Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 54 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If Siphon Power is played to buff recruits, does Ahri's effect reduce them back to 1 might, and when does each effect apply?
Ruling: The effects apply in the order they resolve on the chain. If Siphon Power resolves before Ahri's trigger, recruits go to 2 might then back to 1 might when Ahri resolves. If you want recruits to stay at 2 might, wait to play Siphon Power after Ahri's trigger has resolved.
Can Green Yasuo be moved from Vilemaw's Lair battleground to base using Yasuo's Unforgiven legend ability or the spell Flash?
Ruling: No, Green Yasuo cannot be moved from Vilemaw's Lair to base using Yasuo's Unforgiven ability or Flash. Vilemaw's Lair prevents all moves to base, not just standard moves.
What actions can an opponent take during your turn in an open gamestate?
Ruling: Opponents can only react when a chain is started. Playing units or gear alone does not start a chain and does not allow opponent reactions.
If both players are at 7 points and the active player captures their opponent's second battlefield on their turn, does the active player immediately win with 8 points, or does the opponent get a card draw and another chance to win?
Ruling: The active player wins immediately upon capturing the second battlefield and reaching 8 points. Nuances: - Even though the opponent controlled both battlefields at the start of the turn, capturing the second battlefield grants the 8th point and triggers the win condition immediately, without giving the opponent a card draw or another turn.
Can you use the Retreat spell on your own token to gain the ramp effect, and what happens to the token?
Ruling: Yes, you can use Retreat on your own token to gain the ramp effect. The token will return to your hand and then immediately cease to exist.
Does Leona need to announce a target when her attack trigger goes on the chain, or does she pick the target upon resolution? Can a defender use Flash to remove the targeted unit in response?
Ruling: Leona announces the target when the attack trigger goes on the chain. The target is checked for validity again just before the effect resolves.
If a 6 might unit with 3 damage markers from Hextech Ray is targeted by Smoke Screen and dies during cleanup, which spell is considered the source of the kill?
Ruling: Neither spell receives credit for the kill. The spell that resolved immediately prior to cleanup must have applied damage markers to be considered the source of the kill.
Can Hard Bargain counter two spells on the chain (spell A and reaction spell B) when played as a reaction?
Ruling: Yes, Hard Bargain can target two spells on the chain if you play its repeat cost. Nuances: - This applies when multiple spells are on the chain during resolution - You must pay the repeat cost to target both spells
Can you play hidden or normal units at the same battlefield as your teammate in 2v2?
Ruling: No, you cannot play hidden or normal units at a battlefield controlled by your teammate in 2v2. You don't share control with your teammate.
Does Vex make your opponent pay to activate a spell from hidden while in combat?
Ruling: Yes, Vex requires payment even when activating a spell from hidden during combat. Hidden only removes the base cost of the spell, but additional costs like those from Vex are added after.
When you use Charm to move an enemy unit to a battlefield you control, is that unit the attacker or defender?
Ruling: When you use Charm to move an enemy unit to a battlefield you control, that unit is the attacker. The unit moved to contest the battlefield you control, regardless of what effect caused that move to happen.
If Twisted Fate attacks and is killed by a reaction spell, does his effect still resolve?
Ruling: Yes, Twisted Fate's effect still resolves even if he dies after triggering. Once an effect is placed on the chain, it resolves independently of whether the source unit is still alive.
Does Thousand Tailed Watcher target?
Ruling: Thousand Tailed Watcher does not target because it does not choose - it programmatically selects based on characteristics. Nuances: - The effect is a snapshot at the time it resolves, so units added later (such as through hidden) would not be affected by the debuff.
Does Yasuo's ability trigger and resolve before the showdown starts, and can Actions be played in response to it?
Ruling: Yasuo's "when I attack" ability triggers as part of the Initial Chain at the start of the showdown, not before it. Only Reactions can be played in response to the Initial Chain; Actions cannot be played until after the Initial Chain resolves and the attacker gains Focus.
If you play Zhonya's from hidden, can it affect units at any battlefield?
Ruling: Yes, Zhonya's affects all locations on the board even when played from hidden because its effect doesn't target, so it's not bound by hidden targeting restrictions.
Can Yasu move in, deal 6 damage with his ability, use Ride the Wind to move back before combat damage, then use his Legend ability to ready him and move in again for another 6 damage?
Ruling: Yes, this sequence works, but the initial combat must fully resolve first (including healing) before you can use Yasu's Legend ability to move him in again. The 6 damage from the first ability will be healed when the showdown ends if the unit survived.
If I have 6 points and conquer one battlefield with Flanking, then use the same unit to conquer the other battlefield (via cards like Last Breath), do I win the game, or do I need different units on both battlefields?
Ruling: You will win the game as you've scored on all battlefields that turn. Nuances: - The same unit can be used to conquer both battlefields in the same turn (e.g., via Last Breath) - You don't need different units on each battlefield to win
When multiple units die simultaneously in combat and the opponent has Zhonya's Hourglass in play, who decides which unit is saved?
Ruling: The controller of Zhonya's Hourglass decides which unit to save. Multiple units die at the same time regardless of the order damage is assigned, so the Zhonya's controller chooses which one to save.
If Yasuo deals damage to a unit with his when-attacking effect, then returns home using Ride the Wind during the showdown (before combat damage), does the damaged unit still heal during combat cleanup?
Ruling: Yes, the damaged unit heals during combat cleanup. Once a combat showdown begins, combat cleanup occurs regardless of whether combat damage is assigned, and units heal during the combat resolution step.
Does burnout count as a way to score the final point and win the game, or would you draw a card instead?
Ruling: Burnout counts as a way to score the final point and win the game. You win with any point other than conquer.
If Blue Ahri is defending and Retreat is cast, does her ability to give a unit -2 still resolve or does it have no effect?
Ruling: If Retreat is cast before Ahri's ability resolves, the ability resolves with 0 effect because Ahri is no longer 'Here' when the ability resolves. If Ahri's ability resolves first at start of showdown, then Retreat is cast with a separate chain, the -2 effect remains.
When using alternate play methods (like hook, aurora) that ignore a card's costs, do you still have to pay additional costs like sacrificing a unit or paying for accelerate?
Ruling: When using alternate play methods that ignore "its costs," you still must pay all additional costs. The phrase "ignoring its costs" only refers to the base costs (energy and power), not additional costs.
When Fizz targets a spell with Repeat, does the player choose whether to pay the Repeat cost and only pay that cost (not the original spell cost)?
Ruling: When Fizz targets a spell with Repeat, the player chooses whether to pay the Repeat cost, same as if playing the spell normally, but only pays the Repeat cost (not the original spell cost).
If Dazzling Aurora reveals all cards in deck (no creatures found), does it trigger burn out?
Ruling: No, Dazzling Aurora will not cause burn out if it reveals your entire deck. You only burn out if you draw a card with no cards in your main deck, and all revealed cards are recycled immediately after revealing them.
If an attacker stuns one defending unit at a battlefield but other defending units survive combat, are the attacking units recalled to base?
Ruling: If there are still defending units at a battlefield after combat, then all attackers are recalled to base. This applies whether the attacker initiated combat or is defending against an attack.
When moving Traveling Merchant with an empty hand, do you still get to draw a card?
Ruling: Yes, you discard nothing from your empty hand, then draw 1 card. Nuances: - If the card text said "discard 1 to draw 1" (with the word "to"), you would not be able to draw without discarding
Can Yasuo's legend ability or spells like Ride the Wind move a unit with Ganking from battlefield to battlefield?
Ruling: Yasuo's legend ability and spells like Ride the Wind can move a unit with Ganking from battlefield to battlefield. Ganking only restricts Stand Move actions, not legend abilities or spells.
What does the dual color rune cost mean on units and spells?
Ruling: A dual color rune cost means you can pay that power cost with power of either color shown in the symbol. For example, a dual red/purple cost of 2 can be paid with 2 purple, 2 red, or 1 of each.
Does Zhonya's save a unit in base from being killed, even though Zhonya's requires the unit to be recalled exhausted?
Ruling: Zhonya's protects units in base from being killed, even though the recall instruction cannot be followed. The owner chooses which unit to save if multiple units would be killed.
If a unit with Assault 3 (like Vayne) enters a contested battlefield and the opponent uses Fog of War to remove all defending units, does the attacking unit keep the Assault +3 Might bonus for the rest of the showdown, or lose it during cleanup?
Ruling: The attacking unit keeps the Assault +X Might bonus for the entire showdown even if all defending units are removed. Once combat starts, it continues until resolution (both players pass on empty chain with focus) regardless of whether one player no longer has units at the battlefield.
When playing a unit without any abilities to your base, does your opponent get the chance to play reactions?
Ruling: No, opponents cannot react to units being played. Units are removed from the chain immediately when finalized and do not linger on the chain for players to gain priority and respond.
When a character is recalled to base via Possession, does it enter exhausted or maintain its current state, and can it be moved again if it's ready?
Ruling: When a character is recalled via Possession, it maintains its current state (exhausted or ready). Recall does not trigger move-related effects.
Is scoring at a battlefield optional, or can you choose not to score to maintain control and trigger conquering effects?
Ruling: Scoring at a battlefield is automatic during the beginning phase. You maintain control of the battlefield but cannot choose to delay scoring.
If Not So Fast is played against a Missile Barrage with Repeat targeting two units (or one unit twice), does it counter both effects or just one?
Ruling: Not So Fast counters the entire spell including all Repeat effects. Repeat does not add separate triggers, so the whole spell is countered as one.
If you use Ride the Wind to open a battlefield during combat on another battlefield, what happens? Can you score during your opponent's turn?
Ruling: When you use Ride the Wind to open a battlefield during combat at another battlefield, a showdown will become staged at the new battlefield but won't begin until the first showdown finishes. After the first showdown ends, the second showdown immediately starts, and you can score a point during your opponent's turn if you win.
If I have Karma and Unit A on the field, use Baited Hook on Unit A, and play a new Unit B, can I use Karma's ability to buff Unit B?
Ruling: Yes, Karma's ability can buff Unit B played via Baited Hook. Sequence: - Baited Hook resolves, killing Unit A and looking at top 5 cards - You pick a card, banish it, then play it (Unit B is pending on the chain) - You recycle the rest (Karma's trigger is now pending on the chain) - Unit B finalizes...
What spells and abilities does Unyielding Spirit not prevent?
Ruling: Unyielding Spirit does not prevent damage from Challenge, Snapvine, Gentlemen's Duel, Dragon's Rage, and Last Breath effects because these cards have units deal the damage rather than the spell or ability itself dealing the damage.
If a unit with 1 Might + Shield 1 (total 2 Might during combat) gets hit by Stupefy (-1 Might), does it stay at 1 Might after combat ends and loses Shield, or does it go to 0 Might?
Ruling: When Stupefy resolves on a unit with 2 Might (1 base + Shield 1), it reduces to 1 Might. After combat ends and the unit loses Shield (and thus the +1 Might from being a defender), it goes to 0 Might until Stupefy's effect wears off.
Can Last Breath be used on a unit that is already mid-combat in a showdown, specifically to respond to a Reaction spell like Hidden Blade?
Ruling: No, Last Breath cannot be used to respond to Reaction spells during a showdown because it is an Action spell, not a Reaction. Actions can only be played while the Chain is empty.
Does Unyielding Spirit prevent damage from Snapvine's ability that makes two units deal damage equal to their mights to each other?
Ruling: Unyielding Spirit does not prevent Snapvine's damage because the units themselves are the source of the damage, not the ability.
How do you handle multiple triggered abilities that occur simultaneously, and in what order do they go on the chain?
Ruling: When multiple triggered abilities trigger simultaneously, they all go on the same chain. The controller of those triggers chooses the order they go on the chain (placing them in inverse order of desired resolution, since the chain resolves last-in-first-out).
When multiple units assign damage in combat, can each unit select its own target, or must all damage be combined and assigned lethal to one unit before moving to the next?
Ruling: When assigning damage, you combine all might on your side and must assign lethal damage to one unit before moving to the next. You cannot spread damage freely across multiple targets.
Can you use a spell like Challenge to target an opponent's unit in their base, or does the target unit have to be on a battlefield?
Ruling: If a card does not specify "battlefield" for a target, it can target units in base. Challenge can target an enemy unit in their base.
Can you play a hidden card (like Consult the Past) from Battlefield B during a showdown on Battlefield A, and can you play it during your turn without any showdowns or chains happening?
Ruling: Yes to both questions. You can play a hidden card from Battlefield B during a showdown on Battlefield A, and you can also play a hidden card from Battlefield B during your turn without any showdowns or chains happening.
If you need a unit to stay on the board (e.g., a defending Ravenbloom that needs +1 might), can you play Retreat without targeting it or without recalling it?
Ruling: You must target a friendly unit if you have one, and if that unit is still on the board when the spell resolves, you must return it to hand. You cannot avoid targeting or recalling to keep a unit on the board.
If you hold one battlefield (7 points) and then conquer a second battlefield, do you win with 8 points, or do you need to conquer both battlefields in the same turn?
Ruling: You win the game with the 8th point. You only need to score on both battlefields to win, not conquer both battlefields in the same turn.
Does Evolutionary Kai'Sa's conquer ability allow you to immediately play a spell ignoring timing restrictions (e.g., casting a non-reaction speed spell in response to an enemy's Charm)?
Ruling: Yes, you can play any spell that Kai'Sa can legally select, and it goes onto the chain and resolves like normal. The speed of the spell she picks is not part of her targeting requirements.
Can Sprite Call be activated from a hidden battlefield to play the sprite at a different battlefield?
Ruling: No, Sprite Call must be played at the same battlefield where it is activated. The sprite is summoned to that battlefield.
Does Noxian Guillotine's delayed trigger count as killing a unit with a spell for Immortal Phoenix?
Ruling: Yes, Noxian Guillotine's delayed trigger counts as killing a unit with a spell and will trigger Immortal Phoenix. Nuances: - The retired FAQ suggested delayed kills don't count, but this FAQ has been officially retired - The Core Rules state that abilities originating from game objects (like delayed triggers) are responsible for kills in addition to the game object...
Does a Jinx with Assault 2 survive combat when attacking an occupied battlefield with a 5 Might defender, if Jinx starts at 4 Might?
Ruling: Yes, Jinx will survive. Jinx gains 2 Might as the attacker (from Assault 2), bringing it to 6 Might total, which is enough to survive the 5 damage from the defender.