Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 30 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
How does Hidden Blade work when its target becomes invalid before resolution?
Ruling: If Hidden Blade's target becomes invalid before it resolves (e.g., removed from battlefield), the game cannot reference "its controller" and returns "null", so nothing is killed and no cards are drawn.
Can Cull the Weak be played without having a unit in play?
Ruling: Yes, Cull the Weak can be played even if you don't have a unit in play.
If you play a spell and it gets defied, does the Student still get +1?
Ruling: No. For abilities that trigger when a spell is played, the spell needs to resolve. Nuances: - This applies to all abilities that trigger when a spell is played, not just Student specifically
If I have focus on a showdown and start with an action, can I instantly play a reaction or does priority pass automatically to my opponent?
Ruling: When you add a chain item (action or reaction), priority first goes to the player who added it. So yes, you can play a reaction immediately after your action before passing priority to your opponent.
When multiple stat modification effects are played in sequence (like Back to Back and Smoke Screen), does order matter or do effects like 'this turn' apply retroactively to all modifications?
Ruling: Order matters. Effects like Smoke Screen snapshot when they resolve and do not constantly re-check numbers throughout the turn.
Can multiple action cards be played during a single showdown, and what is the sequence for playing them?
Ruling: Both players can play multiple action cards during a showdown as long as they follow priority/focus rules. Actions can only be played when the chain is empty, and the showdown only ends when both players pass in a row on an empty chain.
If a unit is saved with Sett's ability, does its combat damage still go through?
Ruling: If the unit died during the combat damage step, yes, its damage still goes through because all units deal damage before the game checks for lethal damage. If the unit died during the showdown to an ability or spell, then no.
When Teemo Strategist's ability triggers during a showdown he's defending, can Nocturne be played into that same battlefield?
Ruling: Yes, Nocturne can be played into the battlefield Teemo is defending during a showdown. Card text supersedes normal timing restrictions - while units normally cannot be played during showdowns (which are in a "showdown closed" state), Nocturne's specific triggered ability allows him to be played when revealed from the deck, and he can be played into any battlefield his...
Does Ember Monk get +2 might when a card from hidden is played at a different battlefield than where Ember Monk is located?
Ruling: Yes, Ember Monk gets +2 might when any card from hidden is played, regardless of which battlefield either card is at.
In a surprise defense scenario (when a player moves a unit to an unoccupied battlefield and the opponent responds by moving a unit there with Ride the Wind), does the initial open showdown end immediately and combat start, or do players continue passing priority in the open showdown before combat begins?
Ruling: Players continue passing priority in the initial open showdown until both pass without starting a chain. Only after the open showdown ends naturally does combat begin.
When a unit with an attack trigger (like Yasuo Remorseful) is moved or killed during a showdown after the trigger has been added to the chain, does the triggered ability still resolve and deal damage?
Ruling: Once a triggered ability is added to the chain, it always resolves regardless of whether the unit is killed or moved. However, if the ability references the unit's location (like "here") or stats (like "my might"), it may resolve to do nothing if the unit is no longer in the referenced location or no longer exists.
Can hidden cards be played directly to battlefields, and where can hidden cards be played from?
Ruling: Hidden cards can only be played at Battlefields you control, not at your own base. If you play a hidden card at a Battlefield you control, you have to wait until your opponent's turn to be able to play them.
Can Defy or Windwall counter play abilities like Shieldbearer's stun or Harnessed Dragon's kill effect?
Ruling: No, Defy and Windwall cannot counter play abilities because they specifically counter spells, and play abilities are not spells.
If Mundo's might is decreased to 1 by 2 copies of Smokescreen (while a card is in trash triggering his ability), then that card leaves trash, what does his might become? And what happens if a third Smokescreen is played after that?
Ruling: When the card leaves trash, Mundo's might becomes 0. If a third Smokescreen is played while Mundo is at 0 might, he remains at 0.
When a Sett Brawler that has buffed itself to 8 might is saved from death by The Boss's replacement effect, does it retain its 8 might or reset to 4?
Ruling: The Sett Brawler retains its 8 might when saved by The Boss's effect because the unit never leaves the board zone and remains the same game object.
Can you play multiple reaction cards after each other (e.g., retreat after a retreat), and do you need focus to do so?
Ruling: Yes, you can play multiple reaction cards after each other. You only need priority to play the first reaction, not focus.
When does a player lose control of a battlefield with a hidden card after their defending unit dies, and can they still use the hidden card as a reaction?
Ruling: If a unit dies to combat damage during a showdown, control is lost immediately when the showdown ends, and no reactions are allowed from the hidden card. If a unit dies outside of combat (such as from a damage spell), control is lost immediately when no units are present, and the hidden card cannot be used.
When Yasuo attacks and triggers abilities from both Ahri Legend and Ahri Inquisitive defending, what is the order of resolution and when can players play reactions?
Ruling: All attack and defend triggers go on the chain first (attacker's triggers, then defender's triggers in defender's chosen order), but nothing resolves until players pass priority. The attacker gets priority first and can play reactions before any triggers resolve, and players get additional priority windows as each ability resolves from the chain.
If I see 3 Nocturnes from Stacked Deck, can I pay for all 3 even though I will be drawing one off Stacked Deck before the trigger resolves?
Ruling: You can banish all three Nocturnes when revealed by Stacked Deck. Stacked Deck won't do anything since the banished Nocturnes are no longer valid cards to add to your hand or recycle.
Can you play Chinese legend cards and runes in an otherwise English deck?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Chinese legend cards and Chinese runes in an otherwise English deck. Nuances: - You must use all runes in the same language - you cannot mix Chinese and English runes together - The champion must remain in English per the rules - It is recommended to have a proxy of the legend available for opponents...
Does Petricite Monument's effect that gives units Deflect persist after the gear leaves play?
Ruling: Petricite Monument's effect is only active while the gear is on the board. When the gear goes to the trash, units lose the Deflect keyword.
Does Volibear Legend's ability trigger when Sett enters play and gains Might from his own effect?
Ruling: No, Volibear Legend will not trigger from Sett's self-buff. Volibear Legend checks Sett's Might value at the moment Sett enters play, before Sett's triggered ability goes on the chain, so Sett will still only have 4 Might at that time.
If something is targeted and then dies on the chain, can you target something new?
Ruling: No, you cannot target something new. Targets are chosen when you play the card. If the original target is not there at resolution, that part of the spell won't have an effect.
Can Teemo Swift Scout's ability put a Teemo champion unit from your trash into your hand?
Ruling: No. Swift Scout specifies it can place a Teemo unit into your hand from your champion zone of the board. Your trash is neither of those places.
Can Blind Fury be played during a showdown as a defender, and does it allow you to take your opponent's revealed card and play it on your side of the battlefield?
Ruling: Blind Fury can be played during a showdown if you have focus, but it reveals and plays a card from the top of the main deck, not from hidden cards at the showdown battlefield. In a 1v1 game, your opponent reveals the top card of their deck and you play it to your side of the battlefield.
Does Yasuo Remorseful deal damage twice - once from his attacker trigger and once from regular combat damage?
Ruling: Yes, Yasuo Remorseful deals damage twice - first from his attacker trigger effect, then from regular combat damage. Sequence: - You attack into battlefield - Yasuo's attacker trigger goes on the chain and you declare a target unit at the battlefield - Both players pass priority - Yasuo deals his might to that target unit - Both players pass...
Can you use Not So Fast to counter an opponent's Not So Fast that is targeting your unit's play effect?
Ruling: No, you cannot use Not So Fast to counter another Not So Fast. Not So Fast targets spells and abilities, not units or gear, so it cannot be a legal target for another Not So Fast.
Can you play reaction cards during phase changes, and do you need a chain to exist to play reactions during opponent's turns?
Ruling: You cannot react to phase changes or end of turn itself. During your opponent's turn, you can only play reactions when there's a chain or when there's a showdown and you have focus.
If I play Get Excited and discard Sky Splitter while Kadregrin is on base, does Get Excited deal 0 damage (due to Kadregrin's cost reduction) or 8 damage (Sky Splitter's printed cost)?
Ruling: Get Excited deals 8 damage. When effects reference a card's cost, they always reference the printed value on the card, not any modified cost from other effects.
If you play Gust on your own Ravenbloom Student at 3 might, does it get sent to your hand, or does it become 4 might first (from its trigger) and become an invalid target?
Ruling: The Ravenbloom Student will be sent to hand before its trigger can resolve. The student's trigger responds to the resolution of the spell, not to the spell being put on the chain.
Does Anivia Primal's "deal 3 to ALL enemy units here" deal 3 damage to each enemy unit individually, or 3 damage total that can be allocated across enemy units?
Ruling: Anivia Primal deals 3 damage to each enemy unit individually. Nuances: - This can be compared to Volibear, Furious for similar templating
Can you play Meditate and exhaust Lee Sin Ascetic to both draw an extra card from Meditate and trigger Lee Sin's "Exhaust me: buff me" ability?
Ruling: No, you cannot use the same exhaust to pay for both Meditate's card draw and Lee Sin Ascetic's self-buff ability.
If holding a battlefield at the start of your turn gives you your 7th point, can you then capture another battlefield that same turn to score your 8th point and win?
Ruling: Yes, you can. You need to score all battlefields on the same turn only if you want your final point to come from a conquer. Holding counts as scoring on your turn.
When moving a unit with Showstopper (or Leona's spell), can other units from the base join the same attack, or must the moved unit attack alone?
Ruling: When you move a unit with a spell like Showstopper or Leona's spell, you cannot move other units alongside it - the unit must attack alone.
Does an initial chain get created if no units have 'When I attack' or 'When I defend' abilities?
Ruling: If there are no "When I attack" or "When I defend" abilities, there is no initial chain and combat goes straight into a showdown, giving the attacker focus to start a chain.
Can Dragon's Rage target a unit that is already at the destination location (e.g., targeting Lee Sin when Wizened Elder is already where Lee Sin would be moved to)?
Ruling: No, Dragon's Rage cannot target a unit if there is no actual movement because you cannot move to where you already are.
Does Ka'sai's ability pay for a card's power cost, and if so, does it reduce the number of runes that need to be recycled?
Ruling: Ka'sai's ability provides 1 power of any color that can only be used to pay for Spell cards. This power can substitute for recycling one rune, but does not pay for energy costs.
Does Glasc Deathknell's ability work with Drag Under (i.e., can you play Drag Under on Deathknell)?
Ruling: No, Glasc Deathknell's ability does not work with Drag Under because Drag Under is not a unit and costs more than 3 energy.
Can you play Gust targeting a 4 Might unit and then react to it with Stupefy to reduce the unit's Might to 3 or less before Gust resolves?
Ruling: No, you cannot target a 4 Might unit with Gust. The targeting requirement "a unit at a battlefield with 3 might or less" must be met when the card is played, before any reactions can be added to the chain.
Can Ride the Wind move a unit from one battlefield to another battlefield?
Ruling: Yes, Ride the Wind can move a unit from one battlefield to another battlefield. Nuances: - Units' standard move cannot move from one battlefield to another without ganking - Spells and abilities that cause units to move are not restricted in the same way as standard moves - Movement spells and abilities describe their own limitations, if any
For Baited Hook, when do you pick the target, and what happens if the target is missing when the ability resolves?
Ruling: You pick the target when activating the ability. If the target is missing at resolution, the "kill a friendly unit" part fizzles, but you still look at the top 5 cards of your main deck and recycle them.
Does Divine Judgement target units, runes, and gears when activated, and can it be played if there are 0 or 1 gears on the board?
Ruling: Divine Judgement does not target anything upon entering the chain. The resolution instructs players to choose, but this is not targeting because both players are choosing together, not you alone.
When playing a spell in a multiplayer game, at what point must you designate the target, and does it need to be announced before opponents can react?
Ruling: You must choose the target when the spell goes on the chain, before giving other players the opportunity to react.
Can Yasuo's leader skill move a unit from base to battlefield, from battlefield to base, or both?
Ruling: Yasuo's leader skill allows you to move a unit either from base to battlefield OR from battlefield to base. You choose one of these two options.
Do hidden cards need to target at the battlefield they are hidden at, and does targeting text change when a card is hidden?
Ruling: All hidden cards receive the additional targeting restriction of "Here" (meaning they must target at their own battlefield), except for Tideturner which cannot target at its own location due to errata.
In 2v2, can I play cards that say 'your base' to my friend's base?
Ruling: No, your friend's base is not your base. You cannot play cards that reference "your base" to your teammate's base.
When an attacker stuns and kills a defender but another defender survives, do the attackers remain on the battlefield or return to base, and who scores the conquest point?
Ruling: When combat ends, if there are still defenders present on the battlefield, all attacking units are recalled to base. No one scores a conquest point immediately - the defender retains control of the battlefield and will score a point for holding it at the beginning of their next turn.
Can Imperial Decree allow you to split damage between a Tank and another unit (Ahri) when attacking with multiple 1M recruits?
Ruling: No, Imperial Decree does not change how you assign damage to units. When a Tank is present, you must assign all damage to it first before dealing lethal damage, and you cannot reassign damage before doing lethal to a unit.
What is the proper order of operations between games in a match?
Ruling: The order between games in a match is: Sideboard, Legend, Chosen Champion, Battlefield, Turn Order, Draw/Mulligan. Sequence: - Sideboard - Legend - Chosen Champion - Battlefield - Turn Order - Draw/Mulligan
If my opponent plays Bullet Time when I have Embermonk and a hidden Teemo on my battlefield (outside of combat), does it kill the monk and then allow me to play Teemo, or does it kill the monk and prevent me from playing Teemo?
Ruling: Outside of combat, if Bullet Time kills your only unit at a battlefield, the hidden card goes to trash during spell cleanup and you cannot play Teemo. You lose control of the battlefield when your last unit dies.