Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 122 of 145 · 7,241 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does Fiora Peerless' ability activate when the Challenge spell is used?
No, **Fiora, Peerless**'s ability does not activate when the spell **Challenge** is used. ### Reasoning According to **RiftJudge FAQ #1102**, **#1231**, and **#11178**, *Fiora, Peerless*'s ability is a triggered ability that specifically activates "**When I attack or defend**." In the rules of Riftbound, "attacking" and "defending" are specific designations assigned to units participating in a **Showdown** (combat) at a battlefield...
Does Blue Teemo trigger set off even if the controlling player can't target Ruin Runner?
Here's the ruling. **No — the trigger itself goes on the chain, but if Ruin Runner is the only enemy unit there, the ability is removed during finalization and does nothing.**
If I switcharoo a unit with a buff, does it keep its buff or plus 1 after the swap?
According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2144**, when you use Switcheroo to swap the might of two units, the units keep their physical buffs as objects, but their current might values are swapped.
Can you react to Hwei being played?
No, you cannot react to Hwei, Brooding Painter being played. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #11175** and **Rule 359.3**, playing a unit does not create a reaction window because the unit enters the battlefield and finalizes immediately. Players do not receive priority while the unit is on the chain.
If I Thrill of the Hunt a unit with Punch First, does it lose the buff on resummon?
Yes, the unit will lose the buff from **Punch First**. According to **Rule 705** and as confirmed by **RiftJudge FAQ #9870**, when a unit leaves the battlefield (in this case, by being banished by *Thrill of the Hunt*), it leaves play and all buffs and modifiers are removed from it.
Are triggered abilities optional to put on the stack? Or is it always triggered but then can be declined? Example if someone wants to react to a move trigger, before a showdown begins, could the player controlling the move trigger opt to not trigger it at all? Or can they only decline the effect on resolution?
## Ruling: It depends on the trigger's wording. **"You may" triggers** — If the ability starts with "you may" (e.g., "When I move, **you may** pay [1] to draw 1"), the controller chooses whether to place it on the chain at all when the condition is met (Rule 383.3.a). If they choose not to, it never becomes a Pending Item,...
Can I play Rengar Trophyhunter to Rockfall Path?
**No, you cannot play Rengar, Trophy Hunter to Rockfall Path.** Rockfall Path has the static ability "Units can't be played here." Per Rule 054 ("Can't beats Can"), a card that forbids an action supersedes a card that permits that same action. Rengar's special Ambush permission lets him enter battlefields where enemy units are present, but it cannot override a hard...
When playing Red Pyke, and choosing to have him enter with his +2 might bonus, is there a window where he can be gusted? If so, does it still cost the additional red power?
**Yes, there is a window to Gust Pyke after he's played from Hidden, and yes, the additional [C] (red power) is still paid.**
If I have Eye of the Herald but my unit gets killed with Hidden Blade as a reaction during move trigger, will I still have recruit after my unit dies or no, because the Eye of the Herald will be returned to base?
No, the Recruit token will **not** be created. Here's why: When your unit moves, Eye of the Herald's trigger goes on the chain. Your opponent then plays Hidden Blade in response, killing the unit. Even though the gear itself detaches and stays at the battlefield, the triggered ability is appended to the unit's rules text, not the gear's. When the...
Does Gearhead get 6 might from Brutalizer on same turn or only 4?
**Gearhead gets 7 Might (not 6 or 4)** when Brutalizer is attached on the same turn. Here's the breakdown:
If I use En Garde on a unit on Abandoned Hall, does it give +1 or +2?
Whether *En Garde* gives +1 or +2 might depends on whether the unit you target is the **only unit you control at that location**.
Does Allay stack Deflect?
**Yes, Deflect from Allay, Eager Admirer stacks with existing Deflect on your other units.** Per **Rule 809.2**, if a unit has Deflect and is granted Deflect by an additional source, the Deflect Values are summed. So a unit with **Deflect 1** (e.g., Vex, Cheerless) that's at the same battlefield as Allay, who grants an additional **Deflect 1**, ends up with...
If Stellacorn is in a draw and survives but is the attacker, and gets pushed back to base, does it count as a move and draw one? Same question for something like Eye of the Herald.
No, your **Stellacorn Herder** will not draw a card in that scenario. According to **Rule 450** and established RiftJudge FAQs (specifically **FAQ #10124**, **FAQ #10165**, and **FAQ #10159**), a **Recall** (the process of moving a unit back to the base after it is stunned or fails to conquer) is strictly defined as a game action distinct from a **Move**.
When you play Vi Peacekeeper, it applies a stun to a unit. Can this be done to Baron?
No, Vi, Peacekeeper cannot stun Baron Nashor. Vi's "When I attack" ability requires you to **choose** an enemy unit to stun, which makes it a targeted ability. Baron Nashor's protection ("I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities") prevents him from being a legal target for that choice — even if he's the only enemy unit there. The ability...
If I play Akshan Mischievous targeting my opponent's equipt Guardian Angel and my opponent reacts with Starcrossed, does the Guardian Angel return unequipt?
Here's the ruling based on the closest FAQ (#10576) and card texts I've checked. **Short answer:** Yes, the Guardian Angel returns **unequipped** — it detaches from whatever unit it was on. But it goes to **your base**, not your opponent's, and since the control effect fails, your opponent still controls it there.
Player 1 on 8 points attacks with Darius Trifarian and kills Rift Herald at Aspirants Climb. Player 2 uses The Rift Herald Deathknell to summon Harnessed Dragon and targets the Darius. Does Player 1 still win for conquering or does the Harnessed Dragon resolve first?
To determine whether Player 1 wins, we must look at the combat showdown timing and how *Deathknell* interacts with combat resolution.
If Void Assault moves my unit and an enemy unit to a battlefield, who is the attacker?
The card itself answers this. **You are the attacker.** Void Assault's text explicitly states: *"(If they both move to a battlefield you don't control, you're the attacker.)"*
Do I have to announce the Darius trigger so he gets the +2 or does that happen automatically?
**Yes, it happens automatically — but you must acknowledge it or risk losing it.** Darius's ability has no "you may," so it's a **mandatory trigger** (FAQ #9603). When you play your second card, the trigger is placed on the chain automatically — you don't get a choice.
Does Rally the Troops buff Recruit units?
Yes, **Rally the Troops** does buff Recruit units. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #418**, Rally the Troops applies to all friendly units played or created, including tokens, unless the card text specifically excludes them. Recruit tokens (which are defined as 1 [M] Recruit units in **Rule 184.1**) do not have any exclusion text that would prevent this.
Can Windsinger target a unit at another battlefield if it's played from hidden?
No, you cannot. According to **Rule 811.1.d.2** and supported by **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.
Does Blighted Battleaxe unattach damage persist to opponent's turn?
No, the damage from Blighted Battleaxe does **not** persist to the opponent's turn. Here's the sequence: Blighted Battleaxe's trigger resolves during the **Ending Step** of your turn ("at the end of your turn"), unattaching and dealing 4 damage to the equipped unit. Then, during the **Expiration Step** of that same turn, the Ending Special Cleanup occurs — which includes the...
If you play Frigid Touch repeated on a buffed Fiora Victorious, must you recycle 2 for deflect as Fiora will no longer be mighty after the first instance?
**Yes, you must pay the Deflect cost for both the initial and the Repeat targeting of Fiora** — and it's Power, not a Recycle.
How does Hall of Legends Battlefield work with Rek'sai Legend?
Here's the ruling on **Hall of Legends** and **Rek'Sai (Void Burrower)**: **No, Hall of Legends cannot ready Rek'Sai to let it trigger its own ability on the same conquer.** If Rek'Sai is already exhausted when the conquer occurs, its "When you conquer" ability simply does not trigger — it never goes on the Chain (FAQ #11259). Hall of Legends readies...
What happens if you give a backline unit Tank?
This is a well-defined interaction under **Rule 460.2.c.7**. When a unit has both **Tank** ("assign damage to me first") and **Backline** ("assign damage to me last"), those are exclusionary demands. The assigning player chooses which one to apply.
Traveling Merchant with no cards in hand?
According to the official RiftJudge FAQs, if you move Traveling Merchant while you have no cards in your hand, you simply skip the discard and proceed to draw one card.
I'm defending with Teemo Strategist against my opponent with his 2 might unit while he has 2 times Mask of Foresight. Do the +1 when attacking alone from the Mask of Foresight already apply when my Teemo ability triggers and thus make me need to do 4 damage, or does Teemo resolve before it? And why is this?
No, the +1 Might bonuses from the Mask of Foresight triggers do not apply before your Teemo, Strategist ability resolves.
An enemy uses Smite in my Ruined Rex. If I want to use Baited Hook in the Rex, what is going to happen?
To determine what happens when you attempt to use **Baited Hook** on a **Ruined Rex** that has been targeted by an enemy **Smite**, we must look at how replacement effects and the "kill" game action interact.
Can Elder Dragon ability target Ruin Runner?
No, Elder Dragon’s play ability cannot target Ruin Runner. According to its text, Elder Dragon’s ability requires you to "choose up to one enemy unit at each location" to deal damage to them. As confirmed by **RiftJudge FAQ #8581**, because this ability requires you to choose (target) units, it is blocked by Ruin Runner's protection ability: *"I can't be chosen...
Thousand Tails Watcher effect ruin runner?
The Thousand-Tailed Watcher has the following ability: **"When you play me, give enemy units -3 might this turn, to a minimum of 1 might."**
If I'm attacking into a battlefield, with Vi stunning their Watcher and the Might of Our Combined Units each is 15, what happens?
Here's the ruling based on the scenario: **The attacker kills all defending units and conquers the battlefield.**
If my opponent plays Elder Dragon and targets my unit at Battlefields, and I play a Hidden Emperor's Divide to move them to Base, do they still die?
Your unit will **live**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9919**, **FAQ #10915**, and the official **Rules FAQ Clarification (2026-04-29)** regarding *Elder Dragon*, its "When you play me" ability has specific targeting restrictions based on location.
Can you play Hidden Blade from Hidden on your temporary unit on its temporary trigger on your beginning phase to draw 2?
**Yes, you can — but only if Hidden Blade is already hidden (facedown) at a battlefield you control.** Hidden Blade from **hand** lacks Reaction, so you cannot play it to respond to the Temporary trigger going onto the chain at the start of your Beginning Phase.
Can Glasc Mixology play a unit from his Deathknell to a battlefield where he is the attacker? Or just when he is the defender?
No, you cannot play the unit from your *Deathknell* ability to the battlefield you are attacking. According to **RiftJudge FAQs #9479** and **#10612**, when you attack into an opponent-controlled battlefield, you do not control that battlefield until the showdown is resolved and you have successfully conquered it. Because you lack control of that battlefield during the combat cleanup phase (when...
I play Sabotage and my opponent responds with a Thrill of the Hunt, move a unit to an battlefield. What resolves first?
The **Thrill of the Hunt** resolves first. ### Sequence of Events: 1. **Sabotage** is played as an [Action] (Open State). It is placed on the chain as a pending item. 2. **Thrill of the Hunt** is played as a [Reaction] by your opponent in response. Because it is a [Reaction], it is placed on top of the existing chain. 3.
If in response to my opponent playing Gust on their unit I respond with Rengar Trophy Hunter to that battlefield does a showdown occur?
Yes, a showdown does occur — but it will be a non-combat showdown (no fighting), and you will likely conquer the battlefield.
Can I play Long Sword into base and not equip it to anything?
**No — you cannot play Long Sword and choose to leave it unattached if you control any unit on the board.**
If I am attacking into Fiora - Peerless while she is on Forbidding Waste, does Forbidding Waste apply before her Double Might?
No, **Forbidding Waste's -2 applies after Fiora's doubling** in the arithmetic layer, resulting in **4 Might**, not 2. Here's why: The Arithmetic Layer system (Rule 472.3.d) mandates that **all increases to Might are applied first**, and **all decreases are applied last** — regardless of when the effects became active. Fiora's doubling creates a +3 increase (equal to her base Might...
What happens if you gust a temporary unit?
The Temporary unit is returned to its owner's hand normally. There's no special interaction that prevents or alters this. **Gust** reads: "Return a unit at a battlefield with 3 might or less to its owner's hand." **Temporary** (Rule 816.1.b) is a triggered ability that reads: "At the start of this permanent's controller's Beginning Phase, before scoring, kill this." Since Temporary...
What happens if you gust a Reflection token after it has copied other unit?
It depends on what Might the Reflection token has after copying. If the Reflection copied a unit with **Might 3 or less**, Gust can target it. The token is returned to its owner's hand — then it immediately ceases to exist per Rule 183.1, since tokens can't exist outside the board or chain. It is **not killed**, so any Deathknell...
If a reflection token copies a non-token unit, it stops being a token. If you gust it, it turns back into a token again, or it swaps back to being a token?
No, the premise is wrong — a Reflection token **never stops being a token**, even after copying a non-token unit.
Can I lower Baron Might with the list?
No, you cannot lower Baron Nashor's Might using the activated ability of **The List**. According to the card text for **Baron Nashor**: *"I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities."*
If I eclipse a unit to 0 or negative health at a battlefield does it die?
No, using **Eclipse** to reduce a unit's Might to 0 (or lower) does not automatically kill it. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9491** and **Rule 143.2.a**, a unit is only killed if it has **non-zero damage marked on it equalling or exceeding its Might**. Reducing a unit's Might does not count as dealing damage.
Does Eye of the Herald spawn the Recruit at the moved to location or the moved from location?
*Eye of the Herald* spawns the Recruit token at the **moved to** location (the destination). According to **RiftJudge FAQ #11204** and **FAQ #3725**, when a unit equipped with *Eye of the Herald* moves, the ability triggers and the Recruit token is placed at the unit's new location ("here") at the time the trigger resolves.
What starts a Showdown?
A showdown begins when the control of a battlefield becomes contested and the turn is in a **Neutral Open State** (meaning no other showdown or combat is currently ongoing).
Can I react to Rengar Pride Stalker legend trigger?
**Yes, you can react to it.** Rengar, Pridestalker's legend ability — "When you play a unit, give a unit +1 [S] this turn" — is a triggered ability that uses the chain (Rule 383.3). It goes on the chain as a pending item, and both players may respond with Reaction-speed cards or abilities before it resolves (FAQ #10719).
If I kill a yellow Viktor alongside two other units with Bellows Breath + Watcher, does the Viktor still get to spawn 2 recruits assuming the units that died are non-recruits?
**No.** Viktor will not spawn any Recruit tokens. When Viktor and the other two units die simultaneously from the same damage event, Viktor leaves the board at the exact same time as those units. His triggered ability requires him to be on the board *immediately after* another non-Recruit unit dies to trigger (Rule 383.2.c.2). Since he's already in the trash...
If my opponent targets my Irelia with Falling Star (twice), does he have to pay double Deflect?
Yes, your opponent must pay the **Deflect** cost twice if both instances of damage from *Falling Star* target your Irelia.
Can I use the list on a Ruin Runner?
No. **The List's activated ability requires choosing a specific unit with the named tag, which counts as targeting that unit.** Since Ruin Runner has "I can't be chosen by enemy spells and abilities," an enemy cannot target it with The List's ability.
If I have Blighted Battleaxe on a body Rengar, I haven't conquered with it this turn, does the damage last into my enemy's turn?
No, the damage does **not** persist to the opponent's turn. Here's why: Blighted Battleaxe's trigger ("at the end of your turn") resolves during the **Ending Step**, dealing 4 damage to the equipped Rengar. Then, during the **Expiration Step** of the same turn, the Ending Special Cleanup occurs — which includes "Heal all Units" (Rule 317.2.b). That healing clears all damage...
How many Battlefields does a tournament legal 2v2 deck need?
In a tournament-legal 2v2 (Magma Chamber) deck, **each player must register exactly 3 battlefields**, all with unique names (Rule 402.1, Rule 484.4.a). Additionally, partners cannot include the same battlefield name across both decks (patch notes clarification for 2v2). During setup, the three players who are *not* going first each randomly select one of their three battlefields to use; the first-turn...