Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 8 of 133 · 6,628 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Does Yasuo with Svellsongur equipped deal damage twice (6 damage each time) when he attacks, or does the second trigger deal 0 damage?
Ruling: Yasuo with Svellsongur equipped will trigger his attack ability twice, dealing 6 damage each time for a total of 12 damage to potentially two different units. The equipment's text is granted to the attached unit, so both triggers use the unit's full might.
Does a spell that says 'move' (like Ride the Wind) allow moving from battlefield to battlefield without the unit having ganking, and does it exhaust the unit?
Ruling: Move effects from spells or abilities allow movement from battlefield to battlefield without ganking and do not exhaust the unit unless explicitly stated. Only standard moves require exhausting and are restricted by ganking rules.
If a 2 Might unit is at Trif Warcamp (which gives +1 Might) and then receives a -2 Might penalty, what is its final Might value?
Ruling: The unit will be at 1 Might. Might increases and decreases snapshot based on the current value when they are applied, taking timestamps into account.
How does Sett Legend work, specifically when does the 'ready me' ability trigger?
Ruling: Sett Legend readies itself whenever you conquer a battlefield (take control via combat or enter an empty battlefield and score a point). This allows you to use the first ability again, which requires exhausting Sett.
Does Void Gate's "spells and abilities affecting units here each deal 1 bonus damage" trigger when Thousand Tailed Watcher reduces a unit's might, potentially finishing off a unit reduced to 1 HP?
Ruling: Void Gate only works with spells and abilities that explicitly deal damage. Reducing might is not dealing damage, so Thousand Tailed Watcher would not trigger Void Gate's bonus damage.
If a targeted spell's target becomes invalid after the spell is on the chain (e.g., removed by Retreat), does the spell fizzle or does the caster choose a new target?
Ruling: The spell does nothing (whiffs). Targets cannot be redeclared after an effect has been placed onto the chain. Sequence: - Super Mega Death Rocket is played targeting the 5 Might Unit - Retreat is played in reaction - Chain resolves backwards: Retreat removes the targeted unit - Super Mega Death Rocket resolves with an invalid target and does nothing
How does Divine Judgment work?
Ruling: Each player chooses 2 units, 2 gears, 2 runes, and 2 cards in their hand. All units (including tokens), gears, runes, and hand cards from both players that weren't chosen by at least one player are recycled into their respective decks.
If I have a 4-power unit at a battlefield with Mask of Foresight in my base and a hidden unit (Tideturner) at that battlefield, when my opponent moves a unit into the battlefield, does the +1 buff from Mask of Foresight apply before I reveal the hidden unit as a reaction?
Ruling: Yes, the +1 buff from Mask of Foresight can apply before you reveal the hidden unit, making your original defender a 5-power unit. However, this depends on when you choose to reveal your hidden card.
Does Raging Soul's effect from discarding a card last only for the current turn or permanently?
Ruling: The effect lasts only for the current turn. Nuances: - This is a passive effect that constantly checks if you have discarded on the current turn
If you use Flash to move a unit targeted by Hidden Blade back to base, does the controller still draw 2 cards?
Ruling: No, if you Flash a unit in response to Hidden Blade, the controller does not draw 2 cards. When Hidden Blade resolves, the unit is no longer at the battlefield, making the target illegal and preventing Hidden Blade from determining "its controller."
If an enemy attacks with Yasuo Remorseful into a battlefield with a Poro, and the defending player uses Ride the Wind to move Mindsplitter to that battlefield during combat, does Mindsplitter survive and does the defending player score a point?
Ruling: Yasuo's attack trigger will target the Poro (the unit already on the battlefield). The defending player can then use Ride the Wind to move Mindsplitter to that battlefield during combat. Mindsplitter will survive by killing Yasuo, but the defending player does not score a point because their control of the battlefield never dropped.
If I hold and score from 6 to 7 points on my turn, then win the showdown at the other battlefield, do I score my last point or draw a card?
Ruling: You gain your last point and win the game. When you conquer on your last point, you win if you have already conquered or held the other battlefield in the same turn.
Does retreating all units from a battlefield you already scored this turn, then moving a unit back onto it, count as a 'Conquer' and trigger Conquer effects?
Ruling: No, it does not count as a Conquer. A Conquer only occurs when a player gains control of a battlefield they have not yet scored that turn.
If Sett Brawler has a buff and is reduced to 1 Might by Smoke Screen, does he die when the buff is later removed?
Ruling: Sett Brawler will not die when reduced to 0 Might after the buff is removed. Units only die when they have non-zero damage on them, not from having 0 Might alone.
Does Ahri need to recycle a rune to use her 'When I defend give a unit -2' ability on a unit with deflect, and can she use the ability if she has no runes to recycle?
Ruling: Yes, Ahri needs to recycle a rune to target a unit with deflect using her 'When I defend give a unit -2' ability. If you cannot recycle a rune (because you have recycled all of them), you cannot use Ahri's ability on that unit with deflect.
Can you discard Super Mega Death Rocket from your hand when you conquer to immediately return it back to your hand using its own ability?
Ruling: No, Super Mega Death Rocket must already be in the trash when you conquer for its ability to activate. The card's ability self-identifies as being in trash, so it cannot be discarded from hand to trigger itself.
If an opponent playing Lux as their legend has their Promising Future countered by Wind Wall, does Lux's legend passive still trigger to draw a card?
Ruling: No, the legend passive does not trigger. The spell must resolve for Lux's passive effect to occur. Nuances: - Countering a spell prevents it from resolving, which means legend passives that trigger on playing spells of certain types do not activate
If I control both battlefields and my opponent attacks one, can I play 'Here to Help' to play Blitzcrank at my other battlefield, and would his ability resolve during the contested showdown to create a second showdown?
Ruling: Blitzcrank's trigger goes on the chain during the ongoing showdown. Once it resolves and moves the unit, it stages a second showdown that waits until the first showdown finishes before proceeding.
When attacking a battlefield and triggering a 'When I attack' ability, is there another chain during showdown before combat damage, or is there only one chain during combat?
Ruling: After the initial chain (when I attack, defend, actions/reactions) resolves, the attacker receives Focus and Priority and can play actions/reactions. There is no defined number of chains that can happen during a showdown.
If Trifarian Warcamp gives recruit tokens +1 might (making them 2 might with 4 tokens), and Thousand Tail Watcher reduces all opponent units' might by 3 (minimum 1), what is the final might of the recruit tokens?
Ruling: The recruit tokens will be at 1 might. Thousand Tail Watcher snapshots the current might value when it resolves and applies a -3 reduction (minimum 1) for the rest of the turn.
Is it allowed to track an opponent's hand size with dice?
Ruling: Yes, you can use dice to track your opponent's hand size. Cards in hand are public information, so you can check or ask at any point, and using dice or keeping notes to track this information is allowed.
When playing a spell or ability, if choices are announced early (before resolution) and the opponent reacts, can the player change those choices?
Ruling: When you announce choices for a spell or ability that are normally made upon resolution, you can change those choices if your opponent reacts. However, you cannot announce choices solely to bait a reaction and then change them when your opponent doesn't react.
Does Guardian Angel triggering on Apprentice Smith count as a move for her ability?
Ruling: No, Guardian Angel triggering does not count as a move for Apprentice Smith's ability. Nuances: - Recall and Move are separate game actions and are not treated as the same thing
When playing Red Darius and then using Challenge or Sky Splitter, does Darius have 7 or 5 might for the spell effect, and does Sky Splitter cost 1 or 3 energy?
Ruling: The spell must resolve first, then Darius will trigger. In both cases, Darius will be 5 might when his ability triggers.
If Fiery Annie (which gives +1 to abilities and spells) is in play and you play Stupify, does Stupify give -1 and deal 1 damage?
Ruling: No. Annie only increases existing instances of damage. Since Stupify does not originally deal damage, Annie does not cause it to deal damage.
If you hold a battlefield at the start of turn, then pull that unit back and send a new unit to the same battlefield, can you conquer it to score again and draw a card?
Ruling: You can only score a given battlefield once per turn, regardless of whether you hold or conquer it. If you already scored a battlefield by holding it, you cannot conquer it again that turn.
Can GEAR be played and used (tapped) on the same turn it enters the battlefield?
Ruling: GEAR enters the battlefield ready and can be used the turn you played it. Nuances: - This applies to seals and other GEAR cards
Can you react to flip a hidden Teemo before a Temporary Sprite disappears at the beginning of your turn phase, or can reactions only be used on opponent's turn?
Ruling: You can react before the Temporary Sprite disappears. Temporary is a triggered ability that uses the stack, allowing you to respond to it by flipping Teemo before the Sprite is removed.
Can three players end up on one battlefield in a free-for-all game, such as by using Ride the Wind during a showdown to move a friendly unit onto a battlefield you don't control?
Ruling: No, three players cannot end up on one battlefield. In multiplayer modes, battlefields with pending combats or combats in progress are invalid destinations for moves by units controlled by players who don't already have permanents at that battlefield.
When recycling an active rune as a cost for conquering Sigil of the Storm, can you keep the floating energy from that rune?
Ruling: Yes, you can keep the energy. You tap the rune first to add its energy to your pool, then recycle the rune to pay the conquest cost. The energy remains in your pool until end of turn.
Can you activate a Hidden card from battlefield B while a showdown is happening on battlefield A?
Ruling: Yes, you can activate a Hidden card from one battlefield while a showdown is happening on another battlefield. It works the same as playing a reaction card from hand, as long as it's legal to play in that instance.
When attacking a contested battlefield, if I pass without playing an Action spell and my opponent plays an Action spell, can I respond with an Action spell or must I use a Reaction spell?
Ruling: When you pass focus and your opponent plays an Action spell, you can only respond with Reaction spells while that Action is on the chain. After that chain resolves, focus passes back to you and you can then play an Action spell.
When playing The Harrowing to target a unit with Accelerate, can you pay the extra cost to have it enter ready?
Ruling: Yes, you can pay the extra cost to have the unit enter ready. You only need to pay the power cost (not the memory cost).
What does 'Open State' mean in Riftbound?
Ruling: Open State means the chain is empty. Actions can only be played when the chain is empty (in Open State), while reactions can be played any time you have priority.
Do conquer effects occur before, after, or simultaneously with scoring? Can a player use a conquered battlefield's effect (like Candlelit Sanctum) before drawing when they reach 7 points?
Ruling: You score and conquer at the same time, then conquer triggers happen as a result. The player scores first (gaining the point), which satisfies the conquer condition, and then triggered effects from conquering occur.
Can you repeat Bloodrush on a single unit, and is the effect temporary?
Ruling: Yes, you can target the same unit twice with Bloodrush, and the effect only lasts until end of turn.
Does Heimerdinger gain all abilities that have exhaust in their cost, and can he use each one separately by paying its cost?
Ruling: Heimerdinger gains every ability that has exhaust in its cost from other game objects. He can use whichever abilities he wants by paying their individual costs (including exhaust).
Does a symbol mean recycle 1 of any color or exhaust one?
Ruling: The symbol means recycle 1 of any color. Nuances: - This is not an exhaust effect
Can you play Nocturne off Strategist Teemo's effect?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Nocturne off Strategist Teemo's effect. Nocturne works with both Look effects and Reveal effects. Nuances: - Nocturne does not have Hidden, so he does not add to damage from reveal effects - If Nocturne did have Hidden, he would not be counted for damage because he banishes himself - Nocturne's banishment can happen during effect...
Can a unit be reacted to when it moves using the standard action?
Ruling: The movement itself cannot be reacted to, but if the movement triggers an effect, you can react to that trigger. After all triggers and reactions resolve, the game moves to the showdown phase where focus and actions can be played.
When a unit is moved to a battlefield with Zenith Blade while ready and stays ready, if the attack is lost and the unit is recalled without dying, does it get exhausted or stay ready (allowing it to use its standard move)?
Ruling: The unit stays ready when recalled. Recall purely relocates the unit to base and does not affect it in any other way.
When Thousand-Tailed Watcher gives enemy units -3 might (minimum 1) at Trifarian War Camp (which gives +1 might), what is the final might of a 1 might unit and a 4 might unit?
Ruling: The 1 might unit ends at 1 might and the 4 might unit ends at 2 might. Sequence: - Apply the battlefield's static +1 might effect first - Then apply Watcher's -3 might effect (minimum 1) - For the 1 might unit: 1 + 1 = 2, then 2 - 3 = 1 (minimum applies) - For the 4...
Can Not So Fast counter cards like Downwell or Thermo Beam that affect the whole board instead of targeting a single card?
Ruling: Not So Fast cannot counter Downwell or Thermo Beam because these cards do not choose targets. Nuances: - Not So Fast specifically requires the countered card to "choose" a target - Board-wide effects that don't target specific cards cannot be countered by Not So Fast
For cards with Accelerate, do you have to pay the Accelerate cost when playing/summoning the unit, or can you pay it later in your turn?
Ruling: When you play a unit with Accelerate, you may choose to pay the Accelerate cost or not at that time. You cannot pay the Accelerate cost later in your turn.
Can a hidden Switcheroo be Defied?
Ruling: No, a hidden Switcheroo cannot be Defied. Nuances: - Defy looks at the printed values of a card, not its current state while hidden
When Fox Fire targets units with '4 Might or less' and those units' Might is increased above 4 before Fox Fire resolves, what happens?
Ruling: Fox Fire locks in its targets when cast. At resolution, the caster selects a combined 4 power or less from those previously selected targets to destroy. If no targets meet the criteria anymore, the spell resolves doing nothing (spells never fizzle in Riftbound).
When a unit with both a buff token and a -1 debuff from Orb of Regret is saved by Zhonyas (death replaced), do both effects persist on the unit?
Ruling: Yes, both effects stay on the unit when it returns to base from Zhonyas. Nuances: - The Orb of Regret debuff only lasts until end of turn as usual (it doesn't become permanent just because the unit was saved by Zhonyas)
Does Mask of Foresight give +1 might or +2 might total when a unit attacks a second time (e.g., with Ride the Wind)?
Ruling: Mask of Foresight gives +2 might total when attacking a second time with the same unit. Each separate combat triggers the +1 might bonus again, and the previous bonus persists.
Can Malzahar Fanatic's ability target enemy gear, or only friendly units and gear?
Ruling: Malzahar Fanatic can only target friendly units or friendly gear, not enemy gear. Nuances: - The "or" in the ability text does not split the "friendly" modifier - it applies to both "unit" and "gear" - The ability should be read as "friendly (unit or gear)" not "(friendly unit) or (gear)"
Can a Tideturner flipped from hidden change positions with a unit at the other battlefield, even if the unit does not have ganking?
Ruling: Yes, a Tideturner flipped from hidden can change positions with a unit at the other battlefield, even if that unit does not have ganking.