Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 69 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If I have only Travelling Merchant in hand and play it, do I draw a card?
Ruling: No, you do not draw a card. Playing Travelling Merchant does not count as moving it, so its ability does not trigger.
If I'm in combat with Vex, and they try to use Rebuke on me, can I use defy against it?
Yes, you can use **Defy** to counter **Rebuke**. Here is the breakdown of the interaction:
If I target Ornn, Forge God equipped with Svellsongur, do I have to pay Deflect 2 or Deflect 4?
Ruling: You must pay Deflect 4. When Svellsongur is attached to Ornn, Forge God, it copies Ornn's text (including Deflect 2) into its own effect text. Since attached equipment's effect text is active and appended to the unit's rules text, Ornn has two instances of Deflect 2. Because Deflect is a stacking keyword, these sum together for a total of...
Can you use Arcane Shift to replay a banished friendly unit back to a contested battlefield you are attacking during combat?
Ruling: No, you cannot replay the unit to the contested battlefield you are attacking. As the attacker, you do not control that battlefield—the defender does, even while contested. You can only play the unit to your base or to a battlefield you control.
If I move a unit to a battlefield and the enemy plays Ride the Wind on an Irelia Fervent into that battlefield, can I then play Arcane Shift to damage Irelia for 3, banish a unit, and play Vex to the same battlefield?
Ruling: You cannot use Arcane Shift to banish one unit and play a different unit like Vex. Arcane Shift requires you to banish a friendly unit and then play that same unit back. Additionally, because Irelia has [Deflect], you must pay an additional [A] (any domain rune) to target her with Arcane Shift's damage.
If you choose and ready Irelia Fervent with Ride The Wind would she get +1 or +2 Might?
If Irelia, Fervent is exhausted when you play Ride the Wind, she gains **+2 Might** total. According to the official ruling for this interaction:
Does Scrap Head draw a card when discarded from Sabotage?
No, Scrapheap does not draw a card when targeted by Sabotage. Here is the breakdown:
If you cast Cull the Weak does that trigger Deflect?
No, casting **Cull the Weak** does not trigger **Deflect**. According to the official rulings for this interaction:
If I play Card Sharp and my opponent chooses to play a token, do I get 2 tokens?
Ruling: Yes, in a 1v1 game you get 2 Gold gear tokens total if your opponent chooses to play one.
Can Rune Runner be chosen with King's Edict?
Ruling: Yes, Rune Runner can be chosen by King's Edict. The players make the choice during resolution, not the spell itself, so Rune Runner's protection from being chosen by enemy spells and abilities does not apply.
If I have a Lonely Poro at a Battlefield and another at Base with a Zhonya's Hourglass, and my opponent plays Falling Star targeting the Battlefield Poro first then the Base Poro, will I draw from the Base Poro's Deathknell when it dies?
Ruling: Yes, you will draw a card from one of the Lonely Poros. Falling Star deals all its damage before checking for lethal, so both Poros are marked to die simultaneously. Zhonya's Hourglass can save one Poro (preventing its Deathknell), but the other Poro still dies and triggers its Deathknell to draw a card.
If my opponent uses Falling Star against 2 of my 3 Might units while there is a Zhonya's Hourglass at base, can I choose which unit to save?
Yes, you can choose which unit to save. According to the rules regarding replacement effects and simultaneous events, when multiple units would die at the same time, the controller of **Zhonya's Hourglass** chooses which unit to save.
If my opponent plays Cull the Weak and I choose to kill my Irelia, Fervent, does she get +1 Might from her ability?
Ruling: No, Irelia, Fervent does not get the +1 Might bonus when killed by Cull the Weak. Nuances: - Cull the Weak uses the structure "Each player kills a unit they control" which does not count as "choosing" or "targeting" for the purpose of triggering abilities like Irelia's - The choice is made as part of the spell's resolution by...
Does Confront affect token units?
Yes, **Confront** affects token units. According to **Rule 179.1.d**, token units are units and follow all rules for their type unless otherwise specified. Because they are units, they are subject to effects that target or modify units, such as the effect of **Confront**, which causes units you play this turn to enter ready.
For Obelisk of Power Battlefield, can you get channel 1 rune every turn?
No, you cannot get a channel effect from the **Obelisk of Power** battlefield every turn. According to the card text for **Obelisk of Power**, its ability states: "*At the start of each player's **first** Beginning Phase, that player channels 1 rune.*"
When conquering with a unit equipped with both Skyfall of Areion and Trinity Force while at 6 points, do you win the game and what is the correct timing?
Ruling: Yes, you win the game by reaching 8 points. You gain 1 point from the conquer action itself (reaching 7 points), then gain 1 additional point when the Trinity Force trigger resolves from the chain (reaching 8 points).
When tap a unit and play Meditation with Temporal Portal, do I draw 4 or 3?
To determine how many cards you draw, we must look at how **Meditation** and **Temporal Portal** interact. ### Ruling You draw **3 cards total**.
Can I have multiple buffs on 1 card?
No, a unit cannot have multiple buffs on one card, unless a specific card effect states otherwise. According to Rule 702.3: "There can only be one Buff on a Unit at a time."
If I use another effect to spend the buff on Sett, Brawler, do I get to use his effect, "Spend my buff: Give me +4 Might this turn"?
No, you do not get to use his effect if another card spends the buff. According to the official FAQ for Sett, Brawler: "Ruling: No, Sett must spend his own buff to activate his ability. Another card spending a buff (like Call to Glory) will not trigger Sett's ability."
If Karthus and Machine Evangel die simultaneously from Singularity, does the controller of Karthus create 6 tokens or 3?
Ruling: When Karthus and Machine Evangel die simultaneously, the controller creates 6 tokens total. Karthus's passive ability causes Machine Evangel's Deathknell to trigger an additional time because Karthus is still on the board when Deathknell triggers are added to the chain.
Can I activate gear effects already on my field after my opponent plays Brynhir Thundersong?
Ruling: Yes, you can activate gear abilities that are already on the board even after Brynhir Thundersong's effect has fully resolved. Brynhir only prevents opponents from "playing cards," and activating a gear ability is not the same as playing a card.
If an opponent attacks a battlefield I control, and they pass priority, and I pass priority, do they get another priority opportunity?
No, the attacker does not get another priority opportunity. According to the rules of a showdown, the showdown ends immediately once both players pass priority in succession without adding any new items to the chain.
If I damage a unit before casting Imperial Decree, does it still die, or do I have to deal damage after casting Imperial Decree?
Ruling: Imperial Decree only kills units that take damage after it resolves. Units that were damaged before you cast Imperial Decree will not be killed by it, even if they are still damaged.
If I have Zhonya's Hourglass and equipment on my unit and they kill the unit triggering the hourglass, does my equipment fall off the unit?
No, your equipment does not fall off. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5370** and **FAQ #2765**, when a unit is saved by Zhonya's Hourglass, the unit never actually dies and never leaves the field (it is recalled to base, which is a board zone). Because the unit remains in play, all temporary effects, including attached equipment, remain attached to it.
If I have 2 ready units, can I simultaneously attempt to conquer 2 separate battlefields?
No, you cannot simultaneously attempt to conquer two separate battlefields with a single standard move action. According to **Rule 143.3.a**, when you declare a standard move for multiple units, their **destination must be the same**. Because a standard move requires all units involved in that specific action to move to the same location, you cannot split them to target two...
Can I Tideturner a unit out of Vilemaw Lair?
No, you cannot use Tideturner to move a unit out of Vilemaw's Lair. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 7241) regarding this specific interaction:
Can not so fast be used on Riposte?
No, you cannot use **Not So Fast** to counter **Riposte**. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ (ID 8559)**: > "Ruling: No, you cannot use Not So Fast to counter Riposte. Not So Fast can only counter spells or abilities that target units or gear friendly to you (the player of Not So Fast). Riposte targets a unit friendly to its own...
Can you react between the two damage instances of Falling Star?
Ruling: No, you cannot react between the two damage instances of Falling Star. The spell resolves as a single item on the chain, executing all its instructions from top to bottom without pausing for reactions between damage instances.
Can you use Not So Fast to counter Get Excited?
Ruling: Not So Fast can only counter Get Excited if your opponent plays Get Excited targeting one of your units or gear. You cannot use Not So Fast to counter your own Get Excited or an opponent's Get Excited that targets their own units.
Does Faithful Manufactor ability play the Recruit ready or exhausted?
The Recruit token created by Faithful Manufactor's ability enters play **exhausted**. According to the established rulings for token-generating effects in Riftbound: * **Recruit tokens enter play exhausted by default** unless the card text specifically states they enter ready. * Since Faithful Manufactor's ability does not explicitly state that the token enters ready, it follows the default rule.
Can you fight or flight at Vilemaw's Lair?
No, you cannot use **Fight or Flight** to move a unit from **Vilemaw's Lair** to your base. While you are legally allowed to activate or play **Fight or Flight** targeting a unit in **Vilemaw's Lair**, the movement effect will fail to resolve.
If Raven Bloom Student is on a battlefield, and you play a spell like Stupefy, but it gets Hard Bargained, does the Stupefy still count as being played, allowing Raven Bloom Student to go up a Might from a spell being played?
No, Ravenbloom Student will not gain +1 Might in this scenario. According to the established rulings for Ravenbloom Student (such as FAQ #7187 and FAQ #2377), a card is only considered "played" once it fully resolves. If a spell is countered—whether by a card like *Defy* or by the effect of *Hard Bargain* (if the controller fails to pay the...
If I attack and my opponent uses Ride the Wind on Ravenbloom Conservatory, do I or the opponent activate the battlefield?
To answer your question: **Neither you nor your opponent activates the Ravenbloom Conservatory ability in this scenario.** Here is the breakdown of why, based on the rules of *Riftbound*:
Can you choose the same unit twice for Singularity?
No, you cannot target the same unit twice with Singularity. According to the official rulings for Singularity: * **Singularity must target two different units** if you choose to target two units. You cannot target the same unit twice to deal 12 damage. * "Up to two units" means you can choose to target 0, 1, or 2 units. * If...
If I play a card like Yone with 5 might from hand, can I trigger Grand Duelist?
Regarding your question about whether playing a unit with 5 Might (like **Yone, Blademaster**) triggers an ability that cares about a unit "becoming Mighty," such as the ability found on **Fiora, Grand Duelist**:
Can a Spinning Axe be used on units other than Draven?
Yes, a **Spinning Axe** can be used on units other than Draven. According to the card's text, the **[Equip]** ability allows you to attach it to "a unit you control." While the card is associated with Draven (as indicated by its tags and signature status), there is no restriction in the card's rules text that limits its use exclusively to...
Does the "hold" effect of Last Rites trigger during ABCD?
To answer your question: **Yes, the "hold" effect of *Last Rites* triggers during the ABCD steps.** ### Reasoning * **Card Analysis:** *Last Rites* is a Gear card with the effect: "When I conquer, you may play a unit from your trash." * **Game Mechanics:** According to Rule 376.4.c, "Hold Effects" are triggered abilities that occur when a player maintains control...
If I move a unit to an empty battlefield, but before I can conquer the opponent plays a lethal damaging spell, can I then play Arcane Shift on the unit and banish it, then play it back to the empty battlefield it attacked?
No, you cannot use **Arcane Shift** in this situation. According to the card text and established rulings, **Arcane Shift** requires you to target both a friendly unit AND an enemy unit at a battlefield to be played. If you have moved your unit to an empty battlefield, there are no enemy units present at that location for you to target.
Do I need a unit myself for Cull of the Weak?
No, you do not need to have a unit in play to play **Cull the Weak**. According to the official rulings and FAQs for this card:
Can I use Cull of the Weak if I have no unit?
Yes, you can play **Cull the Weak** even if you have no units in play. According to the RiftJudge FAQs and the game's rules:
Can a Hidden Guards! be played to summon a token elsewhere?
No, you cannot play a hidden *Guards!* to summon a token at a different battlefield. According to **Rule 737.1.d.3**: "If a hidden spell or a play effect of a hidden permanent causes you to play a unit, you must choose to play that unit at that battlefield [where the card was hidden]."
Can I rebuke a unit my opponent tries to move into an open battlefield?
Yes, you can play **Rebuke** to target a unit your opponent is moving into a battlefield, provided you have the opportunity to play it.
If my unit has a mandatory effect to target an enemy unit and the enemy unit has deflect, do I have to use the effect, and if I do not have enough to pay the cost for deflect, what happens?
To answer your question: **No, you do not have to use the effect if you cannot pay the Deflect cost.**
When you play Riptide Rex, do you have to target a unit if there is one at a battlefield? If there is a unit with Deflect, can you choose to not do the ability?
Ruling: When Riptide Rex's triggered ability goes on the chain, you must choose a target unit at a battlefield if one exists. However, if that unit has Deflect, you may decline to pay the Deflect cost, which causes the triggered ability to fail to finalize on the chain and be removed without resolving.
Can Singularity target the same unit twice?
No, you cannot target the same unit twice with Singularity. According to the official rulings for Singularity: * **Singularity must target two different units** if you choose to target two units. You cannot target the same unit twice to deal 12 damage. * "Up to two units" means you can choose to target 0, 1, or 2 units. * If...
Can you kill a unit with Frigid Touch?
No, you cannot kill a unit using only Frigid Touch. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #80**: "No, Frigid Touch alone cannot kill a unit. Units die only when they have nonzero damage marked on them that is at least equal to their Might, so it always takes at least 1 point of actual damage to kill something."
Do when I attack triggers occur when moving into an empty battlefield?
No, "When I attack" triggers do not occur when moving into an empty battlefield. According to the rules and FAQs:
If a showdown has started, can you move units into the battle if you don't have enough might? What if the unit has ganking?
No, you cannot move units into a battlefield during a showdown, regardless of their Might or whether they have the Ganking ability.
How would Timewarp with repeat effect work?
If you were to play a card with the **Repeat** keyword that also has the effect "Take a turn after this one" (such as a hypothetical version of *Time Warp* modified with *Repeat*), here is how it would function according to the rules:
If I play Deathgrip and save the unit with Sett, can I still give the might to another unit?
No, you cannot give the Might bonus to another unit if you save the first unit with Sett's legend ability.