Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 55 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does the initial chain of combat pass Focus to the opponent, or does the attacker retain Focus after the initial chain resolves?
Ruling: The attacker becomes the active player after the initial chain resolves. Focus does not pass to the defender after the initial chain.
Can you react to Zhonya's being revealed as a hidden permanent before it resolves to protect a unit?
Ruling: No, you cannot react to Zhonya's being revealed. Zhonya's is a permanent and resolves as soon as it is finalized to the chain, providing no window to react to it being played.
Can you play an action (like Hextech Ray) in response to an opponent conquering an empty battlefield (e.g., targeting a Daring Poro)?
Ruling: Yes, you can play actions during the showdown that occurs when a unit moves to contest an empty battlefield. Note that while this creates a showdown, it is not a combat.
Can Sett's effect be used during defense when being attacked, and how does his buff/might conversion work with conquering?
Ruling: Sett's effect can only be used on your turn outside of showdowns because it does not have ACTION or REACTION keywords. When you conquer (either attacking or defending), Sett gains a buff. On your turn outside showdowns, you may remove his buff to give him +4 might.
If I attack with Traveling Merchant and another unit with an Attack trigger, which one triggers first?
Ruling: Traveling Merchant's ability is a move trigger, not an attack trigger, so it triggers and resolves before showdown begins, which is before any attack triggers would occur.
Can Charm be used to move an enemy unit from anywhere on the board (including from another battlefield) to a battlefield you occupy to force a showdown, and does this make the opponent the attacker?
Ruling: Yes, Charm can move an enemy unit from anywhere on the board (including from another battlefield) to a battlefield you occupy to force a showdown, and this makes the opponent the attacker.
If my opponent plays Spectral Matron and I respond with Here to Help into Brynhir Thunderson, will Brynhir's ability resolve first and prevent Spectral Matron's ability from functioning?
Ruling: Yes, Brynhir's ability will resolve first and prevent the opponent from playing the unit from Spectral Matron's ability. Sequence: - Opponent plays Spectral Matron, its ability triggers and goes on the chain - You play Here to Help (must be played face down so it has reaction) - You play Brynhir Thunderson off Here to Help - Brynhir's "while...
For triggered abilities like Vayne - Hunter's that instruct you to pay energy, is the payment done at activation or at resolution of the ability?
Ruling: The payment is made at resolution of the triggered ability, not when it is placed on the chain. Sequence: - When the trigger condition is met, the triggered ability is placed on the chain - Any targets are declared when the ability is placed on the chain - When the ability resolves, the player decides whether to pay the...
Can you win the game by scoring your 8th point through an alternative win condition (like Yasuo Windrider) without controlling both battlefields?
Ruling: Yes, you can score the 8th point and win through alternative win conditions like Yasuo Windrider, Tryndamere, or Ahri without controlling both battlefields.
Can a player at 7 points win the game by conquering one battlefield with a unit equipped with Skyfall of Areion + Trinity Force, using Trinity Force's triggered ability to gain the 8th point, or must they conquer both battlefields?
Ruling: A player can win the game using Trinity Force's triggered ability to gain the 8th point after conquering one battlefield. The requirement to score both battlefields in the same turn only applies to the point gained directly from conquering via game rules, not to points gained from triggered abilities.
Does Adaptatron's conquer effect trigger if you simply move it onto a battlefield you already scored from earlier in the turn, or does conquering require winning a showdown?
Ruling: Conquering only occurs when you gain control of a battlefield through winning a showdown, not by simply moving onto an uncontested battlefield. You must score the battlefield through conquering (whether gaining a VP or drawing because you can't get the final VP) to trigger conquer effects like Adaptatron's.
For Adaptatron's "When I conquer..." ability, does Adaptatron need to conquer a battlefield alone, or can it conquer together with other units?
Ruling: Adaptatron can conquer together with other units you control. The "When I conquer" trigger activates as long as Adaptatron is part of the conquering force when you take control of a battlefield you didn't previously control.
How do you distinguish between [A] (any power) and [C] (colored power) symbols on Riftbound cards when no oracle text is published?
Ruling: Rainbow-colored symbols indicate [A] (any power/any domain), while solid colored symbols indicate [C] (power of that specific domain/color). Sequence: - Look at the symbol's coloring: rainbow = any power, single color = that color's power - Alternatively, check the symbol's shape: generic domain symbol (rainbow-colored) = any power, while domain-specific shapes (Fury, Mind, etc.) = that domain's power
Can Sett leader protect a unit at your base from a spell that would kill it?
Ruling: Yes, Sett leader can protect a unit already at your base from being killed. The targeting requirement is just a buffed unit you control, with no restriction on location.
Does Zhonya's recall effect cancel might reduction effects like Smoke Screen, or does the might reduction remain until end of turn?
Ruling: Might reduction effects remain until end of turn. Zhonya's recall only clears damage done to the unit, not stat modifications.
When does the game check if a unit is dead during a reaction chain? Specifically, if a damaged unit receives a negative Might modifier that would make it lethal before a positive Might buff resolves, does the unit die before the buff can save it?
Ruling: Units with lethal damage are killed during cleanups, which occur after every item in a chain fully resolves. If a unit becomes lethal after one effect resolves, it dies during the cleanup before the next effect in the chain can resolve.
Can you play Find Your Center with its reduced cost when an opponent goes from 4 to 5 points by conquering an empty battlefield?
Ruling: You cannot play Find Your Center with the reduced cost in this scenario. If the opponent doesn't start another showdown after scoring their 5th point, there is no opportunity to play it during their turn.
Does moving a unit to a battlefield you already control start a showdown? Can you re-conquer a battlefield you already scored from to trigger on-conquer effects?
Ruling: Moving a unit to a battlefield you already control does not start a showdown. You cannot re-conquer a battlefield you have already scored from this turn to trigger on-conquer effects.
When Baited Hook kills a unit at Trifarian War Camp (which gives +1 Might), what Might value does Baited Hook use for its effect: the original Might or the buffed Might (+1)?
Ruling: Baited Hook uses the last known Might of the unit, which includes the +1 buff from Trifarian War Camp.
Do discretionary actions pass priority at any point?
Ruling: Discretionary actions do not pass priority. Priority is only passed during showdowns and when entering a chain. Nuances: - Discretionary actions themselves do not create a closed game state or chain upon their resolution - Moving units with a standard move does not open a chain - Moving units to a battlefield does not create a closed state, but...
Do cards with delayed triggers enter the chain twice?
Ruling: Cards with delayed triggers do not enter the chain twice. The card itself goes on the chain once when played, and when it resolves it creates a delayed trigger that separately goes on the chain later.
Does Divine Judgement affect hidden cards, or do they remain untouched when the spell says to 'recycle the rest'?
Ruling: Hidden cards are not affected by Divine Judgement and remain in play. When the spell says "recycle the rest," it only refers to the card types mentioned in the previous sentence (units, gear, runes on the board, and hand cards).
When Kayn's ability says he doesn't take damage if he's moved twice this turn, how long does the damage immunity last?
Ruling: If Kayn has moved to two different locations in a turn, he won't take damage from any source (combat, spells, etc.) until the end of that turn.
If you hold one battlefield for a turn to get a point (reaching 7 points), then conquer the other battlefield during your turn, do you draw a card or win the game?
Ruling: You win the game. Scoring a battlefield through holding counts as scoring that battlefield on your turn, so you don't need to conquer both battlefields to win - you just need to score both battlefields on your turn.
When a player plays an action and then reacts to their own action using Kaisa or a seal effect (which cannot be reacted to), does this trigger immediate cleanup preventing the opponent from reacting with cards like Defy? Does the active player retain priority for an additional action?
Ruling: Playing an add ability (like Kaisa or seal effects) does not change priority. When the add ability resolves, the next player still gets priority. The chain does not resolve all at once - after each card resolves normally, each player gets priority again.
If Viktor, Leader and another non-token Unit you control die in Combat at the same time, does Viktor's ability trigger?
Ruling: No, Viktor does not trigger. Viktor needs to still be on the board for his ability to trigger, and triggered abilities of permanents can only have their conditions evaluated while on the Board.
Do hidden cards remain on the battlefield if it is no longer under my control (i.e., if I no longer have units there)?
Ruling: No, hidden cards do not remain on battlefields where you no longer have units. Hidden cards are removed from battlefields that do not have a unit controlled by the same player present and are placed in their owner's trash.
When Bellows Breath targets multiple units at the same location, but some units move to a different location before resolution, what happens to the damage?
Ruling: When Bellows Breath resolves and targeted units are at different locations, you choose one location and deal damage to all targeted units at that location.
What is the correct sequence for starting a game in Riftbound?
Ruling: Games start by revealing Champions and Legends, then selecting and revealing Battlefields (method depends on game type), determining turn order and first player, then drawing 4 cards and taking mulligans in turn order.
When a unit dies during a chain resolution, does cleanup happen immediately and does deathknell trigger before the rest of the chain resolves?
Ruling: Cleanup happens every time an item on the chain resolves. If cleanup causes a deathknell trigger, that trigger is added as the most recent item on the chain.
Does Vi's might boost from recycling cards persist after the player ends their turn?
Ruling: The might boost only lasts until the end of the turn in which the cards were recycled. Once the player ends their turn, the effect is gone.
Does Fizz Trickster work with Drag Under since the card energy is reduced to 3?
Ruling: Fizz Trickster does NOT work with Drag Under. Cards like Fizz Trickster look at the base cost (printed number) on the card, not the final modified cost.
If Warwick moves into the battlefield before damaging units with an action spell, does Warwick still kill them, or should damage be applied before moving Warwick in order for him to trigger?
Ruling: Warwick triggers immediately when moving into combat, but only units already damaged when the trigger resolves will die. Action spells cannot be played in response to Warwick's trigger because a chain already exists and only Reaction speed spells can be used.
Can you move several characters at one time in Riftbound, and does movement end your turn?
Ruling: You can move multiple units with the standard move as long as they all have the same destination. Movement does not end your turn; it only taps the creatures, and the turn ends when you decide to pass.
Can you play a unit directly onto a battlefield you control?
Ruling: You can play a unit directly onto a battlefield you control. You don't move it there; you simply play it there.
If Imperial Decree is played, does playing Stupefy kill units?
Ruling: No, Stupefy does not kill units when Imperial Decree is in play because Stupefy does not deal damage.
If Imperial Decree is active and combat damage kills a unit, does it kill the unit twice, breaking through Zhonya's protection?
Ruling: Yes, Imperial Decree will kill the unit even after Zhonya's saves it from combat damage. The unit dies twice - once from combat damage (prevented by Zhonya's) and once from Imperial Decree's delayed trigger.
When using Baited Hook to kill Watchful Sentry (which has a deathknell), what is the order of resolution for the deathknell trigger, the card played from Baited Hook, and Karma's trigger?
Ruling: When Baited Hook kills Watchful Sentry, all pending triggers finalize in the order they went on the chain: deathknell finalizes first, then the unit played with Baited Hook finalizes and resolves immediately, then Karma's trigger finalizes last (and can choose the unit played with Hook).
When can Sett: Brawler's ability to remove a buff to give might be used - is it an action/reaction or can it be used whenever?
Ruling: The ability is standard speed, meaning it can only be used on your turn outside of chains or showdowns. All effects without ACTION or REACTION keywords are standard speed, and there are no effects that can be used "whenever".
If a player scores a hold point from a battlefield, then moves their last unit out (making it uncontrolled), then moves another unit into that same battlefield during the same turn, does a showdown occur and can they score again?
Ruling: The battlefield becomes uncontrolled when the last unit leaves. When a unit enters that battlefield, a showdown occurs because the player is attempting to gain control of a battlefield they don't control. However, the player does not score or conquer again because they already scored from that battlefield this turn.
Does Warwick's 'when I attack' effect trigger when he is defending and an opponent unit moves in to start a showdown?
Ruling: No, 'when I attack' effects do not trigger when defending. Attack triggers only activate when their source is given the attacker designation, which does not happen when your units are defending and not applying contested status.
Can a player play a reaction card (Defy) that they draw mid-chain resolution from another card effect (Discipline), or must they wait until the entire chain finishes resolving?
Ruling: Players can play reactions during chain resolution, not just before it starts. After each chain item resolves, if more items remain on the chain, priority goes to the controller of the next chain item, and both players can add new reactions before the next item resolves.
When playing Icathian Rain, when are targets selected - at activation or at resolution? Can the opponent react before targets are chosen?
Ruling: Targets are selected at activation when you play Icathian Rain, not at resolution. The opponent reacts after targets have already been chosen.
Can Warwick split his combat damage to deal 1 damage to 5 different enemy units, or must he assign lethal damage to one unit before moving to the next?
Ruling: Combat damage must be assigned to one unit until it would receive lethal damage before you can assign damage to another unit. You cannot split 1 damage across multiple units.
Is there a tracker for official dev rulings on Riftbound rules questions?
Ruling: Yes, there is an official dev tracker available at https://riftrules.net/riotrules that compiles rulings made by official sources outside of official documents.
Does temporary resolution go on the chain/stack like a trigger?
Ruling: Yes, temporary resolution goes on the chain as a triggered ability and can be reacted to by both players.
If Sett's The Boss ability saves a unit by removing its buff, and that unit has -4 might from Smoke Screen, does the unit die again with 0 max might?
Ruling: The unit does not die. Units only die when they have non-zero damage equal to or greater than their might. A unit with 0 might and 0 damage does not meet the lethal damage condition.
If Aurora pulls Kadregrin as the last card of the deck, do you burn out or recycle first? Also, if you have two Auroras and the first one pulls Kadregrin, do you draw then dig with the second Aurora, or dig then draw?
Ruling: You fully resolve Aurora before any triggers happen, so you recycle the deck first, then Kadregrin's draw trigger occurs.
Does Defy counter a spell based on its printed cost or the total cost paid including additional costs (like Rocket Barrage's additional cost or Accelerate)?
Ruling: Defy only looks at the printed cost of a card, not the total cost paid including additional costs like those from Rocket Barrage or Accelerate.
Does Svellsongur itself gain Deflect when attached to a unit that has Deflect?
Ruling: No, Svellsongur does not gain Deflect. The effect text is active for the unit it's attached to, not the equipment itself.