Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 34 of 133 · 6,624 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If a unit with 3 printed might at Trifarian War Camp gets Smoke Screened, does it have 1 or 2 might?
Ruling: The unit has 1 might. Smoke Screen snapshots the unit's might at 4 (3 base + 1 from War Camp), then reduces it by 3, resulting in 1 might (3 + 1 - 3 = 1).
Can a player play reactions to save units after combat damage has been assigned?
Ruling: No, once you get to assigning damage, the window for playing reactions is over.
How does Mask of Foresight work in 2v2 games, specifically whether the buff applies to teammate units?
Ruling: Mask of Foresight's "friendly" designation applies to teammate units as well in 2v2 games. Both you and your teammate's units receive the buff based on how many Masks of Foresight you have.
When an opponent casts Possession on a unit that has equipment attached, does the opponent also take control of the equipped gears?
Ruling: No, the opponent does not gain control of the equipped gears. The gears remain attached to the unit and their effects continue to apply, but the original owner retains control of the equipment.
Does Tryndamere's ability count only combat damage?
Ruling: Yes, Tryndamere's ability counts only combat damage. Nuances: - Spell damage can factor into the math by reducing a unit's remaining health, meaning Tryndamere would need to deal less combat damage to reach the threshold for triggering while conquering
If you retreat a blue Viktor (Inquisitive) on your opponent's turn, does he make a recruit token?
Ruling: No, Viktor does not make a recruit token when retreated. Play effects occur after the triggering spell finishes the complete process of being played, which in the case of retreat will be after Viktor is put back in hand.
Can a player use Hidden Blade from hand to kill their own unit before Temporary destroys it at the start of their beginning phase?
Ruling: Hidden Blade from hand cannot be used to react to the Temporary trigger because it is not a reaction. However, if Hidden Blade were already hidden at the same battlefield, it could be used at reaction speed to kill the temporary unit before the Temporary effect resolves.
If a player conquers Zaun Warrens and uses its 'when you conquer' effect to discard Mega Death Rocket, can they retrieve Mega Death Rocket from trash with its own 'when you conquer' ability?
Ruling: No, you cannot retrieve Mega Death Rocket with its own 'when you conquer' ability in this scenario. Sequence: - You conquer the battlefield and gain the point - The 'when you conquer' trigger window opens - At this point, Mega Death Rocket is not yet in the trash (it will be discarded as part of resolving Zaun Warrens' effect)...
If a Sprite with 5 power has 3 marked damage on it from Hextech, will it still deal full combat damage and kill both blocking units?
Ruling: Yes, the Sprite will still deal its full 5 damage in the combat damage step and can kill both blocking units. Marked damage does not reduce the amount of damage a unit deals in combat.
If Traveling Merchant moves to an open battlefield and you discard Flame Chompers, can you play Flame Chompers directly to the battlefield Traveling Merchant is moving to?
Ruling: No, you cannot play Flame Chompers to the battlefield Traveling Merchant is moving to because you do not control that battlefield yet when the discard effect resolves.
Does Wielder of Water get +2 might when moving into an empty battlefield, and can it be targeted by Gust?
Ruling: Wielder of Water does not get +2 might when moving into an empty battlefield because it is a showdown, not a combat, so there are no attacker/defender designations. Therefore, it can be targeted by Gust.
When do you score points for controlling a battlefield/zone in Riftbound?
Ruling: You score a point if you control a battlefield at the START of your turn, not at the end of your turn.
Why does Kaisa's legend ability have reaction speed if activated abilities can only be used during your turn when the chain is empty?
Ruling: Activated abilities with reaction speed can be used in any reaction speed window, not just during your turn when the chain is empty. The reaction speed designation specifically allows the ability to be used at times beyond the default restriction.
Is the second effect 'Then, if I am at a battlefield, buff all other friendly units there' a passive or a one-time active effect?
Ruling: It's a single-use trigger when the unit is played, not a passive effect. Sequence: - The first part of the effect resolves first - Then the second part resolves only if legal (if the unit is at a battlefield)
If a unit is targeted by Darius's spell (Noxian Guillotine) before combat, does it only need 1 damage assigned to it during combat to die?
Ruling: No, you must still assign damage equal to the unit's might during combat, even if it was targeted by Noxian Guillotine earlier. The Guillotine effect does not reduce the lethal damage requirement for combat damage assignment.
Can Sprite Call be used as a Reaction when it would be sent to Trash due to losing control of a Battlefield?
Ruling: Sprite Call cannot be used as a Reaction in this situation. The card goes to Trash as a result of cleanup, which doesn't use the chain, so you cannot react to it.
Where in the rules is "Board Zone" defined, and does it include the banish zone?
Ruling: Board zones are defined in the rules (rule 106), and the banish zone is included as a board zone.
When playing a unit with Accelerate (like Kai'sa) via Baited Hook, can you pay the Accelerate cost to have it enter ready, and is the Accelerate cost still required?
Ruling: When playing a unit via Baited Hook, you can pay optional additional costs like Accelerate, and you must pay mandatory additional costs. Baited Hook only sets the base cost to zero.
Does damage heal after combat include spell damage, or only combat damage?
Ruling: All damage on all units in play heals after combat, regardless of how they were damaged (including spell damage).
Can Imperial Decree be used to chain token attacks, sending in 1-Might tokens one at a time to kill high-Might enemy units by dealing 1 damage each (which becomes lethal under the spell's effect)?
Ruling: Yes, you can send tokens in one at a time to trigger separate combats under Imperial Decree. Each token that deals any damage will trigger the spell's effect to kill the damaged unit, regardless of the unit's Might value. This works on offense when sending units in sequentially.
Can Kaisa's ability (which gives power for spells) be used to pay for non-spell costs through recycling, or to pay the energy cost of spells like Retreat?
Ruling: Kaisa's ability only provides power that can be used to pay for spells, not energy. This power cannot be used to pay for units or to pay the energy cost of any card, including spells.
Can you play Cull the Weak if you own no units anywhere, and if so, does your opponent still have to kill a unit?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Cull the Weak even if you own no units. Your opponent must kill one of their units, but you do not have to kill any of your own units.
What is the correct setup order for Riftbound games, particularly regarding when battlefields are revealed and when turn order is determined?
Ruling: The setup order for every game is: Legend > CC > Battlefields (revealed based on mode of play) > Turn order > Draw/Mulligan. Battlefields are always revealed before turn order is determined.
How does Caitlyn's card work? Does she deal and receive damage at the end of combat, or only one? Does moving her to a battlefield and tapping trigger her ability?
Ruling: Caitlyn has two abilities. The first is a passive that makes Caitlyn always the last of your units to die when assigning combat damage. The second is an activated ability that requires paying a cost to use.
Does Pirate's Haven apply to multiple units, or just one unit?
Ruling: Pirate's Haven applies to each unit, not just one unit. Nuances: - The wording may seem ambiguous (similar to Ahri's effect), but it applies to all applicable units, not just the first one
Can Recruit the Vanguard be played to deploy units to the battlefield where a showdown combat is about to occur?
Ruling: Yes, if you are the defender in the showdown, you can play units to that battlefield because you control it.
Does Purple Miss Fortune affect my partner's units in a 2v2?
Ruling: Yes, Purple Miss Fortune affects your partner's units in a 2v2.
When Karthus and Kog'maw die at the same time, does Kog'maw's Deathknell trigger twice due to Karthus's passive ability?
Ruling: Yes, when Karthus and Kog'maw die at the same time, Kog'maw's Deathknell triggers twice. Karthus's ability is a passive (not a triggered ability), so it applies even when Karthus dies simultaneously with other units.
Does playing 2 Spirit's Refuge give a buffed card Deflect 2?
Ruling: No, multiple Spirit's Refuge do not stack to give Deflect 2. The card text specifies that friendly buffed units have deflect "if they didn't already," which prevents stacking.
In a 2v2 match, can Yasuo's effect target a friendly unit from a teammate's base and move it to your base to use as your unit?
Ruling: No, you cannot use Yasuo's legend ability on your partner's units in a 2v2 match. Nuances: - The restriction is not about whether the units are "friendly" (they are), but rather that you cannot move your partner's units "to and from your base"
When attacking with Lecturing Yordle against Ahri (Inquisitive) and Ahri Legend, should Cleave be played before or after the showdown starts to maximize Might?
Ruling: Playing Cleave after the showdown starts results in higher Might (4) compared to playing it before entering the battlefield (2), because the timing of when Ahri's Might reduction effects apply differs.
When passing priority during a Showdown in combat with an empty chain, does the non-turn player need to pass twice in a row after the turn player passes, or does passing work differently?
Ruling: When you have focus and priority and the chain is empty, passing means you pass both focus and priority together (not just priority). If both players pass consecutively with nothing on the chain, the showdown ends.
If I have two Gem Crafters on the battlefield, does the ability trigger twice when a new unit enters?
Ruling: Yes, if you have two Gem Crafters on the battlefield, the ability triggers twice when a new unit enters. Multiple instances of Vision trigger separately.
If you're defending, can you use Arcane Shift to banish and replay Blue Ahri from/onto the same battlefield to trigger her 'When I Defend' ability a second time in the same combat?
Ruling: Yes, you can trigger the 'When I Defend' ability a second time. When a unit is banished and replayed, it becomes a new game object that never saw the first trigger happen, so it can trigger again even in the same combat.
If an opponent plays Hextech Ray targeting a card on field, can they change the target if the defending player responds by playing a unit from hidden (like Teemo in trap) before Hextech Ray resolves?
Ruling: No, they cannot change targets. The target is chosen and locked in when Hextech Ray is finalized to the chain, before the opponent has a chance to respond.
If I cast Gust targeting my own Ravenbloom Student that is already at 3 Might, does the Student get +1 Might (becoming 4 Might) before Gust resolves, or does Gust resolve first and return the Student to hand?
Ruling: Gust resolves first and returns the Student to hand. A card is not considered played until it fully resolves, so the Gust would resolve before the +1 Might increase could trigger.
If Uncheck Power is countered by Wind Wall, are units exhausted?
Ruling: Uncheck Power exhausts friendly units as part of spell resolution, not as a cost. If the spell is countered by Wind Wall, your units are not exhausted and remain in their previous state.
Can a player hold priority after playing an Action card during a showdown to play a Reaction speed spell as a 'buffer' before the opponent responds?
Ruling: Yes, you can hold priority and play a Reaction speed spell like Stupify on top of the chain. However, this doesn't effectively 'buffer' against counters like Wind Wall because counters target 'a spell' on the chain, not specifically the previous spell, so your opponent can choose to counter whichever spell they want.
Does the Shield keyword stack when multiple units or effects grant Shield?
Ruling: Yes, each instance of Shield stacks. Multiple sources of Shield add together to create a cumulative Shield value. Sequence: - Each unit with Shield grants its Shield value - Shield granted by other units' abilities adds to the total - Shield granted by combat tricks (like Block) also adds to the total - All Shield values sum together for...
When a unit is saved by Zhonya's or Guardian Angel (replacing its death), do equipment cards detach from the unit?
Ruling: When a unit is saved by Zhonya's or Guardian Angel (the death is replaced and prevented), the unit doesn't die, so equipment remains attached.
If a unit with Assault (like Jinx) attacks and gets hit by Smokescreen, then plays Fists of Fury to survive, what is their Might after combat? Does it go to 0 or stay at 1?
Ruling: When a unit's Might is reduced by Smokescreen during combat and then modified by other effects, the Might can go to 0 or even negative values. The minimum of 1 restriction on Smokescreen was not changed by the new ruling.
When a temporary token (Sprite) is on a battlefield with a hidden unit (Teemo), and the temporary trigger happens at the start of turn, can you reveal the hidden unit before the token is removed to maintain control and score for holding?
Ruling: Yes, you can reveal the hidden unit before the temporary token is removed. The temporary trigger can be responded to, allowing you to reveal Teemo first, which then resolves before the Sprite token is discarded.
Can Crackshot Corsair and Warwick combo so that Warwick will kill the unit that Crackshot deals damage to?
Ruling: Yes, Crackshot Corsair and Warwick can combo together. The triggers happen simultaneously, so you can order them so that Crackshot Corsair's trigger happens first and then Warwick will kill all units at the battlefield with damage on them.
Can you move a unit from battlefield to battlefield using Ride the Wind without the standard movement restriction (ganking)?
Ruling: Yes, you can move units from battlefield to battlefield using Ride the Wind. The battlefield-to-battlefield restriction only applies to standard movement, not to movement from spells or abilities.
Can you play Ride the Wind targeting a unit at Vilemaw's Lair to move it to base (even though Vilemaw's Lair prevents the movement), just to ready the unit?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Ride the Wind targeting a unit at Vilemaw's Lair with base as the destination. The unit will be readied but will stay at Vilemaw's Lair since the Lair prevents the movement.
For 'Forge of the Future' with text 'Kill This', can the card be trashed at any point or does it require another card's effect to destroy it?
Ruling: 'Kill This' is an activated ability where killing the card is the cost to activate the ability, as indicated by the colon (':') in the card text.
How do you pay for Baited Hook's activation cost that shows a 1 symbol, a yellow symbol, and tap?
Ruling: You need to exhaust 1 rune of any color (generating 1 energy) and recycle 1 yellow rune (generating 1 yellow power). These can be the same rune done in sequence: exhaust a yellow rune to float 1 energy, then recycle that same rune to generate 1 yellow power.
When are checks done to see if something dies, and does this happen during a showdown before it ends?
Ruling: Currently, cleanup (when death is checked) happens anytime something resolves, a unit moves, the turn ends, and showdown ends. This means in the Yasuo/Volibear example, Volibear would die during the showdown after Last Breath resolves, before Yasuo would die.
Does the second player have untapped runes during the first player's first turn?
Ruling: No. During the first player's first turn, only the first player has runes. The second player only gets their runes in the channel step of their first turn.
When combat starts, is there a window to play cards before Attack/Defend abilities trigger, and does Teemo, Strategist's errata prevent him from triggering his Defend ability when played from hidden during combat?
Ruling: There is no window to play cards between starting combat and when Attack/Defend abilities trigger, unless a triggered ability occurs during movement that creates a priority window. Teemo, Strategist still works when played from hidden at reaction speed during combat because "When I Defend" triggers when a card gains the defending designation, not only at the start of combat.