Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 74 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
When do you have to decide to pay for Draven Vanquisher's triggered ability?
You decide whether to pay for Draven, Vanquisher's triggered ability on resolution, not when the ability is placed on the chain.
Can Bellows Breath target the same unit for all 3 points of damage?
No, **Bellows Breath** cannot target the same unit multiple times with a single cast to deal multiple damage to it.
When I play the cost for Yasuo Windrider to move it to base, does it count as one of three moves I need to activate its effect?
Yes, moving Yasuo, Windrider to your base counts as one of the three movements required to trigger his ability. According to Rule 407.1, "Moving is the act of a Game Object moving between two Locations on The Board." Since your base is a location on the board, moving Yasuo there constitutes a movement.
When one of my units becomes mighty and I end my turn, but forgot to use Fiora Grand Duelist legend card for its effect, may I do it in the next turn for that unit that became mighty in the previous turn?
No, you cannot use Fiora, Grand Duelist's ability on your next turn for a unit that became Mighty on a previous turn.
When you move a unit through an effect, would it be exhausted or ready?
When a unit is moved by a card effect, its state (Ready or Exhausted) does not change unless the card explicitly states otherwise.
How does banish work?
Banishing is a specific game action in Riftbound. According to Rule 414 and Rule 107.5, here is how it works:
Can you activate your chosen champion unit's ability while it is on the chosen champion's slot?
No, you cannot activate a champion's ability while it is in the Chosen Champion slot. According to Rule 373, activated abilities can "primarily be activated while on the Board." Furthermore, the FAQ clarifies that the Chosen Champion Zone is not part of the board, and spells or abilities cannot interact with units in that zone unless they explicitly state they...
How does Baited Hook work?
Baited Hook is a Gear card that allows you to sacrifice a friendly unit to potentially play a stronger unit from your deck. Here is how it works:
Does En Garde get additional +1 might if it is attacking a battlefield that is held by someone else riftbound?
Yes, *En Garde* can grant the additional +1 might bonus if the targeted unit is the only unit you control at that location, regardless of whether you are attacking or defending.
Explain how King's Edict resolves?
King's Edict resolves by forcing each of your opponents to choose a unit you do not control to be killed. Because the choice is made by the players during resolution rather than by the spell itself, it does not "target" units in the traditional sense.
Can I use Forge of the Future's ability on my opponent's turn?
No, you cannot use the activated ability of **Forge of the Future** on your opponent's turn. According to Rule 374, all activated abilities can only be activated on the controlling player's turn and during an open state. Additionally, Rule 148.2 specifies that the activated ability of Gear may only be executed during the controlling player's action phase during an open...
If enemy has Guardian Angel and Zhonya, which one gets used first?
When a unit has both **Zhonya's Hourglass** on the board and **Guardian Angel** equipped, and that unit would die, you (as the controlling player) choose which replacement effect to apply.
Does Brynhildr stop my opponent from casting Edge of Night if it was hidden?
Yes, Brynhir Thundersong prevents your opponent from playing *Edge of Night* from its hidden state. According to the ruling for Brynhir Thundersong: * **"Opponents cannot play cards on whatever turn Brynhir is played."** * **"Cards from hidden are also played, so Brynhir's effect prevents revealing them."**
Does Weaponmaster allow free gear equips only when played or anytime?
Weaponmaster allows you to equip gear at a reduced cost only when the unit with the Weaponmaster keyword is played.
Can Weaponmaster take equipment off friendly equipped units?
Yes, a unit with the **Weaponmaster** keyword can take an equipment that is already attached to another unit you control and equip it to itself.
If I play Bullet Time do I have to announce how many runes I want to recycle before the card resolves?
No, you do not have to announce how many runes you want to recycle when you play Bullet Time. According to the official ruling for Bullet Time:
Does When Move ability resolve instantly?
No, "When I move" abilities do not resolve instantly. According to the rules and FAQs regarding movement:
If a player plays Lecturing Yordle on a battlefield they control, opponent reacts with Gust to send it back to hand, does the player still draw a card?
Yes, the player still draws a card. According to the rules and established game mechanics (as seen in similar interactions like the *Traveling Merchant* FAQ), when a unit is played, its "When you play me" ability triggers and is placed on the chain. Because the ability has already triggered and been added to the chain, it will resolve regardless of...
If I cast a spell that targets/chooses an opponent's unit and my opponent removes the card before resolution, does my spell fizzle or do as much as possible given the text of the card?
In Riftbound, spells do not "fizzle" in the traditional sense of being countered or failing entirely just because a target becomes invalid. Instead, they resolve as much as they can.
What happens if both players have 8 points at the same time?
In Riftbound, it is not possible for both players to reach 8 points at the same time. According to **Rule 463.6** (for 1v1 matches), the game ends the moment a player reaches the Victory Score:
Can Aphelios exalted buff himself?
Yes, Aphelios, Exalted can buff himself. His ability states: "When you attach an Equipment to me, choose one that hasn't been chosen this turn — ... **Buff a friendly unit.**"
I contest an uncontrolled battlefield with Yone (5 might), my opponent rides the winds a 2 might unit in, then uses their focus to rune prison my Yone. I relentless pursuit my Yone to the other uncontrolled battlefield, and my opponent follows with ride the winds. What is the resolution on both battlefields?
To resolve this situation, we must look at how battlefields, contested status, and movement interact. ### Resolution Summary 1. **Battlefield 1:** Because you moved Yone away using *Relentless Pursuit* and your opponent moved their unit away using *Ride the Wind*, there are no units left on Battlefield 1. It becomes **Uncontrolled**. 2. **Battlefield 2:** A new showdown begins here because...
Does Quickdraw bypass equip costs?
Yes, **Quick-Draw bypasses the Equip cost** when you play the equipment from your hand. According to the rules and FAQs regarding the **Quick-Draw** keyword:
When do units heal after a Challenge spell is played?
Units do not heal after a *Challenge* spell is played. According to the FAQ regarding *Challenge*: * **Ruling:** Units do not heal after using *Challenge*. They remain damaged until they heal after combat or at the end of turn. * **Nuances:** *Challenge* is not combat, so it does not trigger the healing that occurs after a combat showdown.
Do I have to pay the selected card's cost when it attacks?
No, you do not have to pay the cost of the card you play using **Rek'Sai, Swarm Queen's** ability. When you resolve Rek'Sai's "When I attack" ability, you are instructed to "play" the card you chose from the revealed cards. Because the ability does not include the phrase "ignoring its cost," you would normally be required to pay the card's...
Can I stack Reaper's Row and Ezreal dashing triggers on defense to resolve Ezreal's first and then resolve Reaper's Row?
No, you cannot stack the triggers to resolve Ezreal's ability before Reaver's Row. In Riftbound, the order in which triggered abilities are placed on the chain is strictly defined by the game rules, and they resolve in Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) order. Because Reaver's Row is a "When you defend" trigger belonging to the defender, it is placed on the chain...
Does activating a Repeat on a card count as playing it twice?
No, activating **Repeat** on a card does not count as playing it twice. According to **Rule 746.3.a**: "Regardless of the number of times a spell's instructions are executed with this keyword, the spell is only Played once."
If I play Piercing Light and there is no unit at a battlefield to begin with but there is a unit in base, can 2 damage still be dealt to the unit in base?
No, you cannot play Piercing Light if there is no unit at a battlefield to target. According to the card text, Piercing Light requires you to "Deal 2 to a unit at a battlefield" as the first part of its effect. Because this is a mandatory action required to initiate the spell's resolution, you must have a valid target at...
Does temporary units earn hold points?
Yes, units with the **Temporary** keyword can earn hold points. According to the rules, **Temporary** is a keyword that triggers a specific effect at the start of the controller's Beginning Phase (Rule 742.1.b). It does not restrict a unit's ability to participate in game actions like holding a battlefield or scoring points.
If I move off of a battlefield leaving it open, and then acquire it again with a different unit on the same turn, do I still trigger Conquer effects even if I don't score a point?
No, you do not trigger conquer effects in that situation. According to Rule 447, a player may only score from either method (Conquer or Hold) once per battlefield per turn. Furthermore, Rule 448.2.c states that Conquer abilities "will only trigger when the Battlefield is Scored; I.E. These cannot be triggered more than once per turn for a player."
I have a unit and a hidden Facebreaker at a battlefield, and my opponent moves a unit into the battlefield. If I reveal Facebreaker, what happens to our units?
To determine what happens, we must look at the requirements for playing **Facebreaker** and the rules regarding combat and showdowns.
If the Brynhildr Thundersong card is played to me and then my Ferrous Forerunner dies, can the Ferrous Forerunner activate its deathknell effect?
Yes, your Ferrous Forerunner can still activate its Deathknell effect even if an opponent has played Brynhir Thundersong this turn.
Can you cast Not So Fast on Cull the Weak?
No, you cannot use **Not So Fast** to counter **Cull the Weak**. According to the card text and official rulings:
If I play a Hidden Blade at the battlefield I control, on a different turn can I activate it and use it on a unit at a different battlefield?
No, you cannot. When you play a card from "Hidden," you are restricted to targeting units at the battlefield where that card was hidden.
Can I use Azir Descendant ability in Base to move a unit from Vilemaw Lair?
No, you cannot use Azir, Ascendant's ability to move a unit out of Vilemaw's Lair to your base. According to the official FAQ regarding Vilemaw's Lair: * **Vilemaw's Lair restriction:** "Units can't move from here to base." * **Interaction:** When Azir targets a unit at Vilemaw's Lair, Azir will successfully move to the Lair, but the unit's attempt to move...
With Master Yi's signature spell "Alpha Strike" being released, what is the ruling for multiple signatures? Can you have 3 copies of "Alpha Strike" and 3 copies of "Highlander"?
According to the rules regarding Signature cards, you cannot have 3 copies of "Alpha Strike" and 3 copies of "Highlander" in the same deck.
Can I react to Spinning Axe's temporary with Angle Shot to protect it?
No, you cannot save Spinning Axe by reacting to its [Temporary] trigger with Angle Shot. According to the official FAQ regarding this interaction:
If my opponent plays Singularity, can you react with 2 reaction spells?
Yes, you can react with two reaction spells in response to your opponent playing Singularity. According to the rules regarding the chain and reaction spells:
Do you get to choose what cards your opponent recycles with Forge of the Future?
Yes, you get to choose exactly which cards are recycled. According to the official FAQ for **Forge of the Future**: * You target 0–4 cards in any combination from any trashes (yours and/or your opponent's). * You have full control over which specific cards to recycle, not just how many.
What triggers first, an enemy's if it would die targeted to my unit or my unit's if I would die like Zhonyas?
When multiple replacement effects (such as *Zhonya's Hourglass* or other "if it would die" effects) would apply to the same event, the player who controls those effects chooses the order in which they are applied. If replacement effects controlled by different players would apply to the same event, the game rules for simultaneous effects (often involving turn player priority) determine...
Does Smoke Screen make a unit might go 0?
No, Smoke Screen does not make a unit's Might go to 0. According to the card text and the established rulings for **Smoke Screen**, it reduces a unit's Might by 4, but it includes a **minimum of 1 Might** restriction.
Does Emperor's Divide move units to base and they are still ready if they were previously ready at battlefield?
Yes, when you use **Emperor's Divide** to move units from a battlefield to your base, they remain in their current state. If they were ready at the battlefield, they will be ready at your base.
Can I trigger "When I attack" effects any time in combat?
No, you cannot trigger "When I attack" effects at any time during combat. These abilities have specific timing requirements defined by the game rules.
Explain the interaction between Counterstrike and Falling Star. Does Counterstrike prevent damage from Falling Star if it was chosen as both of its damage dealing effects?
Yes, **Counter Strike** can prevent damage from **Falling Star**, even if you target the same unit with both instances of damage. However, because **Counter Strike** creates a delayed replacement effect that is consumed after a single damage event, you would need to play two copies of **Counter Strike** to prevent both instances of damage.
Does playing a unit count as choosing it?
No, playing a unit does not count as choosing or targeting it. According to Rule 352.4.b, making choices for a unit as it is played (such as choosing a location) is distinct from targeting or choosing a game object for an effect. Furthermore, Rule 352.6 defines targeting as when a card "Chooses one or more specific Game Objects to affect."
Can I choose to assign non-lethal damage? If I have a 4 might unit and I'm fighting two enemy 3 might units, could I choose to assign 2 damage to each or am I forced to kill one before assigning damage to another?
No, you cannot choose to assign non-lethal damage in that manner. You are forced to assign lethal damage to one unit before you can assign any remaining damage to another.
Can Janna heal my Sand Soldiers if they were targeted with Falling Star?
### Card Information * **Janna, Savior:** A Unit with the **[Reaction]** keyword. Her ability text is: *"When you play me, heal your units here, then move up to one enemy unit from here to its base."* * **Falling Star:** A Spell that reads: *"Deal 3 to a unit. Deal 3 to a unit. (You can choose different units.)"* * **Sand...
If I have a Draven, Vanquisher on the battlefield with a hidden Fight or Flight, and my opponent moves his Vex to combat with the Draven, on Draven's defender trigger, can I respond with Fight or Flight for its hidden cost or does Vex tax the hidden card?
Yes, you can respond with your hidden **Fight or Flight**, but you must pay the additional cost imposed by **Vex**.
Can I react with retreat as my temporary unit is vanishing at the start of my beginning phase? Would it channel one rune exhausted before readying runes and I would have essentially one more channeled ready rune this way?
Yes, you can react to a *Temporary* trigger with *Retreat*. The rune channeled by *Retreat* will not ready until your next turn's Awaken Phase.
Is Heimerdinger able to use all tap abilities at once?
No, Heimerdinger, Inventor cannot use all of his copied tap (exhaust) abilities at once. According to the official rulings for Heimerdinger: