Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 38 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does Hidden Blade give the draw if the unit doesn't die (e.g., with Zhonya's Hourglass or if Retreated)?
Ruling: Hidden Blade gives the draw if the unit survives with Zhonya's Hourglass because the unit is still in play and its controller can be established. If the unit is Retreated or moved to base before Hidden Blade resolves, you do not draw because it's no longer a legal target at a battlefield.
When defending with Teemo Strategist, when can the opponent react to the ability - before or after revealing cards and targeting a unit?
Ruling: The opponent can react before you reveal cards. Sequence: - Teemo Strategist's ability triggers - Opponent has opportunity to react - Cards are revealed and unit is targeted - Ability resolves
If a buffed unit wins a showdown but takes damage exceeding its base Might (but not exceeding buffed Might), does it heal back to its buffed Might or does it need to be rebuffed?
Ruling: A buffed unit retains its buff even when damaged. Unless the unit dies (takes damage equal to or exceeding its buffed Might total), it will fully heal and keep the buff.
Can a card played from hidden at one battlefield target units or place tokens at a different battlefield?
Ruling: No. A card played from hidden at one battlefield must target units and place tokens only at that same battlefield, regardless of where the showdown occurs.
Does combining Stupify and Watcher kill a unit by reducing its Might below zero?
Ruling: Reducing a unit's Might below zero does not kill it. Units can have less than 1 Might (treated as zero), but units at 0 Might don't die. Might reduction can only kill a unit if it already had damage on it.
When two Dazzling Aurora triggers resolve, what is the correct sequence for playing units and resolving their When You Play Me (WYPM) triggers, and can a showdown start while there is still a chain?
Ruling: A showdown cannot start while the game state is closed (i.e., there is a chain). The first Aurora resolves completely, then the second Aurora resolves along with any WYPM triggers from the second unit, then once the state opens, the showdown stages and begins.
Can I react with Gust to my opponent entering a battlefield they already conquered?
Ruling: No, you cannot react to movements between two controlled locations. Movements between controlled locations do not create a reaction window.
When you move a unit with Charm to one of your battlefields but lose the position, does your opponent gain 1 point and activate their Conquer ability?
Ruling: Yes, when you lose a position after moving a Charmed unit to your battlefield, your opponent gains 1 point and activates their Conquer ability.
Can units from a base and units with ganking from a controlled battlefield attack the same opponent battlefield in a single wave, or must they attack separately?
Ruling: Units from a base and units with ganking from a controlled battlefield can attack the same opponent battlefield in a single wave, as long as the destination is the same.
If Undertitan is drawn, can you reveal him to get the +2 energy?
Ruling: No, drawing is not revealing. Game effects will specifically tell you to reveal cards. Nuances: - Drawing and revealing are distinct game actions - Only effects that explicitly instruct you to reveal cards count as revealing
Does the first player draw a card on turn 1 in 1v1 Match format?
Ruling: Yes, the first player draws a card on turn 1 in 1v1 Match format (and 1v1 Duel format). Nuances: - In 4-player games, the first player does not draw on turn 1 - There is no difference between 1v1 Match and 1v1 Duel regarding first turn draw (the only difference is sideboarding) - The duel 1v1 setup rules do...
Does the defender get an opportunity to play actions after a chain from the attacker's invasion resolves?
Ruling: Yes, the defender gets an opportunity to play actions after a chain from the attacker's invasion resolves. Nuances: - It may be strategically wise to save certain Reactions during an attacker's action for a chain that may develop on your own action.
Does Annie's ability to give +1 damage apply to spells and abilities that don't already deal damage (i.e., that deal 0 damage)?
Ruling: Annie's ability only increases damage for spells and abilities that already deal damage. However, if a card explicitly states "deal 0 damage," then it would deal 1 damage with Annie's bonus.
Do units get the +1 bonus from Pirate Haven during the refresh stage when they ready?
Ruling: Yes, units get the +1 bonus from Pirate Haven when they ready during the refresh stage. Nuances: - Only units that actually ready (transition from exhausted to ready) get the benefit - Units that are already ready do not get the benefit
If Warwick moves and Flurry of Blades is played, then Warwick is removed from play (bounced or killed), does his ability still trigger?
Ruling: Warwick's ability is still triggered and resolves, but it does nothing because it cannot find "here" (Warwick is no longer in play at the location referenced by the ability).
Can I play multiple reactions to my own action before the action resolves?
Ruling: Yes, you can play reactions to your own action as many times as you like before the action resolves, as long as you have priority.
Why does the rune pool empty after the draw phase (in addition to at end of turn)?
Ruling: The rune pool empties after the draw phase to prevent potential exploits where players could float resources from exhausting/recycling runes during the Beginning step, then immediately re-channel those runes for excessive resources in a single turn.
Can you play units directly to battlefields you control?
Ruling: Yes, you can play units directly to battlefields you control without needing to play them to your base first and then move them.
If you sacrifice a buffed unit with Baited Hook, can you hold Vanguard Helm's effect until after Hook finishes resolving to buff the unit you just played from Hook?
Ruling: No, you cannot buff the unit played from Baited Hook with Vanguard Helm. When Hook kills the buffed unit, Helm's trigger is added to the pending chain first, then the unit from Hook is added to the pending chain second. Pending items are finalized in the order they were added (first in, first out), so Helm finalizes and requires...
Can you reveal a hidden card with an hourglass (temporary) unit in reaction to the temporary trigger at the start of your turn, or does the unit die and you lose the hidden card before you can reveal it?
Ruling: You can reveal the hidden card in reaction to the temporary trigger. The temporary keyword is a trigger, not a passive effect, so you have the opportunity to respond to it before the unit dies.
Does Darius's +2 effect trigger on defense and/or offense, specifically if playing spells as the second card in a showdown or when using defensive spells on the opponent's turn?
Ruling: Darius's +2 effect triggers after the second card is played (resolved) in any turn, including both your turn and your opponent's turn.
Are equipment still considered gear while attached to a unit, and would attached equipment gain benefits from the unit's abilities like deflect?
Ruling: Equipment remains gear while attached to a unit (only its rules text becomes inactive). Effect text on gear only applies to the card it is attached to, not to the gear itself, so attached equipment would not gain benefits like Deflect from the unit or other gear.
Can players respond with Reaction cards to 'When you play me' or 'As you play me' triggered abilities, and can they respond to simply playing a unit without additional effects?
Ruling: Players can respond with Reaction cards to triggered abilities like "When you play me" effects, but cannot respond to simply playing a unit or permanent without triggered abilities. The permanent itself resolves immediately, but any triggered ability it has goes on the chain and can be reacted to.
How does Zhonya's Hourglass activation cost work when using its hidden effect, and what is the orientation of the face-down card?
Ruling: When playing Zhonya's Hourglass normally, it costs 2 Runes and is placed readied in your base. When using the hidden effect, you only pay power to hide it, then can play it for free from hidden (not an additional 3 Runes total).
If I conquered a battlefield then moved the only unit out of it, can I play a new unit back into it from hand?
Ruling: No, you cannot play a new unit into a battlefield if you have no units there. You need to have a unit at the battlefield and be in control of it to play additional units there.
How do damage and might reduction interact differently in combat? Does a unit with marked damage still deal its full might in combat?
Ruling: Damage marked on a unit does not reduce its might, so a damaged unit still deals its full might value in combat. However, effects that explicitly reduce might (not damage) will reduce the amount of damage that unit deals.
What happens when an attacker's unit survives combat but cannot deal damage due to Rune Prison, and the defender's unit also survives?
Ruling: When the attacker is unable to gain control of the battlefield (because their unit cannot deal damage due to Rune Prison and the defender's unit survives), the defender retains control and the attacker's unit is recalled to base.
If Void Seeker fails to kill something or its target becomes illegal, do you still draw a card?
Ruling: Yes, you still draw a card. The draw effect is not conditional on killing the target or the target being legal.
After initiating a showdown and playing Cleave, when the chain resolves, do I get focus back to play another Cleave?
Ruling: When a chain fully resolves in Showdown, focus automatically passes to the next player. If they pass, you gain focus back and can play another action.
What is the correct step-by-step sequence for game setup in Riftbound?
Ruling: The correct game setup sequence is: (1) Reveal Legend, (2) Reveal Champion, (3) Choose and Reveal Battlefields, (4) Determine turn order (randomly determined player for game 1, or loser of previous game can decide if they go 1st or 2nd), (5) Draw 4 and resolve mulligans.
If you control Miss Fortune, Buccaneer (which allows friendly units to be played to open battlefields), can you play a hidden unit (like Teemo) or a unit from a hidden spell effect (like Sprite Call) to an open battlefield instead of the battlefield where it was hidden?
Ruling: No. A hidden unit must be played to the battlefield where it was hidden, and this restriction cannot be overridden by Miss Fortune's ability.
If you have 12 runes channeled at the beginning of your turn, do you skip drawing a card from your main deck?
Ruling: No, this is not true. You still draw a card from your main deck even if you have 12 runes channeled at the beginning of your turn.
Does the Hidden keyword allow you to play an Action speed card at Reaction speed?
Ruling: Yes, Hidden cards gain the ability to be played at Reaction speed once you get past the turn you've hidden them on.
Is 'when I move' considered an ability that creates a chain and gives the opponent an opportunity to react, such as when moving a Merchant from a battlefield to your base?
Ruling: Yes, 'when I move' is a triggered ability that is placed on the chain, giving the opponent an opportunity to react when a unit like Merchant moves from one battlefield to your base.
Do characters heal after a challenge is resolved?
Ruling: No, units do not heal after combat or at end of turn. This effect is not a combat effect.
If I play a unit with 'When I attack' and have a gear with 'When a friendly unit attacks', can I pick the order in which they're added to the chain?
Ruling: Yes, when multiple triggered abilities trigger simultaneously, the player who controls those abilities selects the order to place them on the chain.
If a unit on Trifarian War Camp has its Might reduced to 1 (from base 3 Might + 1 from War Camp, then reduced by Thousand-Tailed Watchera) and is then moved to another base, does it survive or die?
Ruling: The unit survives because it was never dealt any damage. A unit needs to be dealt at least 1 point of damage to be destroyed, even if it has 0 or 1 Might.
Does the Hidden rule 723.1.d restrict target choices for on-play triggers of units played from Hidden (like Blastcone Fae and Tideturner)?
Ruling: The current rule 723.1.d does not encompass choices made for triggers, but it is supposed to. The design intent is that abilities like Blastcone Fae's are restricted to the battlefield associated with the Hidden zone, but there will be a carveout that lets cards like Tideturner work as intended.
When does Irelia, Fervent's +1 Might trigger resolve in the chain, particularly: (1) when targeted by Switcheroo, does the +1 Might happen before or after the Might swap? (2) does she still get +1 Might if the targeting spell is countered? (3) does she trigger when readied during the awaken phase if she was exhausted?
Ruling: Irelia, Fervent's triggered ability goes on top of the chain whenever she is targeted by a spell or ability, resolving before that spell or ability. The triggered ability triggers when the condition is met and remains on the chain even if the original spell is countered.
Can I play Stupify in response to Master Yi's legend ability when defending, to kill the buffed enemy unit before the 'when I defend' trigger resolves?
Ruling: No, you cannot respond to Master Yi's ability because it is a passive ability that uses "while" rather than a triggered ability. Passive abilities with "while" do not use the stack and cannot be responded to.
If a Merchant with Cleave moves out of combat after taking damage, does it die immediately when it loses the Cleave might bonus, or does it survive until the showdown ends?
Ruling: The Merchant dies immediately during the cleanup after Ride the Wind resolves, as soon as it loses the Cleave might bonus from leaving combat.
Does the Assault keyword trigger when a unit moves to an open (undefended) battlefield?
Ruling: No, Assault does not trigger when moving to an open battlefield. Assault requires a combat with an attacker and defender, but moving to an open battlefield is a showdown without an opposing unit, so there is no attacker/defender roles.
Does Kaisa's Accelerate ability cost 1 energy and 1 power, or just 1 power?
Ruling: Kaisa's Accelerate costs both 1 energy and 1 power. Nuances: - The circled number symbol represents energy cost - The colored symbol represents power cost
Do 'on attack' triggers enter the chain first before 'on defense' triggers, with reactions possible between them, or do both types of triggers enter the chain together before any reactions can be used?
Ruling: Both attacking and defending triggers enter the chain together before reactions can be used. Sequence: - On attack triggers enter the chain - On defense triggers enter the chain - Once both types of triggers are on the chain, reactions can then be used
When an opponent casts Showstopper, how much of the travel destination must be declared before the defending player can use a reaction?
Ruling: The casting player must declare where the unit is traveling to before the opponent can play a reaction spell.
What counts as an 'ability' for the purposes of Deflect's requirement to recycle to target with an ability?
Ruling: An ability is any text on a card, including Triggered, Activated, and Passive abilities. Nuances: - Targeting occurs when you choose a card for something (often indicated by words like "Choose", "a", "an") - Targeting does not occur when your opponent chooses for themselves - For effects that deal damage "between X units," targeting occurs when you originally choose...
If you control a battlefield at the start of combat, lose all your units during the opponent's turn, then play a card to bring in a new unit and win/maintain control, do you score a conquest point?
Ruling: You do not score a conquest point in this scenario because you were already in control of the battlefield when combat started and remained in control at the end. You never lost control.
Does Pit Rookie's 'it' in the reminder text refer to Pit Rookie itself or to the card being buffed?
Ruling: The "it" refers to the card you buff (the "another friendly unit"), not Pit Rookie itself. You only buff the targeted card, not Pit Rookie.
For Tasty Faefolk, to accelerate do you need to pay 1 more calm rune or recycle 1 calm rune?
Ruling: To accelerate Tasty Faefolk, you need to pay 1 energy and 1 calm power. You can get energy by exhausting any rune, and you can get calm power by recycling any calm rune.
If an opponent initiates a showdown at a battlefield where I have Kayn with a hidden Tide Turner, can I use the battlefield ability to send Kayn home, then reveal and swap Tide Turner with Kayn so that Kayn returns with his ability active, and if the enemy unit fails to kill Kayn it goes back to base?
Ruling: Yes, this interaction works as described. As long as the chain is empty when the opponent moves in, combat is initiated and you retain control of that battlefield until the end of that combat, even if you don't have any units there.