Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 117 of 145 · 7,246 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does Star Cross on Brynhir Thundersong prevent the Bryn effect?
No, playing *Star-Crossed* to return *Brynhir Thundersong* to your hand does not prevent her "When you play me" triggered ability from resolving.
If I want to put LeBlanc Leyend on chain, do I need to discard to put it on chain if I have no hand?
Yes, you must discard 1 card from your hand to put the ability of **LeBlanc, Deceiver** on the chain. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10377**, **FAQ #10237**, and **FAQ #8686**, the discard requirement in LeBlanc's ability is a **cost**. In *Riftbound*, a cost must be paid in full to activate an ability or place a triggered ability on the chain.
If I have a Candlelit Sanctum and I am at 7 points for the eight point, I draw for the point, but could I order the Sanctum and then draw?
No, you cannot order the **Candlelit Sanctum** trigger to resolve before drawing the card for your 8th point. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8212** and **RiftJudge FAQ #1422**, the scoring process (or the draw that occurs at 8 points instead of gaining a point) must be completed before any "on-conquer" triggers are placed on the chain.
When I play Gust and it gets countered, does it still count as a card played for Darius Trifarian effect to ready him?
No, playing *Gust* and having it countered does **not** count as a card played, and therefore it will not trigger *Darius, Trifarian*'s ability.
Does Loyal Pub work on empty battlefields? So can I trigger his when you defend when opponent moves to an open bf?
No, Loyal Pup's ability does not trigger when an opponent moves to an empty battlefield. According to **Rule 446.1** and **RiftJudge FAQ #8664**, when a unit moves to an empty (unoccupied) battlefield, it creates a non-combat **Showdown**, not **Combat**.
If I defy a spell, does Raven Bloom Student still get +1?
No, Ravenbloom Student will not gain +1 might if the spell you played is countered by **Defy**. According to Riftbound rules and official FAQs:
What happens if you target the same unit with Bloodharbor Ripper's activated ability and Star-Crossed?
Ruling: You can target the same friendly unit with both effects. Star-Crossed resolves first (LIFO), returning both the friendly unit and an enemy unit to hand. Bloodharbor Ripper's ability then resolves, but because its target is now illegal, the return instruction fails. However, you still play an exhausted Gold gear token because that instruction can be followed independently.
If I use Heedless Resurrection and kill Kog'Maw as the additional cost, does the resurrected unit take damage from Kog'Maw's Deathknell?
Ruling: No. The resurrected unit will not take damage from Kog'Maw's Deathknell because the Deathknell resolves before the unit is resurrected.
Do I choose who to kill for Cull the Weak?
Yes, you do. According to the official rulings and FAQ for **Cull the Weak**, you are responsible for choosing which of your own units to kill when the spell resolves.
Can you equip 2 of the same equipment card to the same unit?
Yes, you can equip multiple copies of the same equipment card to the same unit. There is no rule in *Riftbound* that restricts the number of equipment cards (gear) that can be attached to a single unit at the same time. As long as you have the resources to pay the Equip cost for each piece of gear and the...
If I play Vi and stun an opponent unit, and they use Gust, does the stun not go through?
To provide an accurate answer, we must distinguish between whether your opponent is using **Gust** on **Vi, Peacekeeper** or on the **unit she is targeting**.
If I defend alone with Fiora Fearless with Yi Legend, what might does she have?
When defending alone with *Fiora, Peerless* while your *Wuju Bladesman, Starter* legend is active, *Fiora* will have **10 Might**. The calculation follows the game's layering and ability types:
If Vex Apathetic is at a battlefield, and opponent reveals Tideturner, are they able to switch places with another unit or is the effect cancelled out from Vex?
Whether or not the **Tideturner** successfully swaps depends entirely on who is the **Turn Player** (the player whose turn it is currently).
If Akshan dies with an originally enemy-owned Equipment on him, what happens to the Equipment?
When Akshan leaves the board while an enemy-owned piece of equipment is attached to him, the equipment becomes unequipped and control reverts to its original owner.
When I use LeBlanc's legend ability, do I have to play the token where I conquered/hold, or where I copied the unit?
When you use LeBlanc's "Deceiver" ability, you must play the Reflection token **at the battlefield you conquered or held**. According to the card text: > "When you conquer or hold, you may discard 1 and exhaust me to **play a ready Reflection unit token there**."
When you reveal Guards! does it go to the battlefield or base?
When you play **Guards!** by revealing it from its hidden position, the **Sand Soldier** token it creates must be played at the same battlefield where the **Guards!** card was hidden. You cannot play it to your base.
If a unit dies with an equipment, and that equipment goes back to base, could I have reattach my equipment to another unit?
Yes, you can reattach that equipment to another unit on the same turn. According to **RiftJudge FAQ 9657**: > "Yes, you can equip that equipment to another unit on the same turn after the original unit dies. When the unit dies, the equipment detaches and returns to your base in a ready state, allowing you to pay its equip cost...
If I gust an Irresistible Faefolk with its trigger on the chain, does my unit still get moved?
Yes, your opponent's unit will still be moved to the battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10923**, when **Irresistible Faefolk**’s ability ("When I move to a battlefield...") is placed on the chain, it locks in the reference to the battlefield where it arrived. If the Irresistible Faefolk is returned to its owner's hand by **Gust** before the trigger resolves, the ability...
Can I use Emperors Divide to defend myself from Unchecked Power?
Yes, you can use **Emperor's Divide** to protect your units from **Unchecked Power**. ### Why this works 1. **Unchecked Power** is a spell. When played, it creates a chain (Rule 342.1). 2. While the chain is open/resolving, **Emperor's Divide** can be played as a reaction (if it was previously hidden) or as an action (if the game state permits, such...
I baited hook a Glasc Mixologist. Baited Hook finds and plays a Karthus. Will the Karthus that was just played through Baited Hook trigger the Glasc Mixologist Deathknell to trigger an additional time?
No, the *Karthus, Eternal* played via *Baited Hook* will not cause the *Glasc Mixologist*'s *Deathknell* to trigger an additional time.
If I attach Svellsongur to Ultrasoft poro, does it then generate 4 birds when I exhaust it?
No, attaching Svellsongur to an Ultrasoft Poro does not generate four Bird tokens when you exhaust the Poro. According to RiftJudge FAQ #6561, Svellsongur does not double the values or output of activated abilities. Instead, it grants the unit two independent instances of the activated ability.
Does Charm moving a unit to a battlefield where there is an enemy unit trigger Surprise Defender for the unit that is moved?
No, moving an enemy unit with **Charm** does not make it a "surprise defender." Here is the breakdown of why this interaction functions differently than a "surprise defense":
Can I play a spell on the opponent's turn?
Yes, you can play a spell on your opponent's turn, but only under specific circumstances defined by the rules. You cannot simply play an **Action** spell at any time during their turn; it must be a **Reaction** spell or a specific game situation that grants you permission.
Can I use Shakedown if my opponent doesn't have any units?
No, you cannot play **Shakedown** if your opponent does not control any units. According to the card's text, **Shakedown** has a targeting requirement: "Choose an enemy unit." Because the spell requires a target to be chosen when it is played, your opponent must control at least one unit for you to legally play the card.
Is the effect "in combat..." synonymous with "during a showdown..."? As in, do they mean the same thing?
No, "in combat" and "during a showdown" are not synonymous. They represent different game states with different requirements. According to the **Riftbound Rules (2026-03-30)** and **RiftJudge FAQ #7557**, here is the distinction:
Can I choose a unit in my hand to kill it with Heedless Resurrection or must the unit chosen be on my board?
To clarify how **Heedless Resurrection** works, let's look at the requirements for the two different actions it performs: 1. **Killing a unit (The Cost):** You must kill a **friendly unit**. According to the rules, "unit" refers to objects on the **board** unless specified otherwise (Rule 355.9.a.1). Therefore, you must choose a unit currently on your board to kill to pay...
Is the keyword "Repeat" considered a temporary spell on top of the initial spell played? For example, does Ravenbloom student get +2 when I play the Repeat effect of a spell?
No, the keyword **Repeat** does not create a "temporary spell," nor does it count as playing multiple spells. According to **Rule 820.3.a**: *"Regardless of the number of times a spell's instructions are executed with this keyword, the spell is only Played once."*
If Allay is on a bf with a Vex with deflect 1, to target the Vex is it one or two deflect pay cost?
To target a unit of **Vex, Cheerless** while an **Allay, Eager Admirer** is at the same battlefield, you must pay **2 Power** as a mandatory additional cost.
On my turn, if I'm attempting to conquer a battlefield, and the enemy plays "Rengar, Trophy Hunter", if I use Flash to move my unit back to base, does the enemy score a point?
Yes, the opponent can score a point in this scenario, provided they have not already scored that specific battlefield during the current turn.
On my turn you gain XP and then I want to play Wily Newtfish. Does his +1 might and ganking stay or is it for 1 turn?
Wily Newtfish's bonus—both the +1 Might and the Ganking keyword—will not stay between turns. The ability reads: "If you've gained XP this turn, I have +1 Might and Ganking."
I have a battlefield I have one unit on and a hiding card and my opponent moves to my battlefield he wants to play Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror from hand but I activate my hiding card (Pyke, Dockside Butcher) on the ability on ambush on reactive speed does Kha'Zix effect still go on?
Yes, **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror** will still receive its bonus. According to the rules for triggered abilities and established RiftJudge FAQs (e.g., #10198, #10748), the condition for Kha'Zix's ability ("if an enemy unit is alone here") is evaluated at the exact moment the unit gains the "Attacker" or "Defender" combat designation.
Can Lillia Fae Fawn move from a battlefield where she is the only unit and maintain control of the battlefield with the Sprite she creates from moving?
Yes, Lillia, Fae Fawn can move from a battlefield where she is the only unit and maintain control of it.
I activate Bellows Breathe to target 3 units in base and repeat it to target 1 unit at Battlefield A. Can my opponent use Repulse to counter the Bellows Breathe, or will it only counter 1 of the repeats?
Your opponent **cannot use Repulse to counter your repeated Bellows Breath.** ### Reasoning According to the established RiftJudge FAQ #9655 and #10127:
Leblanc legend wins a combat with a 3 might unit that has assault 2. They trigger the legend to create a reflection token. It will be a 3 might unit as it copies base might, but does it have assault temporarily while the chain finishes resolving?
No, the **Reflection** token will not have **Assault** (or the +2 Might bonus) while the chain is resolving. According to the rules regarding copy effects and the provided FAQs, here is the breakdown:
Can I use Challenge and a Unyielding Spirit to both kill an enemy unit and keep mine?
No, you cannot use **Unyielding Spirit** to prevent damage from **Challenge**. According to multiple RiftJudge FAQs (e.g., FAQ #1124, #8394, #2890), **Unyielding Spirit** only prevents spell or ability damage. **Challenge** does not deal damage itself; rather, it instructs two units to deal their Might as damage to each other. Because this damage is dealt by the units—not by the spell—it...
Quick rules question about LeBlanc, Deceiver and Ambush: After I put her initial trigger on the chain (paying the discard cost), can I respond to it by playing an Ambush unit like Chakram Dancer? And if that Ambush unit resolves first, can I then choose that newly played Chakram Dancer as the target for the Reflection token's reflexive copy trigger?
Yes, you can absolutely do this. Because **LeBlanc, Deceiver**'s "When you conquer or hold" ability is a triggered ability that uses the chain, it creates a **Closed State** when placed on the chain. This allows you to play your **Chakram Dancer** as a [Reaction] using its **Ambush** keyword.
If I use Crescent Strike on a unit and my opponent flashes out, does the damage follow?
No, the damage does not "follow" the unit if it moves to a different location. When you play **Crescent Strike**, you choose a battlefield and one specific enemy unit at that location as the primary target.
I have a Scuttle Crab on a battlefield and my opponent has Nidalee. He wins a combat so he gets to draw one. My Deathknell says I can look at opponent's cards. Do I see the card he draws?
No, you do not see the card Nidalee draws. According to the RiftJudge FAQ #10347 and the specific timing rules governing the Combat Cleanup phase, **Scuttle Crab's *Deathknell* ability resolves completely before the combat win is even acknowledged, which triggers Nidalee’s draw ability.**
If I hold a battlefield and then combat happens and we kill each other, then if I go to that battlefield does that trigger Conquer?
No, moving back to that battlefield will not trigger "When I conquer" abilities, nor will it count as a conquest action.
Can I move with one unit with ganking from another bf to the one I am attacking and at the same time with one unit from the base?
Yes, you can. According to **RiftJudge FAQ 8465** and **Rule 144.3**, you can perform a Standard Move with multiple units simultaneously, and the origins of those units do not need to be the same.
Can you defy a repeated Bellows Breath?
Yes, you can counter **Bellows Breath** with **Defy**, even if the **Repeat** cost has been paid. According to the official Riftbound FAQ (ID 8488):
When I have Elder Dragon and I play a unit with 3 might to a battlefield, can I split the 3 might of my unit to kill 3 different units on that battlefield?
Yes, you can. Because you control **Elder Dragon**, its ability ("Any amount of your damage is enough to kill enemy units") modifies the definition of "lethal damage" for any damage you deal. Normally, you must assign lethal damage (damage equal to or exceeding a unit's Might) to a unit before moving to the next one (Rule 460.2.c.3). With Elder Dragon...
Does Kha'zix Voidreaver gain XP if there are no enemy units at a battlefield when conquering?
No, **Voidreaver** (the Kha'Zix Legend) does not gain XP if there are no enemy units present when you conquer a battlefield.
Does Allay, Eager Admirer Ability give units with deflect more deflect?
Yes, the **Deflect** keyword from **Allay, Eager Admirer** stacks with existing **Deflect** on your other units. According to **Rule 809.2**: "If a Unit has Deflect, or has been granted Deflect, and is granted Deflect by an additional source, the Deflect Value of all granted Deflect keywords is summed."
If I have an Inferna attacking a battlefield with a Vex Apathetic that has already taken 3 damage and an Evelyn, does my Inferna kill both units?
No, your Inferna does not kill both units. To determine the outcome of this combat, we must look at the rules for **Combat Damage** (Rule 460) and the stats of your units:
If I recycle a mech using Rumble Trigger and it's at Vilemaws - can I play the new unit at Vilemaws?
Yes, you can play the Mech from your trash onto Vilemaw's (the battlefield you just conquered) using **Rumble, Hotheaded**'s trigger.
Can you play Deathgrip then save the unit with Tactical Retreat?
Yes, you can play **Deathgrip** and save the targeted unit with **Tactical Retreat**. ### Why this works: 1. **Playing the Spells:** You play **Deathgrip** (choosing a friendly unit to kill and another to receive the Might bonus) and place it on the chain. You then play **Tactical Retreat** in response, targeting the unit you chose for **Deathgrip**. 2. **Resolution (LIFO):**...
Does amateur Recital must pay deflect cost if I target an enemy unit with deflect?
Yes, you must pay the Deflect cost if you choose to target an enemy unit with Deflect using the ability of **Amateur Recital**.
If I ride the wind to an uncontested Battlefield where my opponent just entered, my unit is stunned but higher might, what happens?
To use *Ride the Wind* on a stunned unit moved to an opponent's battlefield: ### 1. Timing and Sequence * **The Move:** When you play *Ride the Wind*, you choose a friendly unit, move it to the battlefield, and ready it. * **Showdown Transition:** Because your opponent has already entered this battlefield, your arrival causes the battlefield to become contested.
If I attack an open battlefield with an assault unit, then my opponent's ambush unit, does my unit become assault?
Yes, your unit gains the **Assault** bonus. Here is the breakdown of why this happens based on the rules: