Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 120 of 145 · 7,241 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Can you gust on a move trigger?
Yes, you can use **Gust** in response to a move-related triggered ability. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6968**, while you cannot react directly to the action of a unit moving, you *can* react to a triggered ability that occurs as a result of that movement (such as "When I move to a battlefield...").
Will Ezreal Prodigy make the additional cost of Pyke Dockside Butcher free?
Yes, **Ezreal, Prodigy** will reduce the additional cost of playing **Pyke, Dockside Butcher** to zero. According to the text of **Ezreal, Prodigy**, "Optional additional costs you pay cost [1] or [A] less." **Pyke, Dockside Butcher** features an optional additional cost to play him: "You may pay [C] as an additional cost to play me."
Does Thousand-Tail Watcher -3 might effect still go off if its star-crossed in response to the trigger?
Yes, the Thousand-Tailed Watcher's -3 Might effect will still resolve even if you use **Star-Crossed** in response to the trigger.
When I trigger Baited Hook, does my opponent have a window to use Star Crossed on the unit I chose to cancel Baited Hook?
Yes, your opponent has a window to use **Star-Crossed** in response to your activation of **Baited Hook**. ### The Sequence 1. **Activation:** You activate **Baited Hook** during your Main Phase by paying its cost and declaring a friendly unit as your target. **Baited Hook** is placed on the chain. 2. **State Change:** The game state changes from **Open** to **Closed**...
Do banished cards still trigger their Deathknell?
No, banished cards do not trigger their **Deathknell** ability. According to **Rule 808.1.d**, the trigger condition for **Deathknell** specifically requires the permanent to be **Killed** and sent to the **Trash**.
Is there a window where you can react before « assault » or « shield » resolve?
No, there is no window to react to **Assault** or **Shield** because they do not use the chain. According to **Rule 807.1** and **Rule 814.1**, Assault and Shield are **Passive Ability keywords**. Passive abilities function continuously and do not use the chain (as they do not create triggered abilities that enter the chain, nor are they cards or activated abilities).
I have a unit at a Star spring and my opponent attacks the battlefield and plays Hidden Blade targeting that unit. In response, I play an ambush unit and trigger Star spring to pull my unit back to base. Does the Hidden Blade still let me draw 2 cards even though there is no valid target anymore?
No, you will not draw 2 cards. According to several RiftJudge FAQs (such as FAQ #3182, #5879, and #6993) regarding *Hidden Blade*, the spell's ability to draw cards is dependent on identifying "its controller." This identification requires the target to be a legal unit at a battlefield at the moment *Hidden Blade* resolves.
If I move my Fiora Fearless into an empty battlefield and then my opponent plays Rengar Trophy Hunter, does my Fiora effect trigger to get double might?
Yes, **Fiora, Peerless**'s ability will still trigger and her Might will be doubled. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #1231** and **#11203**, *Fiora, Peerless*'s "When I attack or defend" ability is a triggered ability that checks the "one-on-one" condition **only at the exact moment she is designated as the attacker or defender.**
Can you Starcross Rift Herald as it's moving to a battlefield to negate its move ability?
To answer your question, we must look at how movement and triggered abilities interact with the chain. ### The Short Answer **No, you cannot use *Star-Crossed* to negate the *Rift Herald's* move itself**, but you can react to the triggered ability that occurs *after* it arrives at the battlefield.
If opponent uses hidden blade on my unit, and I respond with reaction star cross on my unit and another opponent unit, do I draw 2 anyway?
To answer your question directly: **No, you do not draw 2 cards.** When your opponent plays *Hidden Blade*, it targets your unit at a battlefield. When you respond with *Star-Crossed*, the chain resolves in reverse (Last-In, First-Out). Because *Star-Crossed* removes your unit from the battlefield (returning it to hand) before *Hidden Blade* attempts to resolve, your unit is no longer...
I have a Sprite at bf.. Opponent plays in Noxus Hopeful and Vi Peacekeeper.. I react to Vi by playing Janna Savior. Will the Sprite be stunned when Janna chooses to move Vi back to base? Or no stun since Janna healed or also no since Vi was in base at end of resolution?
To determine if the Sprite is stunned, we must look at the timing and the "here" constraint of Vi, Peacekeeper's triggered ability.
How is damage assigned when multiple units are in a Showdown?
In a showdown, damage is not assigned unit-to-unit. Instead, each player sums the total **Might** of all their living units at the battlefield and independently decides how to distribute that total damage among their opponent's units.
When I play Riptide Rex, if it doesn't kill the unit, does the damage heal before I move another one of my units?
No, the unit will not heal before you move another unit to the battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6441**, units are only healed at the end of a combat showdown (after combat damage is dealt) or at the end of the turn. Dealing damage with Riptide Rex's "When you play me" triggered ability outside of combat does not initiate a...
Can I play Star Crossed if I have no units?
No, you cannot play **Star-Crossed** if you have no units on the board. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10769**, **#10927**, and **#9865**, **Star-Crossed** requires both a friendly unit and an enemy unit to be present on the board as valid targets to be played. Because the spell lacks "up to" language, both are mandatory targets. You must control a friendly unit...
Who gets focus and priority if Bone Skewer is used and it moves the opponent's card to a battlefield?
To determine who gains focus and priority when **Bone Skewer** initiates a showdown, we must look at how the game handles the transition into a Showdown state.
If I use Rumble Hotheaded's ability to recycle a mech unit at a battlefield, would I be able to play the unit from trash to the same battlefield that now has no units?
Yes, you can do this. According to RiftJudge FAQ #9975 and #11123, when you conquer a battlefield with **Rumble, Hotheaded**, the ability is a triggered ability that goes on the chain. Because you are in the process of resolving a chain item, you maintain control of the battlefield even if you recycle the last unit there.
If I play a token unit can I apply Legion if I didn't play anything else?
No, you cannot apply the **Legion** effect if you have not played any other card that turn. According to **Rule 812.1.c**, for a **Legion** ability to become active, a card *different* from the one with the Legion ability must have been finalized on the same turn. Since **Legion** requires another card to be played first to satisfy the condition, playing...
I have a unit on the battlefield with a hidden Zhonyas. My opponent sends his unit with more might and wins combat. I react with Zhonyas. When my unit dies, can I react with Rengar on the chain of the Zhonyas stack to put him on the same battlefield as the dead unit?
No, you cannot. According to the rules regarding the timing of combat and replacement effects:
I have a question with Soraka and Atakhan, can Soraka save units optionally killed for Atakhan AND Atakhan still receive the discounted cost?
Yes, you can save the unit killed for the additional cost of playing **Atakhan** using **Soraka, Wanderer**, and you will still successfully pay the cost to receive the cost reduction.
If Soraka is in your base, other units in base are killed, are they safely healed and exhausted, even though there would be no change in location for the "Recall"?
Yes, Soraka, Wanderer will successfully save those units. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #1171**, Soraka’s ability functions at your base just as it does at a battlefield. When she is at your base, units at your base are considered "here" and are valid targets for her replacement effect.
If I kill a Baited Hook target on reaction, does it still fire with the target's might?
No, the ability will not function as you intended. If the targeted unit is removed (killed, bounced, or otherwise leaves the board) in response to your activation of **Baited Hook**, it cannot be "killed" by the ability's instruction.
If neither player controls "The Arena's Greatest" on the battlefield, does the effect activate or no?
Yes, the effect will still activate. According to **Rule 187.6.b**, when a battlefield is uncontrolled, its abilities are also uncontrolled. The turn player takes responsibility for adding the ability to the chain and is treated as its controller for the purpose of the effect.
Do I need to have a unit to play Star Crossed?
Yes, you must control a friendly unit on the board to be able to play **Star-Crossed**. According to RiftJudge FAQ #10187 and #9452, **Star-Crossed** creates a mandatory targeting relationship with both a friendly unit and an enemy unit. Because the spell lacks "up to" language, both targets must be present and valid at the time the spell is announced and...
Does not "to fast" counter the entire damage of elder dragon to all units when it's played?
Yes, **Not So Fast** counters the entire "When you play me" triggered ability of Elder Dragon, effectively protecting all units that were targeted by that ability.
If there is multiple instances of the Deathknell of Ruined Rex, do I have to choose the target before resolution or when the Deathknell are put in the chain?
Based on the official rules and **RiftJudge FAQ #10553**, here is the breakdown of how your scenario works: ### The Short Answer You do **not** choose all targets upfront. Each instance of a **Deathknell** trigger is a separate item on the chain. You choose the target for a specific **Deathknell** trigger **at the moment that specific trigger is finalized and...
If I ambush Rengar against an attacker and become a defender, if I win combat with Rengar, do I gain a point?
Yes, you can gain a point in this scenario, provided you have not already scored that specific battlefield earlier in the same turn.
Can Kato the Arm give himself his own buff? Since it does not say other friendly unit?
No, Kato the Arm cannot target himself with his triggered ability. His card text states: "When I move to a battlefield, give **another** friendly unit my keywords and +[M] equal to my Might this turn."
Does Vi have to deal 3 damage or more or has to deal 3 extra damage?
Based on your question, it seems there might be a mix-up between a few different cards featuring Vi. 1. **Vi, Destructive** (the Unit card) has the ability: *"Recycle 1 from your trash: Give me +1 might this turn."* It does not deal damage itself, nor does it have an requirement regarding dealing 3 damage. 2. **Piltover Enforcer** (a Legend card...
Can you react to "when I move"?
Yes, you can react to a "When I move" triggered ability. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ #5749** provided in the context, "When I move" is a triggered ability that is placed on the chain, which creates a window of opportunity for an opponent to play a **Reaction** spell or effect.
Can I gust a traveling merchant to cancel the "discard draw" effect?
No, you cannot cancel the "discard 1, draw 1" effect by using *Gust* on *Traveling Merchant*. According to the official **RiftJudge FAQ** (specifically FAQ #1997, #4090, and #6425), once the *Traveling Merchant* moves, its ability is triggered and added to the chain. Even if you use *Gust* to return the *Merchant* to its owner's hand in response, the ability is...
Can Rek'Sai Void Burrower use Hall of Legends to ready and then exhaust to use its Conquer ability?
No, you cannot use *Hall of Legends* to ready *Void Burrower* so that it can then be exhausted to trigger its own "When you conquer" ability within the same sequence.
A 3 might unit is moving from base to Trifarian Warcamp. Can opponent play Gust at reaction speed?
No, your opponent cannot play *Gust* in response to the move itself. According to **Rule 441.3.c**, "Moving does not use the Chain, nor is it able to be Reacted to." Because the act of a unit moving from base to a battlefield does not trigger any abilities and does not use the chain, there is no window of priority for...
I cast Stupefy on a unit, then opponent responds with Thrill of the Hunt on it. He plays then the unit on another Battlefield. Does my Stupefy still resolve after this and the unit take the minus one might?
To answer your question: **No, your *Stupefy* will not reduce the unit's Might.** While your *Stupefy* will still resolve and allow you to draw a card, it will fail to apply the -1 Might effect to the unit. Here is the sequence of events based on the Riftbound rules:
When does Assault apply?
According to Rule 807.1, **Assault** is a passive ability that functions as: *"While I am an attacker, I have +X [M]."*
Does Alpha Strike target units? If so, it can be countered by Not So Fast or needs to pay Deflect. Also, does damage assignment happen as you play or during finalization?
Yes, *Alpha Strike* targets units. According to **Rule 355.14.a**, if a card specifies that an amount of damage may be split among some number of units, each unit chosen is **targeted**. Because *Alpha Strike* instructs you to "split" damage among enemy units, every enemy unit you select to receive that damage is a target of the spell.
Does Alpha Strike's damage assignment happen before or after finalization?
Alpha Strike’s damage assignment happens **after** finalization. According to the **Showdown Flow** and the **Core Rules** regarding the FEPR process:
Is the Hunt a keyword that is a trigger?
Yes, **Hunt** is a keyword that functions as a triggered ability. According to **Rule 823.1**, Hunt is explicitly defined as a "Triggered Ability keyword."
Does Stand United give +1 to other units or just buff one unit and that's it?
**Stand United** does both. When you play Stand United, it performs two distinct actions:
If I have a Raven Bloom Student and I play a spell and my opponent defys' the spell, will the Raven Bloom Student get +1 might?
No, your **Ravenbloom Student** will not gain +1 Might if your spell is countered by **Defy**. According to Riftbound rules and official FAQs:
If you have Vex Apathetic at a Battlefield, can your opponent play a Tide Turner to swap the locations of their units, or does it come in stunned unable to move?
Whether or not the **Tideturner** successfully swaps depends entirely on who is the **Turn Player** (the player whose turn it is currently).
Does Opponent move Sneaky Deck hand to start showdown with no other units present, and the other player responds with Cannon Barrage—does it go off?
No, your *Cannon Barrage* will not deal damage to the *Sneaky Deckhand*. Here is the breakdown of how this interaction works based on the rules for showdowns and the chain:
I reveal a hidden Windsinger to bounce a unit at another battlefield back to hand?
No, you cannot. According to **Rule 811.1.d.2** and **RiftJudge FAQ #10647**, when you play a card from a **Hidden** state, any targets chosen by its "When you play me" triggered ability must be at the same battlefield where that card was hidden.
Can you play a card to hidden from your deck instead of hand? Like if revealed by Reksai legend?
No, you cannot. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ #9502** and **FAQ #10392**, you cannot use the Rek'Sai (Void Burrower) legend ability to "Hide" a card.
Does your defense trigger or attack trigger go first?
During a combat showdown, **Attack triggers** are added to the chain first, followed by **Defend triggers**. Because the chain resolves in a **Last-In, First-Out (LIFO)** manner, the **Defend triggers will resolve first.**
Does Svellsongur give Ornn Forge God another instance of deflect 2 weaponmaster (can you equip another weapon for 1 power less and make Ornn deflect 4)?
Yes, equipping **Svellsongur** to **Ornn, Forge God** results in the total **Deflect** value on the unit becoming **Deflect 4**. Here is the breakdown of how this interaction works based on the official rules and FAQs:
Does the first combat win per turn effect how this interaction works with Draven audacious and svellsongur, where if I win combat do I get two points plus 1 more for conquering?
To answer your question, we first need to look at how **Draven, Audacious** and **Svellsongur** interact, and then how points are scored.
For Existential Dread, can you use it on different units if you repeat costs?
Yes, you can target different units (or the same unit) for each execution when you pay the **Repeat** cost for **Existential Dread**.
Can I play Flurry of Blades, opponent counters with Lilting Lullaby. Can I react with another Flurry of Blades in reaction?
Yes, you can react to *Lilting Lullaby* with another *Flurry of Blades*. Both cards have the **[Reaction]** keyword, which permits them to be played during a Closed State (Rule 813.1.c.1). When your opponent plays *Lilting Lullaby* to counter your first *Flurry of Blades*, the chain becomes closed, and you are allowed to add another reaction to the top of it.
I play Wages of Pain, opponent plays Defy, do I still get to play a gold gear token?
No, you do not get to play the Gold gear token. ### The Sequence 1. **Playing the Spell:** You play *Wages of Pain*, targeting an enemy unit. It enters the chain and the state becomes **CLOSED**. 2. **Reacting:** Your opponent plays *Defy* in response, targeting *Wages of Pain*. 3. **Resolution (LIFO):** * *Defy* resolves first. It counters *Wages of Pain*.
Can you defy a hard bargain that was repeated?
Yes, your opponent can use **Defy** to counter a **Hard Bargain**, even if you paid the additional cost to **Repeat** it.