Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 121 of 145 · 7,241 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If a unit or units have any persisting damage for example on the battlefield "Frozen Fortress" then I play Imperial Decree, would those units die?
No, units that already have damage marked on them from *Frozen Fortress* will not die simply because you play *Imperial Decree*.
If I counter a spell with Defy, do they still get +1 at Abandoned Hall?
No, you do not receive the +1 Might from **Abandoned Hall** if the spell you played is countered. According to **Rule 425.1.b**, a spell that is countered is not considered to have been "played." Because the ability on **Abandoned Hall** requires a spell to have successfully completed its resolution process to be counted as "played," a countered spell fails to...
If you react to the enemy's temporary trigger, do the units die?
Yes, you can react to an enemy's **Temporary** trigger, and yes, the original unit will still die. According to **Rule 816**, **Temporary** is a triggered ability that behaves like any other triggered ability (it is placed on the chain). As supported by RiftJudge FAQ #9384, because it uses the chain, players have the opportunity to play **[REACTION]** speed effects in...
If I move off a battlefield after holding, then move another unit into that battlefield later that turn, will it start another showdown?
Yes, moving another unit into that battlefield will start another showdown, even if you have already held and scored at that location earlier in the turn.
Does Hard Bargain countering a spell on Abandon Hall still allow that spell to count as played for the buff?
No, if a spell is countered by **Hard Bargain** while your unit is on **Abandoned Hall**, that spell does **not** count as having been "played," and your unit will not receive the buff.
If I ambush with Kha'Zix to defend against an attacking Rengar, then my opponent responds with Nidalee to ambush in alongside the Rengar, does the trigger still give +2 on resolution?
Yes, **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror will receive the +2 Might bonus and gain 2 XP.** ### Reasoning According to multiple RiftJudge FAQs (e.g., #10198, #10735, #11155), the condition for Kha'Zix’s triggered ability ("if an enemy unit is alone here") is evaluated at the **exact moment** he enters the battlefield and gains the "Defender" combat designation.
If I have a hidden card like Keeper of the Mask and I have a temporary card like Sprite Token and in my beginning phase before scoring on the temporary trigger I reveal my hidden card Keeper of the Mask will the Keeper of the Mask die on that beginning phase?
No, **Keeper of Masks will not die during that Beginning Phase.** According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9406**, when you respond to the *Temporary* trigger of an existing unit (like your *Sprite*) by playing a hidden card (like *Keeper of Masks*) from its facedown state, the new unit and its generated tokens remain on the battlefield for the rest of your turn.
Hidden Blade on unit with Guardian Angel, they draw?
Yes, the controller of the unit targeted by **Hidden Blade** will still draw 2 cards if **Guardian Angel** is used to save it.
If an Arcane Shift was countered, does it count in order to draw with Ezariel?
Yes. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9631**, **RiftJudge FAQ #8979**, and **RiftJudge FAQ #92**, your **Ezreal** legend ability can still be activated if the spell you played was countered.
With Curtain Call, for paying repeat, do I have to play the repeat costs in order?
No, you do not have to pay the repeat costs in a specific order. According to **Rule 820.3**, if a spell has multiple instances of Repeat (like *Curtain Call*, which allows you to pay three different options), each instance can be paid for separately.
What is the Diana ruling for paying the energy, can I predict without paying the energy cost?
No, you cannot perform the [Predict] action without paying the energy cost. According to Diana, Lunari’s ability text: **"When a showdown begins here, you may pay [1]. If you do, [Predict], then reveal the top card of your Main Deck..."**
I have a unit at a battlefield. Elder dragon is played and tries to ping that unit. I react with flash to move it to base. I have no other units in base. Do I still get pinged on that unit? What about if I had another unit in base, would the elder dragon player get to choose which one from base he kills?
No, your unit will not be dealt damage in either scenario. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9919** and the **Rules FAQ Clarification (2026-04-29)**, *Elder Dragon's* play effect has specific targeting restrictions based on location. It targets "up to one enemy unit at [a specific location]."
Can you play an Ambush unit to cancel the Mutating Horror Kha'Zix?
No, playing a unit with **Ambush** will not cancel **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror**'s triggered ability if the trigger conditions were already met when he entered the battlefield.
When Glass Mixologist is being attacked and dies in combat, while I have Galio in my trash, can the Glass Mixologist deathknell trigger and bring back the Galio onto the battlefield? Explain in detail the interaction.
Yes, you can use **Glasc Mixologist**'s *Deathknell* ability to play **Galio, Indefatigable** from your trash to the battlefield where the combat is occurring.
How many times does Ravenbloom Student get the effect from a single cast of Icathian Rain?
Ravenbloom Student will get its effect **once** from a single cast of Icathian Rain. According to **Rule 383.3**, when a condition for a triggered ability is met, it is placed on the chain. Ravenbloom Student's ability triggers "When you play a spell." Regardless of how many targets or instructions a single spell like Icathian Rain has, it is still only...
If player plays Pyke from hidden and pays the cost, can I react to that with Gust before it gets +3?
Yes, you can react to *Pyke, Dockside Butcher* with *Gust* after it is played from hidden, but there is a nuance regarding the timing of the Might buff.
When a temporary unit with Deathknell is on Duskroselab, can you use Dusk Rose Lab before the temporary unit does and trigger both the Deathknell and the draw 2 effect?
To answer your question: Yes, you can use **Dusk Rose Lab** to kill a *Temporary* unit with *Deathknell*, which will trigger both the *Deathknell* effect and the **Dusk Rose Lab** effect (though note the Lab allows you to draw **1** card, not 2).
If Brynhir was played this turn can Viktor still play a recruit token?
Yes, if Brynhir Thundersong was played this turn, Viktor, Leader can still spawn a Recruit token. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10133**, Brynhir Thundersong's triggered ability ("When you play me, opponents can't play cards this turn") prevents opponents from **playing cards**, but it does not affect **tokens**.
If I bring Elder Dragon into a battlefield with Irresistible Faefolk and I have a Sett Kingpin at 10 might, would it trade with that due to matching its might, or kill it and the Faefolk due to only needing one damage for lethal damage?
To determine the outcome, we must look at how combat damage is assigned when you control **Elder Dragon** and face a unit with **Tank**.
I have Reksai Breacher in base and play a unit not from hand. Is there a cost to accelerate the unit?
Yes, there is a cost to **Accelerate** the unit. Even when **Rek'Sai, Breacher** grants the **Accelerate** keyword to a unit played from outside your hand, **Accelerate is not free.**
Are you required to inform your opponent how many cards you have sideboarded?
No, you are not required to inform your opponent how many cards you have sideboarded. According to **Rule 403.6** of the Tournament Rules, "Players may count the cards in their opponents’ sideboards at any time." Because the sideboard (and the number of cards within it) is considered public information, your opponent is permitted to count them to determine if and...
I start a showdown at a battlefield with 1 unit against my opponent's 1 unit. They ride the wind to the other battlefield for their action. Can I still play a challenge as an action before the showdown is resolved at the first battlefield even if their unit is no longer at that battlefield?
Yes, you can still play **Challenge** as an action during that showdown, even if your opponent used **Ride the Wind** to move their unit away.
If I have a damaged unit and I move it to an open battlefield and conquer, does my unit heal?
No, your unit does not heal in that scenario. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #7796** and **#10974**, there is a critical distinction between a **combat showdown** and an **open showdown**:
If I defy a Star Crossed that is played from Fizz, does the Star Crossed still get recycled?
Yes, if you use **Defy** to counter a *Star-Crossed* played via **Fizz, Trickster**'s triggered ability, the *Star-Crossed* will still be recycled.
If I charm my opponent's unit Hwei in base with a charm to move to battlefield X, but then my opponent who controls battlefield Y reacts with a hidden Tideturner in battlefield Y to swap with Hwei, what happens?
This interaction involves resolving a chain where **Charm** is moving your opponent's unit, **Hwei**, and your opponent is responding by playing a **Tideturner** from hidden to swap their positions.
When you recall a unit (through Zhonya), does it recover to full Might (for that turn) after getting debuffed?
No, a unit recalled by Zhonya’s Hourglass does not recover its original Might; it retains any debuffs (such as might reductions) that were on it.
Can I Star Cross a unit that Leblanc is trying to copy with her legend ability? And what happens to the reflection token, and is there anything different if there are two units there at Leblanc's battlefield?
Yes, you can *Star-Crossed* a unit that LeBlanc is attempting to copy, and you can also *Star-Crossed* the Reflection token itself after it enters the battlefield. Because both *Star-Crossed* and the reflexive trigger from LeBlanc's legend ability use the chain, they can be interacted with.
If some plays Darius then Fizz and then activates Fizz effect do they miss the timing to ready Darius?
No, you do not miss the timing to ready **Darius, Trifarian** in that sequence. **Darius** will successfully trigger and become ready.
If my unit with Assault is dealt damage by Ruined Rex's Deathknell, will I score before the unit dies from losing its Assault bonus?
Ruling: Yes, you will score before your unit loses its Assault bonus and dies. The attacker designation (and thus the Assault bonus) is not removed until combat ends as the very last step, which occurs after determining the combat result and establishing control.
If Blue Sentinel holds at Power Nexus, can the Power Nexus ability trigger twice and score 2 points?
Ruling: Yes. Blue Sentinel causes Power Nexus's "When you hold here" ability to trigger an additional time, resulting in two triggers. Since the points gained from Power Nexus are not from a "Conquer" or "Hold" action, they are not subject to the once-per-battlefield scoring limitation in Rule 465. You may pay the cost for both triggered instances and successfully gain...
If I play a spell from hidden that has a replacement effect, does that effect apply to damage from a 'when you play a card from face down' triggered ability?
Ruling: Yes. When you play a card from hidden, the card fully resolves before any "when you play" triggered abilities are placed on the chain. If the played card creates a replacement effect (like Lotus Trap doubling damage), that effect will be active when the triggered ability resolves.
When a Deathknell ability triggers that targets a card in a public zone, do you react before or after the controller chooses the target?
Ruling: You react after the controller chooses the target. When a triggered ability requires choosing a target from a public zone (like your trash), that choice is made during finalization before the ability is fully placed on the chain. Once finalized with its target chosen, the game state becomes closed and priority passes, allowing you to react with full knowledge...
If I play Janna, Savior at reaction speed after Atakhan attacks my battlefield, can I move Atakhan back to base to avoid killing one of my units?
Ruling: Yes. When Atakhan attacks, his "When I attack" trigger goes on the chain. If you respond by playing Janna, Savior, her ability resolves first and moves Atakhan back to his base. When Atakhan's trigger then resolves, "here" refers to Atakhan's current location (his base), where you have no units, so the effect fails to execute.
Player B has a unit at battlefield, player A moves Fiora Peerless into the battlefield, and player B plays Kha'Zix with Ambush. Does Fiora still get double might?
Yes, **Fiora, Peerless** will still double her Might. According to the established game rules and **RiftJudge FAQs (e.g., #11178, #11168, #1231)**, the "one-on-one" condition for *Fiora, Peerless* is checked only at the exact moment she is designated as the attacker or defender.
Does Vex Apathetic go through Deflect?
Yes, **Vex, Apathetic**'s ability "goes through" **Deflect**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9312** and **Rule 355.10.d**, Vex, Apathetic does not "choose" the unit as a target; instead, it uses **programmatic selection** based on the trigger condition ("When an opponent plays a unit").
Can Gust return a token unit?
Yes, **Gust** can target and return a token unit to its owner's hand, provided that token unit meets the requirement of having 3 Might or less and is located at a battlefield.
Can you play Shadows Call with no unit?
No, you cannot play **Shadow's Call** if you have no friendly units. According to the official **RiftJudge FAQ #9478**:
Do you have to use the Irelia legend during finalization of a chain item which targets a unit? How does the chain work in this situation? Can I still use the legend after finalization?
No, you do not have to use Irelia's legend ability during the finalization of the spell or ability that triggers it.
Can I hide Edge of Night while it's on the board?
No, you cannot hide *Edge of Night* while it is already on the board. According to the rules for the **Hidden** keyword (Rule 811.1.b), hiding is a discretionary action that allows you to take a card **from your hand or Champion Zone** and place it facedown at a battlefield you control. Once a card is already on the board (face...
If Draven unit and opponent unit are both stunned after combat and attacker was recalled, does Draven draw?
No, you do not draw a card with **Glorious Executioner**. ### Reasoning
With Arachnoid Horror can you play multiple units to the battlefield?
Yes, you can play multiple units to a battlefield using the ability granted by **Arachnoid Horror**. According to the card text, Arachnoid Horror provides the following ability: > "Friendly units can be played to an occupied battlefield if an enemy unit is alone there."
Does Fading Memories count as killing a unit with a spell so I can cast Immortal Phoenix?
No, **Fading Memories** does not count as killing a unit with a spell for the purposes of triggering **Immortal Phoenix**.
Can I use Discipline as a reaction to Fiora's Peerless ability?
Whether you can use **Discipline** in response to **Fiora, Peerless** depends on *when* you are trying to play it relative to her triggered ability.
What is the might of a Scuttlecrab defending with Yi legend getting attacked by Ahri inquisitive? Does the +2 apply before the -2 from Ahri?
To determine the Might of your **Scuttle Crab** in this combat, we look at the layers of game effects (Rule 471) and how combat damage is calculated.
If an opponent moves into a battlefield I control, can I activate a Hidden Tideturner on another battlefield I control to swap units?
Yes, you can play a hidden **Tideturner** from another battlefield you control to swap units with the battlefield where the showdown is occurring.
Does Assault Might count towards Baited Hook?
Yes, the Might granted by **Assault** counts toward **Baited Hook**. According to the **Baited Hook** rules, the ability references the unit's "current Might" at the moment it is killed. Because **Assault** is a passive ability that modifies a unit's Might while it has the "Attacker" designation (Rule 807.1.c), that bonus is included in the unit's total Might.
Can I trigger vi destructive on opponent's turn?
No, you cannot use Vi, Destructive's activated ability on your opponent's turn. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #4339**, **FAQ #8013**, and **Rule 381**, activated abilities (like Vi's "Recycle 1 from your trash: Give me +1 might this turn") can only be activated during your own turn in an Open State (when no chain exists and no showdown is occurring).
If I give something 5 damage with something with 9 Might, does it do 4 Might damage or 9?
It does **9 might damage**. In Riftbound, damage and Might are two completely separate mechanics. Damage marked on a unit does not reduce its Might, and a unit’s combat damage output is always equal to its current Might value, regardless of how much damage it has accumulated.
Does Zhonya's trigger heal the unit and remove Might debuffs?
No, **Zhonya's Hourglass does not remove might debuffs.** According to **RiftJudge FAQ 1357** and **RiftJudge FAQ 11305**, when Zhonya's Hourglass saves a unit:
Does Ezreal legend ability still trigger if the spell is countered?
Yes, your **Ezreal** legend ability can still be activated if the spells you played were countered. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9631** and **RiftJudge FAQ #10536**, the requirement for Ezreal's legend ability is satisfied the moment you choose the targets for your spells and finalize them on the chain. Because the act of choosing targets occurs when the spell is played...