Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 81 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
How does Get Excited! work? Is discarding the cost? Does discard happen at resolution? Is target chosen at resolution too?
Here is how **Get Excited!** works based on the official rules and FAQs: ### **Is discarding a cost?** **No.** The discard is **not** a cost. It is part of the spell's resolution. Because it is not a cost, you do not have to discard anything if the spell is countered or "defied" (prevented from resolving).
If I play Grand Strategem, does the +5 affect units played after that spell?
No, Grand Strategem does not affect units played after the spell resolves. According to the ruling in FAQ #8163 and FAQ #8376, Grand Strategem only applies its +5 Might bonus to units that are in play at the moment the spell resolves. Units that enter the battlefield after the spell has resolved do not receive the bonus.
Do units survive if you use a reaction (like Janna) to heal a unit to its maximum health after it has taken damage but before the Imperial Decree trigger resolves, the unit will survive?
To answer your question: **No, the unit will not survive.** Healing a unit does not prevent it from being killed by the effect of **Imperial Decree**.
If I play a Smoke Screen on a Watchful Sentry and it resolves and then someone plays a Discipline on it after, does the Watchful Sentry have 1 might or 3?
If you play **Smoke Screen** on a **Watchful Sentry** and it resolves, followed by **Discipline**, the Watchful Sentry will have 3 Might.
If I have one unit controlling a battlefield and my opponent plays Hostile Takeover, does that count as winning a combat and thus awarding a point? What happens then when the control is lost to my points?
When you use **Hostile Takeover** to take control of your opponent's only unit at a battlefield, you do not win a "combat" in the traditional sense, but you do trigger a **noncombat showdown**, which can lead to a **conquest point**.
Does Ezreal and Vex reduce the Deflect cost?
Whether Ezreal and Vex reduce Deflect costs depends on the specific card and the nature of the cost. Based on the official rules and FAQs:
Can Kog'Maw kill a 5 might unit?
According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 7306), Kog'Maw cannot kill a 5 might unit with his Deathknell effect. The sequence of events is as follows: 1. **Combat damage is dealt:** Kog'Maw and the opposing unit deal damage to each other. 2. **Combat damage heals:** Damage is healed from units during the Combat Cleanup step. 3. **Deathknell triggers:** Kog'Maw's Deathknell triggers...
Does Traveling Merchants draw trigger before the Tank ability?
Yes, the Traveling Merchant's ability triggers and resolves before the Tank ability becomes relevant. Here is the breakdown of why:
Does Vex - Apathetic stun an enemy unit played anywhere on the board when Vex holds a battlefield?
To answer your question regarding **Vex, Apathetic**: **Ruling:** Yes, Vex, Apathetic will stun an enemy unit played anywhere on the board, provided Vex is currently at a battlefield.
If I flash two units on Dreaming Tree, do I draw twice?
If you use **Flash** to target two units at **The Dreaming Tree**, you draw only **one card**. According to the ruling for **The Dreaming Tree** (FAQ #6357): * **The Dreaming Tree** triggers only the first time you choose a friendly unit at that location with a spell each turn, regardless of how many units are targeted by that spell.
When Darius is played as a second card, does he ready himself from this, or does he need to see a second card being played?
Yes, Darius readies himself when played as the second card of the turn. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6776** and **#7647**, Darius counts himself as the second card played. Because a card is considered "played" once it has fully resolved and entered the board, Darius is already on the battlefield when his "When you play your second card" ability checks for...
Can you use Arcane Shift on your minion if there are no enemy minions in Battlefield as the text reads the 3 dmg as resolution?
No, you cannot use **Arcane Shift** if there are no enemy units at a battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #378** and **FAQ #8655**, Arcane Shift requires you to have valid targets for both parts of the effect—a friendly unit to banish AND an enemy unit to deal 3 damage to—at the time you play the spell. You cannot initiate the...
What happens to hidden cards after its controller loses control over the battlefield?
According to the official rules and FAQs, when a player loses control of a battlefield that has their hidden card on it, the hidden card is sent to the trash.
Does my Sett, the Boss's ability trigger when I use Deathgrip on my own buffed unit?
Yes, Sett, The Boss's ability can be used when you play **Deathgrip** on your own buffed unit. ### Ruling Sett, The Boss's ability is a replacement effect that modifies the "Kill" event. When you play **Deathgrip**, it contains a "Kill a friendly unit" instruction. If that unit is buffed, Sett's ability can intercede during the resolution of that instruction to...
Does Viktor Leaders ability trigger at the end of combat if he and another non recruit token die at the same battlefield?
No, Viktor, Leader's ability does not trigger in that scenario. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ (ID 7419, 7662, 4253, 6953, 8082)** and **Rule 376.2.c.2**, Viktor's ability requires him to be on the board immediately after another non-Recruit unit dies. If Viktor and another non-Recruit unit die simultaneously (such as during combat damage or a board wipe), Viktor is no longer...
How does Energy Conduit work?
Energy Conduit is a piece of Gear with an activated ability that allows you to add Energy to your Rune Pool. Here is how it works:
When Yasuo Remorseful moves into a battlefield, and a hidden card for example, fight or flight reacts to it to move it back to its base, does the "When I attack..." trigger trigger?
Yes, Yasuo (Remorseful)'s "When I attack" ability will trigger, but it will fail to resolve successfully. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8014** and **#4699**, here is the sequence of events:
How does Obelisk of Power work?
The **Obelisk of Power** is a Battlefield card that provides a one-time resource boost at the start of the game. Here is how it works:
Does a stunned unit deal damage when challenged?
Yes, a stunned unit deals damage when targeted by the spell **Challenge**. According to **FAQ 3841** and **FAQ 6766**, a stunned unit can deal damage via the spell **Challenge** because the Stun condition only prevents combat damage, not damage dealt by card effects.
When a spell says repeat, can I do so multiple times as long as I pay the cost?
No, you cannot pay the same instance of the Repeat keyword multiple times. According to Rule 746.1.c.3: **"Each Repeat Cost can be paid only a single time."**
When playing Long Sword, do I need to pay the equip price the first time since it has quick draw?
When you play a card with **Quick-Draw** from your hand, you do not need to pay its Equip cost for the initial attachment.
During the beginning phase, I hold at battlefield A with a unit equipped with Last Rites. Battlefield B is empty, and I play a Sneaky Deckhand there with my Last Rites hold trigger. Does the showdown start during the beginning phase, or in the main phase after I channel and draw for turn?
The showdown does not start during the Beginning Phase. According to **Rule 340**, a Showdown begins when Control of a Battlefield is Contested **and the turn is in a Neutral Open State**. The Beginning Phase is a structured phase of the turn, not a Neutral Open State.
Does Consult the Past only cost 1 power and no energy when hiding?
Yes, that is correct. When you use the **Hidden** keyword to hide *Consult the Past*, you ignore its printed energy cost and instead pay a cost of 1 Power (by recycling a rune).
If I hit Karthus on a Baited Hook that used a Mixologist for fuel, do I get the double Deathknell?
No, you do not get the double Deathknell trigger in this scenario. Karthus, Eternal must already be on the board at the moment a Deathknell trigger is created for his passive ability to apply.
Does the second player on the first turn have to draw a turn or do they start with 4?
In a 1v1 game of *Riftbound*, both players start with 4 cards in their opening hand. Regarding the first turn:
If I already conquer a battlefield in my turn, retreat with the units in it, and then come back with another unit, does that unit get the "when I conquer" trigger?
No, your unit will not trigger its "When I conquer" ability. According to Rule 447, a player may only score from a battlefield once per turn, regardless of the method (Conquer or Hold). Because "Conquer" is a subtype of scoring, you cannot perform a Conquer action on a battlefield that you have already scored from earlier in the same turn.
Does Vision recycle mean the card goes to the bottom of the deck or the trash?
When a card is Recycled, it is moved to the **bottom of the corresponding deck**, not the trash. According to **Rule 403.1**: > "Recycling cards is the action in which a player takes one or more cards from a specific zone and then puts it on the bottom of the corresponding deck."
How does a Gold Gear token work?
## How Gold Gear Tokens Work **Basic Function:** A **Gold gear token** is a gear token that gives you **1 Power** when you **exhaust and kill it**. According to the official patch notes, Gold tokens debuted in the Spiritforged set.
Does Trinity and Skyfall work the same as Draven Audacious in terms of getting 8 points?
Yes, they work the same way as **Draven, Audacious** in that they can be used to reach your 8th point to win the game, bypassing the standard "must score both battlefields" restriction.
When does When I hold create a chain? After scoring right? And is that in beginning phase?
When "When I hold" abilities create a chain, it occurs during the **Beginning Phase**, specifically during the **Scoring Step**. According to **Rule 376.4.c.2.a**, "When I hold" abilities are triggered and placed on the chain as pending items **after** the unit is present at a battlefield when a player maintains control of it and gains 1 Victory Point from Holding during...
How many decks are in one deck?
According to Rule 103, to play Riftbound, a player must have **two** decks: * **A Main Deck:** This contains your units, gear, and spells (at least 40 cards). * **A Rune Deck:** This is used to power your cards.
Can Azir Sovereign bring his token units to an empty battlefield as there are no defenders in an empty battlefield?
Yes, Azir, Sovereign can move his token units to an empty battlefield when he attacks. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 2127), when Azir attacks, his ability triggers and allows you to move any number of your token units to "this battlefield" (the battlefield where Azir is currently attacking).
If my unit and an enemy unit die and both have Deathknell, what's the order for the triggers?
When multiple units with Deathknell die simultaneously (such as during a Cleanup step or a single game effect), their Deathknell abilities trigger simultaneously. These triggers are then added to the chain in an order determined by the players, starting with the Turn Player, and resolve in Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) order.
What happens if the rune is Chaos with Twisted Fate Gambler?
When Twisted Fate, Gambler attacks, his ability triggers: "When I attack, reveal the top rune of your rune deck, then recycle it. Do one of the following based on its domain: [list of effects for Fury, Mind, and Order]."
If I get the final point by winning a showdown or do I have to double conquer. The other battlefield is uncontrolled?
To win the game by scoring the Final Point, you do not necessarily need to "double conquer" (conquer both battlefields in the same turn). You simply need to **score on both battlefields** during your turn.
I cast Hidden Blade on a unit with deflect and pay its deflect cost. Can it be countered by Defy?
Yes, **Defy** can counter **Hidden Blade**, even if the target unit has **Deflect**. ### Ruling According to **RiftJudge FAQ #3777** and **FAQ #7555**, when a card (like Defy) checks the cost of another card, it only considers the **printed (base) cost** of that card. It does not factor in any additional costs, such as those imposed by the **Deflect** keyword.
Is there a limit to how many cards on the sideboard?
Yes, there is a limit to the number of cards allowed in a sideboard for Constructed play. According to **Rule 601.1.c.1** of the Tournament Rules (2026-01-30): * "A player’s sideboard can include **8 or fewer cards**."
If I attack with Green Yasuo and he gets stunned, does his ability damage still go off?
Yes, if you attack with Green Yasuo and he becomes stunned, his "When I attack" ability damage still resolves. According to the Riftbound rules and FAQs:
Rek'Sai Breacher is in my base. If I play a unit that spawns tokens, can I have those enter ready, or do I have to pay a cost to accelerate them?
Yes, the tokens created by your unit will have **Accelerate** due to Rek'Sai, Breacher's ability, and you must pay the Accelerate cost if you wish for them to enter ready.
Can not so fast counter an enemy not so fast that targets an ability?
No, you cannot use **Not So Fast** to counter an opponent's **Not So Fast**. According to **RiftJudge FAQ (ID 4968)**: > "Ruling: No, you cannot use Not So Fast to counter another Not So Fast. Not So Fast targets spells and abilities, not units or gear, so it cannot be a legal target for another Not So Fast."
If I reveal Guards, can I play the Sand Soldier to base?
No, you cannot play the **Sand Soldier** token created by *Guards!* to your base. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8658**, when you play a spell with the **Hidden** keyword (like *Guards!*) from its facedown position, any units it creates must be played at the same battlefield where the card was hidden.
Can I use Fiora Grand Duelist mid Showdown (with Laurent Duelist)?
Yes, you can use the ability of **Grand Duelist** (the Legend) during a Showdown, provided the trigger condition is met.
Both Kai'Sa Evolutionary and LeBlanc Legend effect trigger when you conquer. If Kai'Sa conquers a battlefield, and then you use LeBlanc conquer legend effect to make a temporary clone of the Kai'Sa, do you get to use Kai'Sa twice? One for base and one from clone?
No, you do not get to use Kai'Sa's conquer ability twice in this scenario. ### 1. Conquering is a form of Scoring According to **Rule 447**, a player may only score (via Conquer or Hold) once per battlefield per turn. Because conquering is a form of scoring, you cannot conquer the same battlefield again in the same turn, even if...
If I attack with Yasuo's Remorseful trigger, but on resolution of the trigger my opponent isn't there through something like Reaver's, does Yasuo's attack trigger's damage follow the unit?
No, Yasuo, Remorseful's attack trigger does not follow the unit. According to the ruling in **FAQ #6924** and **FAQ #4040**, Yasuo's ability requires the target to be "here" (at the same battlefield) when the ability resolves. If the target unit is moved away (e.g., by Reaver's Battlefield) before the trigger resolves, the ability will resolve but deal no damage because...
Can I choose not to move a unit with something like Ride the Wind or Charm (for example, to keep it in the same spot)?
No, you cannot choose not to move a unit if you play a spell like *Ride the Wind* or *Charm*.
How does Darius Legend work?
Darius, the **Hand of Noxus** Legend, functions as a resource-generating tool that allows you to gain extra energy during a turn.
Does an Irelia Defiant get +1 Might for being chosen from the Reavers Row trigger if she doesn't move back to base?
Yes, **Irelia, Fervent** will gain +1 Might for being chosen by the **Reaver's Row** trigger, even if you ultimately decide not to move her when the ability resolves.
Is the trigger for Raging Soul a permanent effect or does it only last for the turn that a card is discarded?
The effect granted to Raging Soul when you discard a card lasts only for the current turn. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 2777 and 5001) regarding Raging Soul: * This is a passive effect that constantly checks if you have discarded a card on the current turn. * If you discard a card, Raging Soul gains **Assault** and **Ganking**...
If both battlefields are a Dreaming Tree, me and my opponent both have 1 unit on 1 of the Dreaming Trees and no other units. I play a Cull the Weak. We both choose our units at the Dreaming Tree, do we both draw a card?
No, neither player draws a card from The Dreaming Tree in this scenario. According to the official rulings for **Cull the Weak** and **The Dreaming Tree**:
How does combat damage distribute when attacking with multiple units and they are defending with multiple units?
When multiple units are attacking and defending, combat damage is resolved through a two-part process: **Assignment** (which is sequential) followed by **Dealing** (which is simultaneous).