Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 46 of 151 · 7,508 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
When Dazzling Aurora reveals all cards from the Main Deck without finding a unit, what happens? Does this trigger a Burn Out?
Ruling: You do as much as you can. Since no unit was found, you recycle all the revealed cards and continue the game. This does not trigger a Burn Out because revealed cards never leave the Main Deck zone - they remain in the Main Deck even while revealed.
When playing Piercing Light with Repeat, if one target is removed via Flash, does the other target still die?
Ruling: When you play Piercing Light with Repeat, it is all one spell (not reflexive triggers like Flame Strike or Ignite Rage). You perform the spell's actions twice during resolution, choosing targets when you finalize the spell after paying the repeat cost. If one target is removed (e.g., via Flash), the other target still takes damage and dies.
When a unit takes damage from a spell before or during a showdown, does the damage reduce its Might value?
Ruling: Inflicting damage to a unit does NOT reduce its Might. A unit with damage marked on it still deals its full Might value in combat.
Can Sun Disc be flipped between playing Jinx - Demolition and summoning Flame Chompers (discarded by Jinx's ability) to make the Chompers enter ready?
Ruling: No, Sun Disc cannot be flipped between playing Jinx and summoning Chompers because Sun Disc does not have reaction. If Sun Disc is flipped before playing Jinx, it would affect Jinx (the "next unit"), not the Chompers summoned afterward.
If I use Pickpocket on my opponent's gold gear and they react by using it, do I still get a gold gear even though I didn't kill theirs?
Ruling: No, you do not get a gold gear if the target gear is used in reaction. You must successfully kill the gear to get the gold gear reward.
Can you spend any buff from any unit you control to save a unit that's about to die, or can you only save a unit by spending a buff that is on that specific unit?
Ruling: You can only save a unit by spending a buff that is on that specific unit. You cannot spend a buff from a different unit to save another unit.
What happens when a Hidden Unit card is placed on Rockfall Path and someone tries to activate it?
Ruling: Hiding a unit card facedown on Rockfall Path is legal, but when you attempt to play that unit, it is an illegal activation. The play is rewound, the card must remain hidden and cannot be played, and it gets trashed when you lose control of the battlefield.
Does Sett The Boss's effect initiate a chain, and can you respond to it with a reaction effect?
Ruling: No, Sett The Boss's effect does not initiate a chain and you cannot respond to it with a reaction effect. It is a passive replacement effect.
If Hextech Ray's target becomes illegal after it's been placed on the chain (due to Retreat returning it to hand), can Hextech Ray change to target a different valid creature?
Ruling: No, Hextech Ray cannot change targets. Once an item has been finalized to the chain with its target chosen, there is no rule that allows you to go back and change targets even if the original target becomes illegal.
Can I cast an action speed spell in response when my opponent casts Void Seeker on my Kai'sa that's on the battlefield?
Ruling: No, you cannot cast an action speed spell in response. You can only play actions while the chain is empty, and on other players' turns, you don't have the option of playing actions outside of showdown.
Does a unit equipped with Zhonya's Hourglass still deal its combat damage before being recalled to base when it dies?
Ruling: Yes, a unit with Zhonya's Hourglass deals its combat damage before being recalled to base when it dies in combat.
Can Super Mega Death Rocket be added back to hand via its own effect if you don't have a discard?
Ruling: If you have no cards in hand, you cannot get Super Mega Death Rocket back from trash. Nuances: - The ability still triggers even if you have no cards in hand - You could use other abilities to draw a card before Rocket tries to resolve, which would then allow you to discard and return it to hand
Does damage dealt to a unit outside of combat persist when that unit enters combat during the same turn?
Ruling: Damage dealt to a unit outside of combat persists until the end of that combat or the end of the turn. Damage does not reduce a unit's might value; once accumulated damage equals or exceeds the unit's might, the unit dies.
Does Zhonya's trigger automatically when the next friendly unit dies, and can you choose not to trigger it?
Ruling: Zhonya's triggers automatically when the next friendly unit would die. There is no choice - you cannot choose not to trigger it.
Can a Hidden Tideturner swap locations with a unit from another battlefield, given that hidden units must normally choose targets at their location?
Ruling: Yes, Tideturner works as intended despite the general hidden targeting restriction. Because Tideturner's ability explicitly requires targeting "a unit you control at another location," which makes the normal hidden targeting restriction impossible to fulfill, it is allowed to choose targets freely from among available options.
If Hidden Blade on the battlefield targets Jinx, and in reaction the player reveals Tideturner to switch with Jinx, does the spell fizzle or does Tideturner die?
Ruling: The Hidden Blade spell does not fizzle, but Jinx becomes an illegal target after switching locations with Tideturner. The spell resolves to no effect, and Tideturner survives.
Does Ember Monk's ability "When you play a card from hidden" trigger when the card is played from hidden on a different battlefield than where the Monk is located?
Ruling: Yes, Ember Monk's ability triggers when you play a card from hidden on any battlefield, not just the battlefield where the Monk is located.
Can Viktor's legend ability place a generated token directly onto an empty battlefield on turn one to score a point?
Ruling: No, you cannot place a token directly onto an empty battlefield on turn one. Tokens must be played to your base first.
If a triggered ability does not say the word 'may', is it always mandatory?
Ruling: Triggered abilities without the word "may" are always mandatory and must be put on the chain and resolved when possible.
Can multiple units retreat from a battlefield to base at the same time, or must they return one at a time?
Ruling: You can move multiple units at once with a standard move as long as they all have the same destination.
What is the difference between rule 343 and 343.1 regarding focus passing after chain resolution?
Ruling: Rule 343 applies to normal chains during a showdown where focus passes after the chain resolves. Rule 343.1 is an exception for the initial chain, where the attacker retains focus after the chain resolves.
Can Lux - Crownguard be used to pay the cost of Hard Bargain?
Ruling: No, Lux - Crownguard cannot be used to pay for Hard Bargain's effect cost because Lux can only be used to play spells, not to pay for effect costs like "counter a spell unless its controller pays 2."
Where is the rule stating that a player can move a unit from hand to a battlefield they control?
Ruling: When playing a Unit, you choose a Location you control on the Board where that Unit will be placed. Battlefields are categorized as Locations.
After a chain finishes resolving (whether started by attacker or defender), who gets focus/priority first?
Ruling: Focus always starts with the attacker at the beginning of combat, then bounces back and forth in player order as chains fully resolve.
When Irelia legend readies a unit by paying 1 power, does this count as choosing the unit for the purpose of Irelia's ability that gives +1/+1 when a unit is chosen?
Ruling: The Irelia legend ability does not target or choose a unit when you pay 1 power to ready it, so it does not trigger the +1/+1 bonus from Irelia's ability that triggers when a unit is chosen.
If I attack a battlefield and my opponent plays Hidden Blade, can they play another card in a row after I pass priority?
Ruling: Yes, both players must pass priority to move on. After Hidden Blade resolves and you pass, your opponent can play another card.
How do might reduction spells like Smoke Screen interact with a buffed Stalwart Poro that has multiple sources of might increases (base, shield, buff, Master Yi effect)?
Ruling: Might increases are applied before might reductions. Each Smoke Screen snapshots the unit's current might when played and applies a continuous reduction. The first Smoke Screen sees the Poro at 6 might and applies -4 might continuously. The second Smoke Screen then sees the Poro at 2 might (6 - 4) and applies -1 might continuously, for a total...
When does damage heal in Riftbound, and if Warwick is played to base, then Flurry of Blades is cast, then Warwick attacks a battlefield, would all enemy units at that battlefield die?
Ruling: Yes, all enemy units at that battlefield would die. Units only heal damage after combat and at end of turn, so damage persists between these timing windows.
When multiple triggers occur simultaneously (e.g., Vayne's Conquer trigger and SMDR's Conquer trigger), who decides the order, and can you order them to bounce Vayne to hand then discard her for SMDR?
Ruling: You choose the order of triggers that occur simultaneously. You can order Vayne's trigger first to bounce her to hand, then resolve SMDR's trigger to discard her.
When a unit with boosts is returned to base by Zonia (or revived by Sett's passive), does it keep its boosts?
Ruling: Units keep their boosts when returned to base by Zonia or revived by Sett's passive. Only buffs are removed by Sett's effect, not boosts.
When does cleanup happen in Riftbound and what does it do?
Ruling: Cleanups happen frequently throughout the game - after resolving playing anything, adding things to the chain, and various other times. They are automatic "blinks" or "game state checks" that ensure the game state is proper after actions occur, not something players actively do or consciously think about.
Can Ahri's Alluring ability score the winning point of the game?
Ruling: Yes, Ahri's Alluring ability can score the winning point. Only conquering has restrictions on scoring the final point - any other way of scoring points is unrestricted.
If I cast Void Seeker and my opponent kills the target unit in response with Hidden Blade, do I still draw a card?
Ruling: Yes, you still draw a card. You do as much of the card as possible when resolving it. Nuances: - You must have a valid target when initially playing Void Seeker (you cannot play it just to draw if there's no valid target) - Unlike some other games, the spell does not "fizzle" entirely when the target disappears
Do you choose to go first or second before or after revealing battlefields?
Ruling: You choose turn order after battlefields are selected. Battlefields are always face-up when selected according to the rules. Sequence: - Players select battlefields (face-up) - Turn order is chosen
When moving units with 'When I move' triggers to attack, what is the order of resolution? Specifically, do 'When I move' triggers resolve before combat starts and before 'When I attack' triggers?
Ruling: When you move units, 'When I move' triggers go on the chain first and must resolve completely before entering showdown/combat. After the 'When I move' triggers resolve, you then enter showdown where 'When I attack' triggers occur.
If you have three Vanguard Helms in play and a buffed unit dies, do you get three separate buffs to distribute among your remaining units?
Ruling: Yes, having three Vanguard Helms in play when a buffed unit dies gives you three buffs that can be shared between whatever remaining units you have.
Does unhiding Sprite's Call as a defender trigger Viktor Innovator's passive ability?
Ruling: Playing Sprite's Call from hidden does trigger Viktor Innovator's ability to make a 1M recruit in base, but the sprite token created by Sprite's Call does not trigger the ability.
As the attacker, if you pass focus but your opponent plays an action, do you get another chance to play an action after their chain resolves?
Ruling: Yes, you get another chance to play an action. Combat does not proceed to damage until both players pass in sequence without starting a chain.
If I move a unit to an empty battlefield and my opponent uses Ride the Wind during that showdown to move a unit to the same battlefield, are we both attackers?
Ruling: No, you cannot both be attackers. The first player to contest the battlefield is the attacker, and the opponent is the defender by default.
If Hidden Blade's target leaves the battlefield before the spell resolves, does the controller of the units still draw 2 cards?
Ruling: No, nobody draws 2 cards. If the targeted card leaves the battlefield, it is no longer a legal target.
Can you use an Action spell during an existing chain, or does it have to start a new chain?
Ruling: Action spells can only start chains, they cannot be added to an existing chain. Once a chain is fully resolved (all spells on it resolve), a new chain can be started with an Action or Reaction spell.
Do abilities that trigger 'When I move...' still resolve if the unit is moved to a different zone (like being returned to hand) before the trigger resolves?
Ruling: Yes, the triggered ability still resolves even if the unit is no longer at its destination or has been moved to a non-board zone. Triggers are evaluated when their condition is fulfilled and go on the chain; once on the chain, the trigger resolves regardless of whether the condition is still true.
How does Zhonya's Hourglass work when a unit would die during battlefield resolution?
Ruling: When a unit would die, Zhonya's Hourglass saves it by sending it to base instead, and Zhonya's is placed in the trash.
Does Tianna Crownguard prevent the point gained from burning out, potentially creating an endless loop?
Ruling: Tianna Crownguard does not prevent the point from burning out. The opponent still gains the point when you burn out.
If you control a battlefield with a temporary sprite token and a hidden sprite token, when the temporary token dies at the start of your turn, can you react with the hidden token and still score a point for holding the battlefield?
Ruling: Yes, you score a point for holding the battlefield. The hidden unit being played resolves before the temporary unit actually dies, so you never lose control of the battlefield.
How does Svellsongur work with activated abilities that have exhaust costs, specifically does it double the values (e.g., will Lux give 4 energy instead of 2)?
Ruling: Svellsongur does not double the values of activated abilities. It gives the unit two instances of those activated abilities with the same text.
Can Spectral Matron be used to play a 4 energy Cruel Patron, given that Matron's condition states no more than 3 energy and 1 power?
Ruling: No, Spectral Matron cannot be used to play Cruel Patron. Matron looks at the printed cost of the card, and Cruel Patron's printed cost is 4 energy, which exceeds Matron's limit of 3.
When Kayn attacks one battlefield, is moved to another battlefield via Yasuo's ability (where he doesn't conquer), where does he return to - his original battlefield or base?
Ruling: When attackers fail to conquer a battlefield (defenders are still present after damage), the attacking units are recalled to base, not to where they came from.
If defending and playing Shen as a reaction during defender focus, does Shen join the showdown and combat? If playing Ride the Wind onto a battlefield with an active showdown, does that unit join the showdown/battle or queue up a new showdown?
Ruling: A unit moved into an ongoing combat that its controller is part of will join the combat and gain the appropriate designation (attacker or defender). A unit moved into an ongoing showdown that its controller is part of will join that showdown. If moved to a showdown their controller is not part of, a combat will be staged there...
Does Fan's effect prevent Yasuo from dealing damage?
Ruling: Yes, Fan's effect stops Yasuo from dealing damage because Yasuo's ability requires him to be "here" and Fan moves him away from that location.