Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 145 of 158 · 7,873 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does Vex's ability make opponents pay 1 energy + 1 power when they play a hidden card during combat?
Ruling: Yes, Vex's ability applies to hidden cards. Hidden sets the cost to 0 first, then Vex's cost increase is applied afterward, resulting in a total cost of 1 energy + 1 power.
If Here to Help (from Hidden) plays Fizz, can Fizz play a spell at reaction speed? Can Fizz play cards like Invert Timelines in this scenario?
Ruling: Yes, Fizz can play spells at reaction speed when played by Here to Help, including cards like Invert Timelines. You still have to pay the power costs for any cards played.
How does Eager Apprentice's cost reduction interact with Repeat on spells?
Ruling: Eager Apprentice reduces the total cost of a spell only once, even when that spell is repeated. The cost reduction applies to the combined cost (base + repeat additional cost).
After a reaction spell resolves on the chain, can a player play another reaction immediately, or must the entire chain resolve first?
Ruling: Players can play reactions as the chain resolves. After each spell resolves, the player who controls the next item on the chain gets priority first, then the other player gets priority.
Does attempting to equip start a chain and allow the opponent to play a reaction before the equipment resolves?
Ruling: Yes, equipping is a normal activated ability that starts a chain and allows opponents to play reactions. Sequence: - Player activates the equip ability - Chain starts, priority passes - Opponent can respond with reactions (such as kill spells) - If opponent kills the unit being equipped, the equipment will not resolve on that unit
Can Flash be legally activated if the only unit a player has is at Vilemaw's Lair, and what happens when it resolves?
Ruling: Flash can be legally activated even if the only unit is at Vilemaw's Lair. The card resolves but has no effect because units at Vilemaw's Lair cannot be moved to base in any way.
Can an opponent react with hidden cards (cards from hand) when Brynhir's ability resolves, and does this create a chain reaction?
Ruling: Yes, Brynhir is a triggered ability that gives the opponent an opportunity to react before it goes into effect as it resolves. However, once Brynhir fully resolves, the opponent cannot use any actions/reactions from their hand.
When Sett enters the field with one buff (making him Mighty) and you spend that buff to activate his ability granting +4/+4, does he lose and regain Mighty status, allowing yellow Fiora to ready him?
Ruling: Sett will lose Mighty status when you pay the cost to activate his ability, then regain Mighty status when the ability resolves.
Can Vi use her recycle ability multiple times in the same turn to gain +1 might each time?
Ruling: Yes, Vi can use her recycle ability multiple times in the same turn as long as she can pay the cost (recycling a card from the discard pile). Each activation grants +1 might.
Does Baited Hook look at the printed might of a unit, or its current might at the time of death?
Ruling: Baited Hook looks at the current might of the unit it kills (including any buffs or modifications), but looks at the base/printed might of the unit it fetches from your deck.
When using Switcheroo to swap might between two units, if one unit has equipment attached, does the equipment bonus still apply after the swap?
Ruling: Switcheroo applies a fixed might modifier to each unit that accounts for all current bonuses (including equipment) at the time of casting. Equipment bonuses continue to apply after the swap, but Switcheroo's modifier is calculated to achieve the swapped totals.
Can you use Here to Help to play Deadbloom Predator to an opponent's battlefield on their turn?
Ruling: No, you cannot. Here to Help restricts you to playing a unit only to a battlefield you control, and this restriction overrides Deadbloom Predator's additional placement options.
Does Heimerdinger copy Renata's battlefield restriction, and can he use her ability from base?
Ruling: Heimerdinger copies Renata's exhaust ability but not her passive battlefield restriction, so he can use her ability from base. He must still pay the full cost (recycle 4 blue, tap 4, and tap himself).
If I have two Irelia Graceful on the board and target them both with a single spell (such as one with repeat), does the spell cost get reduced by 2?
Ruling: Yes, if you have two Irelia Graceful units and a single spell targets both of them, the spell's cost is reduced by 2 total (1 for each Irelia targeted).
Can a unit have multiple buffs applied to it at the same time?
Ruling: A unit can only have one buff at a time unless a card specifically states otherwise. Nuances: - You can still attempt to buff an already buffed unit, but the action will have no effect
Does Ezreal - Prodigy's cost reduction apply to Irelia - Legend's optional power payment to ready a unit?
Ruling: No, Ezreal - Prodigy does not reduce Irelia - Legend's power payment. Additional costs only refer to effects that specifically use the term "additional cost" in their text.
Does Deflect trigger when a unit with Deflect is damaged by Stormbringer (which doesn't specifically target that unit)?
Ruling: Deflect does not trigger from Stormbringer damage because Stormbringer does not target enemy units. Nuances: - Stormbringer only targets a friendly unit and a battlefield, not enemy units directly - Deflect requires the unit to be targeted to trigger its effect
Can Akshan Spiritforged target and detach a gear equipment that is already attached to another unit?
Ruling: Yes, Akshan can target an equipment that is already attached to another unit, and that equipment will move to Akshan.
If an opponent Defys a spell with Repeat, can you still pay the Repeat cost to cast it again?
Ruling: No, you cannot pay the Repeat cost after a spell is Defied. Repeat is an additional cost that must be paid before the spell is finalized onto the chain.
Can you play a Hidden card in response to a Temporary keyword trigger (specifically, can you flip Teemo in response to a Sprite with Temporary dying)?
Ruling: Yes, you can play a Hidden card in response to a Temporary keyword trigger because playing a Hidden card is at Reaction speed, and Reactions can be played whenever there is a chain.
In a 3-player game, if a player has 6 points and holds 2 of the 3 battlefields at the start of their turn, do they win immediately with 8 points, or do they only score 7 points and need to conquer the third battlefield?
Ruling: The player scores 2 points (one for each battlefield held) and wins immediately with 8 points. Nuances: - Holding always scores points at the start of your turn, regardless of how many battlefields exist in the game
If my opponent has 2 units and I attack with one unit, and they use Imperial Decree, can I still kill both of their units if I have enough Might, or does my unit die instantly?
Ruling: Imperial Decree does not activate until the dealing damage step. Damage is assigned (attacker first, then defender) and then all damage is dealt simultaneously, at which point Imperial Decree triggers.
If a unit with attached gear (e.g., Traveling Merchant with Cull, making it 3 Might) has Switcheroo played on it against a 4 Might unit, does the gear's +1 Might bonus persist after the swap to make the Merchant 5 Might total?
Ruling: No, the Merchant ends at 4 Might, not 5. Switcheroo calculates the appropriate bonus/penalty based on the units' total Might at the time it's applied, creating a snapshot. The gear's +1 bonus is already factored into that calculation and doesn't reapply on top of Switcheroo's effect.
Does Purple Ezreal's cost reduction ability affect Bullet Time's Universal Power cost?
Ruling: No, Purple Ezreal does not make Bullet Time cheaper. Bullet Time's Universal Power cost is paid on resolution, not as an additional cost when playing the card, so Ezreal's ability does not apply.
For cards like Void Seeker and Stupefy, do you still draw a card if the opponent retreats the targeted unit?
Ruling: Yes, you still draw the card. The spell resolves even if some or all of its targets become illegal.
If a Repeat spell like Rocket Barrage targets two units (one non-recruit and Viktor second), does Viktor's ability trigger to generate a token when the first unit dies, since the targets are resolved in order?
Ruling: No, Viktor does not get a token from Rocket Barrage because damage spells deal damage to both targets during resolution, but units only die during cleanup, meaning both units die simultaneously. However, if a hypothetical Repeat spell said "kill a unit" (not deal damage), then the kills would happen sequentially and Viktor would get a token if the other...
If Draven has +5 might from his passive (making him 8 total might), can Baited Hook (which reveals units with 2-3 might) reveal and play him from the deck?
Ruling: Yes, Baited Hook can reveal and play Draven because it looks at the original might of units in the deck (3 might), where Draven's passive is not active. His passive only applies when he is on the board.
Can I use Cleave to boost my attacking unit after my opponent uses Smoke Screen in response to my battlefield move?
Ruling: You cannot use Cleave as a reaction to Smoke Screen because Cleave is an action, not a reaction. However, after Smoke Screen resolves, you regain focus and can then play Cleave to boost your unit.
Can you repeatedly re-equip the same equipment to multiple units attacking one at a time, and does the equipment become exhausted?
Ruling: You can repeatedly equip the same equipment to different units as long as you pay the equip cost and the equipment is not currently attached. Equipment does not exhaust when the equipped unit dies and does not need to be ready to equip.
Does Experimental Hexplate count as a mech when unequipped in your base, or only when attached to a unit?
Ruling: Experimental Hexplate only counts as a mech when it is attached to a unit, not when it is unequipped in your base.
At what score does Chem-Baroness Renata's second ability (giving golds the ability to tap for energy) become active in a game to 8 points?
Ruling: Chem-Baroness Renata's second ability becomes active when you have 5 or more points in a game to 8 points.
If an opponent's Merchant in base has Cleave played on it, then moves into a battlefield I control, can I play Gust on the Merchant during the 'When I move' trigger to return it to hand before it gets +3 attack?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Gust on the Merchant in response to its 'When I move' trigger before it gains +3 attack from Cleave. Combat cannot begin (and roles cannot be assigned) while items are on the chain.
Does Ravenbloom Student trigger when you play a spell, or does the spell need to resolve first?
Ruling: In Riftbound, a card is not considered "played" until it resolves. If a spell is countered or otherwise prevented from resolving, it was not played and does not trigger abilities that trigger on playing cards.
If Green Jax gives all gear Quickdraw, and I play Svellsongur as a reaction during combat, will Svellsongur copy White Flame Protector's on-play ability to give +8 to a unit?
Ruling: No, Svellsongur gives units a copy of their own abilities, not abilities from other units. White Flame Protector will have two copies of its own "when you play me" ability, but nothing will trigger them since the unit is already in play.
If I steal an equipment with Akshan and attach it to him, can I use Lucian's Weapon Master to move it to Lucian for free? Can my opponent pay to equip it back to their unit?
Ruling: When you control stolen equipment (attached to Akshan), you can use it as if you played it, including using Lucian's Weapon Master to move it for free. Your opponent cannot use its abilities while you control it.
If Ahri legend has already triggered when an enemy unit attacks, does it trigger again when Rengar is played and enters attacking during the same combat?
Ruling: Yes, Ahri legend triggers again when Rengar enters play attacking. Ahri's legend triggers the first time each unit is assigned as an attacker that combat.
When conquering Zaun Warrens with no cards in hand, do you still get to draw a card if you cannot discard?
Ruling: Yes, you still draw a card even if you have no cards to discard. The discard and draw effects are independent of each other.
Can you cast Defy with no valid targets?
Ruling: No, you cannot cast Defy with no valid targets. The spell fails the legality check before it can be added to the chain.
When Dragon's Rage moves a unit into a battlefield to destroy an enemy unit, does the attacking unit get healed afterward, and can you move another unit in after the first unit destroys the defender?
Ruling: Dragon's Rage does not trigger healing because it is not a combat. The unit moved by Dragon's Rage will not be healed after destroying the enemy unit.
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...