3 points** when conquering with **Red Brambleback** equipped with **Skyfall of Areion** and **Trinity Force**.
After conquering The Candlelit Sanctum, can I do the Candlelit's conquer effect, and then decide whether or not I want to use Rek'sai Void Burrower's conquer effect? Or do I have to declare that I'm using both effects?
No, you cannot resolve The Candlelit Sanctum's conquer effect and then decide whether or not to use Rek'Sai, Void Burrower's conquer effect. You must commit to all triggered abilities at the start of the sequence.
If I play Cull the Weak against a Rengar player, can he play Thrill of the Hunt on the target he chose for Cull the Weak to save it?
To answer your question: **Yes, the player can use *Thrill of the Hunt* to "save" their unit from *Cull the Weak*, but it likely won't save that specific unit from dying.**
With Killing Forge of the Future, should the target itself, since "kill" is a cost, before you start selecting targets, Forge should be already in the trash. Is this correct?
No, that is incorrect. You cannot target **Forge of the Future** with its own recycle ability. According to the rules of *Riftbound* and confirmed by **RiftJudge FAQ #10944**, you must select all targets for an activated ability at the moment you finalize the ability on the chain.
Opponent begins a showdown at a non-controlled battlefield, I send in my Rengar Trophy Hunter and win combat. Do I gain a point? Do I conquer even though I was not the active player?
Yes, you will gain a conquest point for winning that showdown, and you do successfully "Conquer" the battlefield, even though you were not the active player who started the showdown.
Does Karthur Eternal trigger the Deathknell effects of other units again when he dies in the same damage instance?
Yes, if **Karthus, Eternal** dies at the same time as another unit with a **Deathknell** ability (such as during a board wipe or a single instance of combat damage), that unit's **Deathknell** effect will still trigger an additional time.
Can I sacrifice my Reflection Token in the beginning phase?
To determine if you can use **Sacrifice** on a **Reflection token** during the Beginning Phase, please note that you cannot sacrifice a Reflection token, though you may otherwise be able to play the spell during the Beginning Phase if the target were valid.
Can you Gust a Pyke Dockside Butcher after the opponent plays it from hidden and pays the additional red rune cost?
Yes, you can *Gust* *Pyke, Dockside Butcher* after your opponent plays it from hidden and pays its additional cost. Here is the breakdown of the sequence and why this works:
Does Ahri Legend work on teammates battlefield in 2v2?
No, Ahri Legend's ability (Nine-Tailed Fox) does not trigger on your teammate's battlefield in a 2v2 game. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 9756):
I have a unit on a battlefield on my beginning phase. My battlefield triggers some effect when I hold, can I use Thrill of the Hunt and play the unit on the other empty battlefield and get both points from holding?
To answer your question, we must look at how holding and scoring work in the Beginning Phase. ### The Ruling **No, you cannot get two points from holding in this scenario.**
Can a unit defending be targeted by Existential? If so, if that unit is already stunned, could you send it back to the opponent's hand?
To answer your question, we must look at the targeting requirements for **Existential Dread**. ### Can a defending unit be targeted? **No.** According to the card text of *Existential Dread*, it specifically targets an **"attacking enemy unit."**
Can Bone Skewer choose a unit from the opponent champion zone?
No, **Bone Skewer** cannot choose a unit from your opponent's Champion Zone. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9526**, while the Champion Zone functions as an extension of your hand, it is a distinct zone and does not count as being in your hand. Because **Bone Skewer** specifically instructs you to "choose a unit from [the opponent's] hand," a unit in the...
Do I need to recycle a purple rune to equip Last Rites on play?
Yes, you must recycle a purple (Chaos) rune—or any other rune—to pay for the cost, but **specifically, you must recycle a Chaos rune (or use Universal Power) to pay the [C] (Chaos Power) requirement** within the *Last Rites* equip cost.
If I return a token unit from Rippers Bay to hand, can I still pay 1 to channel a rune?
Yes, you can pay [1] to channel 1 rune exhausted when a token unit is returned to your hand from **Ripper's Bay**.
Can Challenge be played during the chain of Star Crossed?
No, you cannot play **Challenge** in response to **Star-Crossed**. ### Reasoning: * **Challenge** is an **[Action]** card (as confirmed by its card data). * According to **Rule 309.1.a** and **Rule 331.1.a**, cards of all categories (by default) cannot be played during a Closed State (when a chain exists). **[Action]** cards can only be played in an Open State (when no...