Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 116 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
When a unit moves to a battlefield that grants +1/+1, does Ahri's Legend ability trigger before or after the battlefield bonus is applied?
Ruling: The battlefield bonus applies first because it is a passive ability that activates immediately when a unit moves there and does not use the chain. Ahri's Legend ability then triggers afterward, reducing the unit's stats by -1/-1.
Can Blade Dancer Irelia's legend ability choose a unit to ready that is already ready, specifically to trigger Irelia, Fervent's +1 might bonus from being chosen?
Ruling: No. Blade Dancer Irelia's legend ability does not "choose" a unit - it only readies a unit. If Irelia, Fervent is already ready, the legend ability cannot target her and will not trigger her +1 might bonus from being chosen.
Can a unit with Weaponmaster attach an Equipment card that has no Equip cost?
Ruling: All Equipment cards in Riftbound currently have an Equip cost, so this situation does not occur in practice. If a card without an Equip cost were ever printed, Weaponmaster would be unable to attach it because the cost cannot be paid.
Does Hostile Takeover bypass Deflect by not choosing a target?
Ruling: Hostile Takeover does choose a target, so it does not bypass Deflect. You must pay Deflect costs to play Hostile Takeover on an enemy unit with Deflect.
Does Irelia Fervent's ability trigger when an enemy spell targets her?
Ruling: No, Irelia Fervent's ability does not trigger from enemy spells or effects. "You" refers to the controller of the card, so only effects controlled by Irelia's owner will trigger her ability.
When using Hard Bargain's repeat ability, does the opponent have to exhaust 4 runes total to play their spell, and does it counter spells like Flash if they don't have enough runes?
Ruling: Hard Bargain with repeat forces the opponent to pay 2 energy twice (4 total) or their spell is countered. The opponent can choose not to pay even if they have the energy available, which would result in their spell being countered.
Was there an update regarding Tideturner scoring when swapping units between battlefields (specifically when you control both battlefields, play Tideturner from hidden and use Gust to swap units, leaving only Tideturner at base A and another unit at base B)?
Ruling: No update has been provided regarding this Tideturner scoring interaction.
In 2v2 Riftbound, can players play normal/base speed spells during their teammate's turn?
Ruling: Yes, teammates can play untagged (base speed) spells during their teammate's turn, but not permanents or activated abilities. Sequence: - When both the turn player and their teammate want to play something at the same time, the turn player takes precedence - The turn player's action happens first - The teammate can play their spell afterwards once everything resolves...
During a showdown, if I return my only defending unit to base, does my hidden card at that battlefield go to trash? Also, can I play 'Ride the Wind' to move a unit from my base to that battlefield as a defender?
Ruling: The hidden card does not go to trash because you still control the battlefield while the showdown is contested. You can play 'Ride the Wind' to move a unit from your base to the contested battlefield as a defender.
If a unit is moved into an already ongoing showdown (after the attack has started), does its 'when I attack' trigger activate?
Ruling: Yes, 'when I attack' and 'when I defend' triggers will activate if units are added to an already existing showdown. These triggers function as 'when I am designated as an attacker/defender' which happens during cleanup whenever combat is present.
Does Svellsongur copy the effect text granted by attached equipment (like Forgefire Cape)?
Ruling: No, Svellsongur only copies text printed on the card itself, not text granted by attached equipment. Nuances: - According to a strict reading of the rules as written, this interaction would work since both effects apply on the same layer and equipment text acts as rules text - However, the designers have officially clarified that Svellsongur is intended to...
If an opponent plays Smoke Screen and I respond with Discipline (making it 5 vs 5 resources), can I still play Defy to counter the Smoke Screen after Discipline resolves?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Defy on Smoke Screen after Discipline resolves. After Discipline resolves, each player needs to pass priority again before Smoke Screen resolves, giving you the opportunity to play Defy.
Can sprite tokens be banished with Zero Drive and played again later?
Ruling: No, sprite tokens cannot be banished and played again later. Tokens cease to exist immediately when moved to any non-board zone, including the banish zone.
If my opponent uses Arcane Shift to banish their only unit at the Battlefield and plays it to Base during combat, does Draven Legend's ability trigger to draw a card for winning combat?
Ruling: Yes, you draw a card. Combat does not end immediately when one player has no units at the Battlefield. Draven Legend checks at the end of combat, and if the opponent's unit was moved to Base, you have won that combat.
If Ember Monk is on the battlefield and I play Consult the Past from hidden, but my opponent plays Defy on it, does Ember Monk still get +2 might?
Ruling: No, Ember Monk does not get +2 might. In Riftbound, a card is not considered "played" until it fully resolves. Since Defy counters Consult the Past before it resolves, it was never "played" and therefore does not trigger Ember Monk's ability.
Does a card that triggers when playing cards face-down activate when playing cards from deck (like Nocturne) or with Rek'Sai effects?
Ruling: No, cards in the deck are not considered "face-down." Face-down specifically refers to cards on the board with their back side presented. Cards played from deck (like Nocturne's banish effect) will not trigger effects that require playing cards face-down.
When using Switcheroo on two units with the same might (like two Mundos), do they stay the same size? And how does Switcheroo interact with buffs on units?
Ruling: Switcheroo adds or subtracts might equal to the difference between the two units' current might values at the time the spell resolves. If two units have the same might, the difference is 0, so both units gain 0 might and remain unchanged.
Can equipment be moved from a unit it's already attached to, or can you re-equip already attached equipment?
Ruling: You cannot activate equip abilities while the equipment is attached to a unit. All rules text in the upper box of an equipment card (including the equip ability) is turned off while it is attached.
Does equipping trigger a chain that can be reacted to?
Ruling: Yes, equipping is an activated ability that uses the chain and can be reacted to. Nuances: - All activated abilities use the chain, regardless of whether they target or not - Some activated abilities that use the chain cannot be reacted to (e.g. Malzahar's ability)
Does 'passing priority without adding any items to the chain' mean without adding items during that specific priority window, or does it mean passing consecutively without any items added since the last pass?
Ruling: When you pass priority, it always counts as passing without adding anything to the chain, regardless of whether you added items to the chain before deciding to pass. If both players pass consecutively without either adding anything during their respective passes, the chain resolves.
If a spell or ability targets an equipment that is attached to a unit with deflect, does the deflect need to be paid?
Ruling: No, you can target attached equipment normally. Equipment cards have their own properties, not those of the unit they are attached to (the Top Most Card).
If a sprite token is returned to hand by Gust while Viktor Leader is in play, does the sprite count as dying for Viktor Leader's effect?
Ruling: No, the sprite does not count as dying for Viktor Leader's effect. The sprite token is returned to hand and then ceases to exist, but this is not considered dying by a regular method.
How does the new 'banish' mechanic work with cards like Baited Hook, and what happens to banished cards - can they be recycled or are they removed for the rest of the game?
Ruling: When a card effect banishes cards (like Baited Hook's errata), those cards are temporarily placed in a banished zone. If the banished card can be played, it gets played normally. If it cannot be played (e.g., Cruel Patron without other friendly units to sacrifice), it stays banished for the rest of the game and cannot be recycled or returned...
Does Fiora, Grand Duelist's ability trigger at the start of the next turn after a -might effect (like Watcher) expires, making a unit mighty again?
Ruling: Yes, Fiora's ability triggers when the -might effect expires at the end of the opponent's turn, and she will be ready again at the start of your next turn.
Does Ravenbloom Student get +2 attack from spells that have been affected by Repeat?
Ruling: No, Ravenbloom Student does not get +2 from repeated spells. A repeated spell is still only one spell, just with additional text added to it.
Can a hidden Fight or Flight card target units at a different battlefield than where it was hidden, and does using it on your own readied unit exhaust that unit?
Ruling: When you hide a card, it gains the additional requirement that any targets must be at the battlefield where it was hidden. Using Fight or Flight on your own readied unit does not exhaust it.
Does Showstopper require targeting both the unit and the battlefield you want to move it to, or only the unit?
Ruling: Showstopper requires you to choose both the unit and the battlefield as targets. Nuances: - Both the unit being moved and the destination battlefield are selected during the targeting phase of the ability
Can you target your teammate's unit with Flash in a 2v2 game, and if so, where does it go?
Ruling: Yes, you can target your teammate's unit with Flash. When a unit is instructed to move "to base" without further specification, it moves to its controller's base, not the spell caster's base.
If Leona moves to a battlefield and stuns a unit, causing a legend buff that makes Fiora mighty, can Fiora then use her ganking ability to move to that battlefield?
Ruling: No, Fiora cannot use her ganking ability after Leona moves. All units moving to a battlefield must move simultaneously, and once Leona has completed her move, it is too late for Fiora to join even if she becomes mighty from the resulting trigger.
If Sett's leader ability saves a unit during combat cleanup, does the Sett leader ready from conquering that happens afterward?
Ruling: Yes, the Sett leader readies after conquering. Conquering happens after combat cleanup, which is when units dying to combat damage can be saved by Sett's leader ability.
Does a showdown end immediately if a unit is removed from the battlefield during the showdown?
Ruling: No, once a showdown begins it continues until both players pass consecutively instead of starting a chain. Removing the unit does not end the showdown early.
If a 4 might unit with assault +1 attacks a battlefield and the opponent responds with Void Seeker, does the unit die or survive?
Ruling: The unit survives because assault applies when a unit becomes an attacker, which happens before the opponent can play actions like Void Seeker.
Does Lux legend's ability trigger to draw a card when a spell (Falling Comet) is cast but has no legal targets when it tries to resolve?
Ruling: Yes, Lux draws a card. The spell was played and resolved (to no effect due to lack of legal targets), which triggers Lux's ability.
Does Karthus see itself when equipped with Sacred Shear, causing it to draw 2 cards instead of 1 when it dies?
Ruling: Yes, Karthus sees itself when it dies with Sacred Shear equipped, so it draws 2 cards total (the Sacred Shear deathknell triggers twice due to Karthus's passive).
Does Ezreal reduce the cost of paying Flame Chompers when discarded?
Ruling: No, Ezreal does not reduce the cost of Flame Chompers. Flame Chompers has an optional cost but not an optional additional cost, which is what Ezreal requires.
If I pass focus without using an action spell while moving into combat, and my opponent activates Hextech Ray, does it resolve first or does focus pass back to me so I can use an action spell like Cleave before resolution?
Ruling: Hextech Ray resolves first. You cannot play an action spell while there are items on the chain. After the chain resolves completely, you regain focus and can then play an action spell like Cleave to start a new chain.
If all units are removed from a battlefield during a showdown (e.g., both players use Void Seeker to kill each other's only unit), does the showdown continue?
Ruling: Yes, the showdown continues even if all units are removed from the battlefield. Players can continue playing actions and reactions until both players pass with focus on an empty chain.
Does Wielder of Water get +2 might if an opponent uses Fight or Flight to remove the other defending unit, leaving Wielder defending alone?
Ruling: Yes, Wielder of Water gets the +2 might because "while I defend alone" is a passive ability that continuously checks the game state, so it applies when Fight or Flight resolves and Wielder becomes the sole defender.
If Bellows Breath targets 3 units on a battlefield and 2 of them are returned to base by Flash, does the spell still hit 2 targets, or does it fizzle because the original group is no longer at the same location?
Ruling: When the original group of targets no longer collectively fulfills the targeting restriction (same location), the controller chooses a subset of the original targets that does fulfill the requirement. You can deal 1 damage each to either the 2 units now at base OR 1 damage to the remaining unit at the battlefield.
Can a hidden Fox-Fire be played when there are no valid targets on the battlefield to trigger Ravenbloom Student's ability?
Ruling: Yes, Fox-Fire can be played with zero targets because it specifies "up to" any number of units with combined might 4 or less, meaning zero is a valid choice. This allows you to trigger effects like Ravenbloom Student's ability that care about playing spells.
Are there official draft rules available for Riftbound, and if so, what are they?
Ruling: There are currently no official draft rules for Riftbound. Players should use the sealed format rules from the rulebook as a temporary solution until official draft rules are released.
How does Divine Judgment work? Who chooses what, in what order, and can players choose their opponent's permanents?
Ruling: When Divine Judgment resolves, players choose permanents in turn order (starting with the player whose turn it is), and each player can choose any units, gear, or runes regardless of who controls them. The second player can see and respond to the first player's choices. For cards in hand, players can only choose cards from their own hand.
Does Nocturne have an optional additional cost that would be reduced by Purple Ezreal's ability?
Ruling: Nocturne does not have an optional additional cost. The power cost to play Nocturne from banish is just the regular cost you pay to play the card, not an additional cost.
If both players declare no action during a Showdown, can the attacker then play a spell at reaction speed, or does combat proceed directly to damage distribution?
Ruling: If both players pass on actions/reactions during a Showdown, combat proceeds directly to the damage step. You cannot play a spell at reaction speed after both players have passed.
When Swap is cast on Dr. Mundo and another unit, does it create temporary power modifiers that persist for the turn, or does it only look at base might? Specifically, if Mundo has 16 power from his passive and swaps with a 2 power unit, does he stay at 2 power for the turn or immediately return to 16?
Ruling: Swap creates +/- power modifiers in the arithmetic layer that persist for the turn. When Mundo swaps power with a weaker unit, he receives a negative modifier that lasts the entire turn, preventing his passive from immediately restoring his previous power level.
When can I react during my opponent's turn, and can a player play a card from hidden (like Consult the Past) and immediately reveal it to use its effect on the same turn?
Ruling: You cannot play a hidden card on the same turn that you hide it. When playing cards from hidden on a later turn, they function exactly like playing from hand - spells and abilities go on the chain and grant reaction windows, but permanents (units/gear) resolve immediately without a reaction window.
Do I need to physically mark/track Might modifiers on enemy units when they receive bonuses (like +1 or +4 from Sett)?
Ruling: Tokens and buffs must be physically materialized on the board, but modifiers do not need to be marked. However, you must answer honestly about a unit's current Might if asked.
How does Heimerdinger's ability to copy exhaust abilities work, particularly with Lux's exhaust ability?
Ruling: Heimerdinger can use all exhaust abilities from other sources by exhausting himself. The original units/legends/gear do not get exhausted - only Heimerdinger exhausts to activate their abilities.
If I kill my own Forge of the Future, can I choose which specific cards from my opponent's trash to recycle (up to 4 total)?
Ruling: Yes, you target 0-4 cards in any combination from any trashes (yours and/or your opponent's), and those specific cards are recycled.
When attacking with both Warwick and Anivia, do all enemies die before combat, and does the order of attack triggers matter?
Ruling: The order of attack triggers matters. To kill all enemies before combat, you must put Warwick's trigger on chain 1 and Anivia's trigger on chain 2.