Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 79 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If I use Called Shots and repeat it, can it still be countered by Defy?
Yes, **Called Shot** can be countered by **Defy** even if you choose to pay the Repeat cost. According to the official FAQ #3145 and the game rules regarding **Defy**:
How does a gold token's `add` work? If I'm trying to play Spellfire which has 2 cost + 2 pay and I have two gold tokens, does that mean I still have to exhaust 2 runes in addition to spending my gold tokens?
To address your question regarding Gold gear tokens and paying costs, we must look at the official rules and the provided FAQ clarifications.
When does the battlefield `Reaver's Row` effect happen? If I move an attacking unit to the battlefield while my opponent is defending, when can they decide to activate that effect? Say I move a 4 might unit onto a battlefield where the opponent has a 4 might unit. I have a `Falling Star` card in my hand that I want to use, but I don't know if that would be wasted if the opponent can just fall back to base during any time.
To address your questions regarding the timing of **Reaver's Row** and the use of **Falling Star**, here is the breakdown based on the official rules and Riftbound mechanics.
For Darius Trifarian, can he trigger his effect if he's the second card that gets played or does he have to be played first?
Yes, Darius, Trifarian can trigger his ability when he is played as the second card in a turn. He does not need to be played first.
On my opponent's turn, I have units on battlefield A, and there are no units on battlefield B. My opponent has 7 points and moves Draven, Audacious to battlefield B. Does he score 8 points if there are no units to win a combat? In case that I have a unit and he wins combat, does he score 8 points?
To answer your questions regarding **Draven, Audacious** and the scoring of the 8th point, we must distinguish between scoring via **Conquer** (a game action) and scoring via **Triggered Abilities**.
How does Draven work when deciding when to recycle a red rune for +2?
### **Draven, Vanquisher: Ability Timing and Cost** To clarify how Draven, Vanquisher's ability works regarding the timing of recycling a red rune for his +2 Might bonus, here is the official ruling based on the game rules and FAQs:
Does Flight or Fight need a valid target?
Yes, **Fight or Flight** requires a valid target to be played. According to the rules of *Riftbound* and the associated FAQs:
If I have a buff and Warmog's attached, I conquer Monastery of Hirana. Spend a buff, draw a card, and then get a buff.
To end with a buff after conquering the **Monastery of Hirana** while already possessing a buff and having **Warmog's Armor** attached, you must carefully order the resolution of the triggered abilities.
I have Akshan on the field. I stole the enemy's Guardian Angel equipment. I moved the equipment to another unit with Jax's legend ability. (The enemy GA is now equipped to my Jax unit.) Next turn: Opponent plays a spell and kills Akshan. Akshan dies and leaves the field. Do I or do I NOT give the Guardian Angel equipped to Jax back to my opponent? I thought "Yes, I give equipment back" because Akshan left the field. My opponent, a fellow Jax player with experience, told me that once the equipment is attached to another unit, it cannot be disposed of in this way. The equipment stays on my Jax. He said it was in the rules but didn't specify which rule.
## ⚖️ Ruling: **Your opponent is correct. The Guardian Angel stays on your Jax.** This is directly addressed in **RiftJudge FAQ #694**, which covers this exact sequence:
Can I defy Bullet Time if he pays 6 power?
No, you cannot Defy a *Bullet Time* after the opponent has already paid 6 power for it. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #4175**: * **Ruling:** You cannot Defy a *Bullet Time* after the opponent has paid power for it. Paying power is part of *Bullet Time*'s effect, and once the power is paid, it is too late to Defy.
Does Meditation target a unit to draw on Dreaming Tree?
No, **Meditation** does not target a unit, and therefore it does not trigger **The Dreaming Tree**. ### Reasoning 1. **Meditation's Cost vs. Effect:** According to the card text, exhausting a friendly unit is an **additional cost** to play Meditation, not an effect of the spell. Rule 352.10.c states that objects included as part of a cost do not target. 2.
Does equipping a weapon to Irelia Fervent give her +1?
Yes, equipping gear to Irelia, Fervent triggers her ability and gives her +1 Might. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6203** and **#3079**, equipping gear to Irelia counts as "choosing" her. Because her ability states, *"When you choose or ready me, give me +1 Might this turn,"* the act of equipping gear triggers this bonus.
Does the effect of Reaver's Row trigger at the start of a showdown or the end of a showdown?
The effect of **Reaver's Row** triggers at the **start of a showdown**, not the end. According to RiftJudge FAQs (such as #1599, #1984, and #4884), Reaver's Row functions as a "when I defend" triggered ability that is placed on the **initial chain** created when a showdown begins.
What speed is Rocket Barrage? Can it be played as a reaction?
Rocket Barrage is a **Base Speed** spell. In Riftbound, spells are considered Base Speed unless they explicitly have the **Action** or **Reaction** keyword printed on the card. Since Rocket Barrage does not have either of these keywords, it does not possess the inherent permissions to be played during a Showdown or in response to other effects on the chain.
If I move to a battlefield with a unit and it's open, and he plays Void Seeker, an action card, can he? Is it a noncombat showdown? Or only reactions?
When you move a unit to an empty battlefield, you create a **non-combat showdown**. Because the battlefield was empty, it becomes contested, which triggers a showdown (Rule 429.1).
Can Brynhir Thundersong be reacted to?
The short answer is: **You cannot react to Brynhir Thundersong herself being played, but you can react to her "When you play me" triggered ability.**
Is activating a Gear ability playing a card?
Activating a gear's ability is **not** the same as playing a card, but it follows the same process. According to **Rule 148.2.a** and **Rule 387**, activating an ability follows the same steps as playing a card, but the ability itself behaves like a "spell without an associated card."
If Glasc Mixologist is defending and died at a battlefield, does its Deathknell trigger and therefore allow its unit to be played at the same battlefield before losing ownership?
Yes, **Glasc Mixologist**'s *Deathknell* trigger allows you to play a unit from your trash to the battlefield, which can help you maintain control of that battlefield.
If I have 2 Dazzling Auroras and the first one finds a Deadbloom Predator that I play to a contested battlefield, does the showdown have to resolve first or the second Aurora trigger?
The second Dazzling Aurora trigger must resolve before the showdown begins. Showdowns can only initiate when the game is in a neutral open state with no pending items on the chain.
If I used Akshan to attach an equipment and had Lucian take the equipment when played, do I give equipment back?
When you use Akshan to steal an equipment and then move it to another unit (like Lucian) using a Weaponmaster effect, you do not automatically "give it back" the moment Akshan leaves play.
If I hold to 7 and then charm a recruit into a Draven Audacious, would I gain a point to 8?
There is no card named "Charm" or any card with an effect that "charms" a unit in *Riftbound*. Please verify the card name or provide the exact card text you are referring to.
When my opponent goes to my battlefield that I hold and don't play an action spell, can I play it then?
Yes, you can play an **Action** spell in this situation. When an opponent moves a unit into a battlefield you control, a **Showdown** begins. During a Showdown, players have the opportunity to play spells in an alternating fashion.
When I play Thwonk and repeat it, can my opponent still negate the effect with either Not So Fast?
Yes, your opponent can use **Not So Fast** to counter your **Thwonk!** spell. ### Ruling According to **FAQ #62** and the card text for **Not So Fast**, it can counter an enemy spell or ability if that spell or ability chooses a unit or gear that the opponent considers "friendly."
When I play Twhonk and repeat the effect, can the spell card Defy Negate the mine effect?
Yes, **Defy** can negate the entire **Thwonk!** spell, including its Repeat effect. According to **FAQ #256** and **FAQ #426**: * When you cast a spell with **Repeat**, you must choose whether to pay the Repeat cost at the time of casting, before your opponent can respond. * If you choose to Repeat, the Repeat effect is part of the same...
Can I legally respond to a Singularity by playing Janna to a battlefield?
Yes, you can legally respond to a **Singularity** by playing **Janna, Savior** to a battlefield. ### Reasoning 1. **Singularity starts a chain:** When a player plays **Singularity**, it is placed on the chain. According to Rule 309.1, when a chain exists, the turn is in a **Closed State**. 2. **Reaction timing:** In a Closed State, only cards and abilities with...
Can I use Jax, Grand Summoner's exhaust ability at during showdowns?
It appears you may be referring to the legend **Grandmaster at Arms (Jax)**, as "Jax, Grand Summoner" is not a recognized card.
Can you use the `Retreat` card to return an opponent's unit to their hand, or is it only your units?
No, you cannot use `Retreat` to return an opponent's unit to their hand. According to the card text, `Retreat` specifically targets a **"friendly unit."** As established in Riftbound rules and clarified in RiftJudge FAQs (such as FAQ #3364 and #5292), the term "friendly unit" refers only to units controlled by you or your teammate in a 2v2 game. It cannot...
Does Ride the Wind allow you to move between battlefields or just back and forth between the base and battlefields?
Yes, **Ride the Wind** allows you to move a unit from one battlefield to another. According to multiple RiftJudge FAQs (such as FAQ #7631, #4995, and #1188), the restriction on moving between battlefields applies only to the **Standard Move**. Because *Ride the Wind* is a spell effect rather than a Standard Move, it is not restricted by the rules regarding...
Can `singularity` attack units that are in their base?
Yes, `Singularity` can target units that are at their base. According to the RiftJudge FAQs regarding `Singularity` (FAQ #513, #3724), `Singularity` does not contain any location restrictions (such as "at a battlefield"). Therefore, it can target units regardless of their location, including those at their base.
For Weaponmaster, can you only use equip for free when you first play the unit, or does Weaponmaster stay in effect the full time they're on the board allowing you to at anytime equip a weapon to them?
Weaponmaster is a triggered ability that only activates when you play the unit. It does not remain in effect while the unit is on the board.
If I conquer one battlefield but an opponent controls the other while I am at 7 points, do I get to draw a card?
To answer your question: **Yes, you draw a card.** According to **Rule 448.1.b.2**: > "If the player has Scored through a Conquer and has not Scored every Battlefield this turn, that player draws a card."
Do the countered spells still trigger Irelia, Fervent's Trigger?
Yes, countered spells still trigger Irelia, Fervent's ability. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #636** and **#6256**, Irelia's ability triggers when she is chosen during the spell's finalization process, which occurs before the opponent has the opportunity to counter the spell. Because the trigger is placed on the chain at the moment of finalization, it remains there and will resolve even if...
Can you equip the same weapon multiple times in a turn?
Yes, you can equip the same equipment to multiple units in the same turn, provided you pay the equip cost each time.
Is there a limit to how many equips you can attach to a single unit at the same time?
No, there is no limit to the number of equipment cards that can be attached to a single unit at the same time.
Can I play Salvage and not kill any Gear if I don't want to and just draw the card?
Yes, you can play **Salvage** and choose not to kill any gear, still drawing the card. According to the card's text, "You may kill up to one gear. Draw 1," and **Rule 352.13**:
How does Draven's Spinning Axe work? If Draven dies, can I use its reaction to add it to my other unit? And if so, what if my other unit dies that same turn, can I react again and equip it to a third unit all in the same turn?
Spinning Axe is a piece of Gear with the **[Equip]** ability. ### How Spinning Axe Works * **[Equip] Ability:** The **[Equip]** ability is an **Activated Ability** (Rule 744.1). It is formatted as `[Equip] [Cost]`, which is shorthand for `[Cost]: Attach this gear to a unit you control` (Rule 744.1.c.2). * **Cost:** The cost for Spinning Axe is the payment of...
What makes Kai'Sa Survivor strong? She's only 4 might, so when she's entering a contested battlefield with other friendly units, the opponent can just focus their damage to Kai'Sa anyways?
Kai'Sa, Survivor is considered a strong card primarily due to her ability to generate card advantage and her flexibility in how she enters the battlefield, rather than her raw combat stats.
If I have a Miss Fortune at a battlefield and a Hidden Tide Turner at that same battlefield and my opponent attempts to charm my Miss Fortune off the battlefield, if I reveal my Tide Turner as a reaction to the charm does that allow me to move my Miss Fortune back to the battlefield?
No, you cannot use Tideturner to move Miss Fortune back to the battlefield after she has been moved by Charm.
If I play Bellows Breath and there is only one legal target on opponent's side, can I deal all three damage to it?
No, you cannot deal all three damage to a single unit with one cast of **Bellows Breath**. According to the RiftJudge FAQ #168 and #1871: * **Bellows Breath** deals 1 damage to up to three *different* units at the same location. * Each target must be a distinct unit. You cannot target the same unit multiple times with a single...
Here to help used as a reaction from hidden, can you play your chosen champion with it?
No, you cannot use *Here to Help* to play your Chosen Champion from the Champion Zone. According to the card text, *Here to Help* allows you to "play a unit from **hand**." The Champion Zone and your hand are distinct, separate zones. Therefore, a card that specifically references your hand cannot target or access a card located in your Champion...
Can you use a Seal for Deflect cost?
Yes, you can use seals to pay for Deflect costs. According to the official FAQ and **Rule 735.1.c.1**: * **Deflect** adds a mandatory additional cost to the Power cost of a spell or ability. * The Power used to pay a Deflect cost can be of **any Domain** (it does not need to match the color of the spell or...
If I play two Darius on my turn, do I ready both Darius due to its ability?
Yes, both copies of Darius will trigger and ready themselves. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 8029): "Ruling: Both Darius cards trigger. When the second Darius is played, he sees himself as the second card played that turn."
How does Tideturner and Overzealous Fan work when I play Tideturner in the first priority step during a showdown and swap it with Overzealous Fan? Does the When I defend trigger still trigger and what would be the first possible point to play Tideturner as a defender?
To address your questions regarding the interaction between **Tideturner** and **Overzealous Fan** during a showdown, here is the breakdown based on the official rules and mechanics.
If Yasuo Remorseful attacks a battlefield and you have a tank, can he bypass it?
Yes, Yasuo, Remorseful can bypass a unit with the **Tank** keyword when using his "When I attack" ability. The **Tank** keyword is a passive ability that specifically restricts how **combat damage** is assigned during the Combat Damage Step of a showdown. According to Rule 741.1.b, Tank is functionally short for: *"I must be assigned lethal damage before any other unit...
When you target a gear with Adaptatron, do you have to pay Deflect if unit has it even via the gear? Svellsongur is attached to Ornn?
No, you do not have to pay the **Deflect** cost when targeting an attached piece of gear, even if the unit it is attached to has **Deflect**.
When you hold Power Nexus, can you use the ability on the battlefield multiple times?
To answer your question regarding the **Power Nexus** battlefield: **While you can trigger the ability on Power Nexus multiple times in a single turn, you can only successfully score once per battlefield per turn.**
Does Flurry of Blades target units? Do you pay the cost?
No, **Flurry of Blades does not target units**, and you do not pay recycle costs for Deflect when playing it.
If Tianna is at a battlefield, the hold on the other battlefield doesn't occur. Both players are on 7 points, Tianna is killed and they conquer the 2nd battlefield, do they get the last point?
Yes, you win the game. According to **Rule 447**, you may only Score once per battlefield per turn. When you attempt to Hold a battlefield at the start of your turn, you initiate the Scoring process. Even if Tianna Crownguard's ability prevents you from gaining the point, the act of Scoring still occurs, and that battlefield is marked as "Scored"...
If an opponent attacks with a unit to an empty battlefield, can I use an action spell if it's not my turn?
Yes, you can use an **Action** spell when an opponent moves a unit to an empty battlefield, even if it is not your turn.
Explain to me how Sun Disk Gear works then give me an example.
The **Sun Disc** is a Gear card (Domain: Fury, Cost: 2 Energy, 1 Power) that features an activated ability. ### How Sun Disc Works