Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 84 of 133 · 6,620 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Am I allowed to cast 2 Falling Star spells to stack damage on a single unit at the enemy base?
Yes, you are allowed to cast two **Falling Star** spells to stack damage on a single unit at the enemy base.
Can I use Arcane Shift on my unit that's being targeted by a unit to avoid being targeted?
No, you cannot use **Arcane Shift** to save your unit from being targeted by an opponent's spell or ability that is already on the chain.
Do I still need to pay Deflect cost if I choose a unit with a spell but that spell gets Defied?
Yes, you must still pay the Deflect cost. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #1922**, the Deflect cost is a mandatory additional cost that must be paid during the finalization of the spell (when you declare the target). Because the cost is paid to place the spell on the chain, it is already gone by the time you have the opportunity to...
My opponent has a Forge Fire Cape at a battlefield. I move a five might recruit token to the battlefield and use Azir Ascendant action to swap the units. Does Azir take 2 damage?
No, Azir, Ascendant does not take 2 damage in this scenario. Here is the breakdown of why:
If Glasc Mixologist and Leblanc Fragmented die at the same time, am I able to use Glasc effect to revive Leblanc?
Yes, you can use the *Deathknell* effect of **Glasc Mixologist** to play **LeBlanc, Fragmented** from your trash. ### Sequence of Events 1. **Simultaneous Death:** Both **Glasc Mixologist** and **LeBlanc, Fragmented** are killed simultaneously (for example, by a board-clearing effect). 2. **Deathknell Triggers:** Both units have *Deathknell* abilities. According to **Rule 808.1.d.2**, these triggers are added to the chain as pending...
Can multiple actions be played in a showdown?
Yes, multiple **Action** cards can be played during a single showdown. There is no hard limit on the number of Action cards you can play, provided you follow the rules for **Focus** and the state of the **chain**.
If I play Wages of Pain on a Kai'Sa and then Arcane Shift, and then they play Retreat which is reaction speed, do I proc Ezreal's legend which has to choose twice in a turn to draw? Even though Kai'Sa got retreated?
Yes, you can activate your **Ezreal** legend ability in this scenario. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8979** (which discusses a similar interaction with *Wages of Pain* and *Defy*), the requirement for Ezreal's ability is satisfied at the moment the spell is played and targets are chosen, regardless of whether the spell subsequently resolves or is countered/interrupted.
If Akshan takes a Gear and equips it, and then you move it onto another unit, when Akshan dies does that Gear return to the other player or stay on your other unit but become in their control? How does that work?
When Akshan leaves the board, control of the stolen equipment reverts to your opponent, but the equipment remains attached to your other unit. It does not automatically detach or return to the opponent's unit.
Does Elder Dragon ability proc if I use Unyielding Spirit?
### Ruling No, Elder Dragon's ability does not successfully kill an enemy unit if the damage that would trigger it is prevented by Unyielding Spirit.
What does HOTFEPR stand for?
HOT FEPR stands for **H**andle **O**utstanding **T**asks; then **F**inalize, **E**xecute, **P**ass, **R**esolve. According to the [Patch Notes - 2026-03-30], this process is used to manage game procedures and the resolution of items on the chain. When tasks are outstanding, the FEPR process is paused until those tasks have been handled.
Can tokens trigger Deathnell?
Yes, tokens can trigger **Deathknell**. According to **Rule 808.1**, **Deathknell** is a triggered ability that occurs when a permanent is killed and sent to the trash. While tokens are not cards (Rule 182), they are game objects that can have abilities, including **Deathknell**.
Death from below and Arcane Shift, does Arcane Shift mean I can't play Death from below anymore or can I retarget?
To clarify the interaction between **Death from Below** and **Arcane Shift**: ### The Short Answer You cannot use **Arcane Shift** to "save" a unit from **Death from Below** once **Death from Below** has been played. Because **Arcane Shift** is an **[Action]** speed spell, it can only be played when the game state is **OPEN** (no chain exists). Once your opponent...
If the target for Death from Below is killed before resolution, can I still use the recast effect?
To determine if you can use the "recast" effect of **Death from Below** if its target is killed before resolution, we must look at how the game handles illegal targets and information checks.
What would happen if I activated the effect of Baited Hook on a unit that was under the effect of Tactical Retreat?
If you activate **Baited Hook** targeting a friendly unit that is under the effect of **Tactical Retreat**, the unit will be saved, and you will not be able to play a unit from your deck.
If I played Death from Below and I chose a unit with 3 might or less, then if my opponent reacts to it and kills that unit, can I still play that spell from trash?
No, you cannot use the recast effect of **Death from Below** if its target is killed before resolution. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9400**, this interaction is ruled as follows:
Explain better what Baron Nashor does.
Baron Nashor is a high-cost, powerful Chaos unit that focuses on battlefield control and buffing your other units. Here is a breakdown of what it does:
Opponent has a 6 might Unit in their battlefield. I played Hextech Ray there. Now I move with a Unit to this battlefield and after passing Focus, opponent plays Rebuke on my Unit. Do I have after resolve a window to cast another Hextech Ray to kill the Unit. Asking because of Action, not reaction speed of Hextech Ray.
Yes, you do have a window to cast another **Hextech Ray** after **Rebuke** resolves. Here is the breakdown of why this works, based on the rules for Showdowns and the Chain:
If I have all body runes and no order runes and make a unit mighty with Doran's Blade, if Fiora Grand Duelist channels an order rune, can I now pay the order rune to ready the unit?
Yes, you can use the Order rune channeled by Fiora, Grand Duelist to pay for an ability that requires an Order rune, provided that the ability you are using to ready your unit specifically requires an Order rune as a cost.
I'm holding a battlefield with a temporary Sprite Token and I have a hidden Keeper of Masks. Let's say I react with my Keeper of Masks to the temporary trigger of my Sprite and I spawn 3 new temporary units on the battlefield. Would they be cleaned up because I'm still in the Beginning Phase, or would they stay for my turn?
To answer your question: **The new units will stay for your turn.** According to the rules and the mechanics of the Beginning Phase, they will not be cleaned up by the "Temporary" trigger that is currently resolving.
If I move units to an open battlefield, then cast Moonfall to move an enemy unit to my battlefield, who is considered the attacker?
To determine who is the attacker, we must look at which player applied the **Contested** status to the battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8263** and **Rule 445**, the attacker is the controller of the units that applied the contested status to the battlefield.
How does Smoke and Mirrors work with Lillia Fae Fawn?
### Interaction: Smoke and Mirrors and Lillia, Fae Fawn To understand how **Smoke and Mirrors** interacts with **Lillia, Fae Fawn**, we must look at their specific card text and the timing rules of *Riftbound*.
How would Kai'sa Evolutionary and the legend Jhin Virtuoso interact? If I conquer a battlefield with Kai'sa, then play a spell from my trash that costs four energy or more, can I banish the card (with Jhin) instead of recycling it (with Kai'sa)?
To determine the interaction between **Kai'Sa, Evolutionary** and **Virtuoso**, we must look at the timing of their triggered abilities and the specific instructions on their cards.
I use Mirror Image on a buffed unit, does the copy get buffed too?
No, the copy will not be buffed. According to the rules regarding copy effects (Patch Notes - 2026-03-30), copy effects only copy the **"copyable traits"** of a game object. These traits are defined as all of the printed or copied traits of that object, including its Rules Text.
If I Tideturner an Overzealous Fan on a Showdown, can I use his effect?
Yes, you can use Overzealous Fan's effect after swapping it with Tideturner during a showdown. According to **RiftJudge FAQ 9047**, swapping Overzealous Fan to a different battlefield does not cause its ability to "whiff" because the unit remains on the battlefield, which is the only requirement for paying the "kill me" cost.
Does Unyielding Spirit stop Cull the Weak?
No, **Unyielding Spirit** does not stop **Cull the Weak**. According to the official RiftJudge FAQ (ID 3860): "Ruling: No, Cull does not prevent Unyielding because Cull is not damage."
When a unit is stunned attacking a battlefield but isn't killed, what happens?
When an attacking unit is stunned during combat but is not killed, the outcome depends on whether any defending units remain at the battlefield after combat concludes.
When Rek'Sai Breacher accelerates a token, how do you pay the accelerate cost?
When you use **Rek'Sai, Breacher** to grant **Accelerate** to a token, you pay the cost as part of the process of playing that token.
When Rek'Sai Swarm Queen attempts to conquer an empty battlefield, does her passive trigger to play a unit there?
No, Rek'Sai, Swarm Queen's ability does not trigger when you move her to an unoccupied battlefield. According to the established rules and **RiftJudge FAQ #8827**:
Can I react to Zaun Warren's Conquer trigger?
Yes, you can react to the **Zaun Warrens** conquer trigger. According to the **Riftbound** rules and related FAQs:
Does a spell getting Defy's count towards Battering Ram reduce cost?
No, a spell that gets countered (defied) does not count toward the cost reduction of **Battering Ram**. According to **Rule 425.1.b**: "A card that is Countered is not considered to have been played."
Does Mask of Foresight choose a target when it gives the +1?
No, **Mask of Foresight does not choose a target** when it gives the +1 might bonus. According to the card text, the ability reads: "When a friendly unit attacks or defends alone, give it +1 might this turn."
What happens when my Stalwart Poro with Guardian Angel equipped is targeted by Bellows Breath (with Repeat paid) after my opponent plays Imperial Decree?
Ruling: The Stalwart Poro will be killed. Imperial Decree creates two separate kill triggers (one for each instance of damage from the repeated Bellows Breath), and while Guardian Angel saves the Poro from the first kill trigger by recalling it to base, the second kill trigger still resolves and kills the Poro at its new location.
If Darius Trifarian is the 3rd card, like two were played before, does he come in ready?
No, if **Darius, Trifarian** is played as the third card in a turn, he will not be readied by his ability.
When you conquer, does the Battlefield when conquered effect or the Legend effect resolve first?
When you conquer a battlefield, the resolution order between a Legend ability and a "When you conquer" effect depends on the specific trigger condition of the Legend ability.
If I have a Scuttle Crab with Guardian Angel equipped, and my opponent plays Imperial Decree then Bellows Breath (non-repeated) on my crab, what happens?
Ruling: Your unit will be killed. Even though Guardian Angel replaces the initial death from lethal damage, the pending Imperial Decree trigger will subsequently resolve and kill the unit.
How does the Irressitible Faefolk work? Is my opponent the attacker or am I the attacker?
When you play **Irresistible Faefolk** and use its ability to move an enemy unit to the battlefield it just entered, the determination of who is the attacker and who is the defender depends on who applied the "Contested" status to that battlefield first.
If I lose control of a battlefield on my opponent's turn and ride the wind a unit back on after they control, do I score?
Yes, you can score a point in this situation, provided you meet the specific conditions for conquering a battlefield. According to **FAQ #9040** and **FAQ #2364**, you can use *Ride the Wind* to move a unit to a battlefield, conquer it, and score a point, even if you already scored at that battlefield during your own turn. Scoring is tracked...
What happens if I attempt to use Sacrifice while only controlling a single mighty unit under the effects of Tactical Retreat?
To determine what happens when you play **Sacrifice** while controlling a single mighty unit under the effect of **Tactical Retreat**, we must look at how costs and replacement effects interact.
Can you please help explain non-lethal damage? I'll give you the example of Imperial Decree, Bellows Breath on a Stalwart Poro who has a GA on it.
To understand how non-lethal damage interacts with effects like **Imperial Decree**, it is important to distinguish between **damage** (a marked value) and **lethal damage** (damage equal to or exceeding a unit's Might).
I'm attacking a battlefield, I initially use Facebreaker, my opponent doesn't react, it resolves, I pass focus to them. Can I use Tactical Retreat afterwards to prevent my unit from dying?
Yes, you can use **Tactical Retreat** to prevent your unit from dying, provided you play it as a [Reaction] before the event that would cause your unit to die occurs.
Do temporary units die before I'm able to activate Dusk Rose Lab ability?
No, temporary units do not die before you are able to activate the ability of **Dusk Rose Lab**. Because both the *Temporary* keyword (Rule 816.1.c) and the ability of **Dusk Rose Lab** trigger at the start of your Beginning Phase, you have the opportunity to resolve the Lab's ability first.
How does Undertitan work? What are the 2 runes for?
Undertitan has two distinct abilities that trigger under different circumstances: ### 1. "When you play me, give your other units +2 [S] this turn." * **Trigger:** This is a triggered ability that activates when you play the card from your hand (or another zone) onto the battlefield. * **Effect:** When this ability resolves, all other units you control on the...
If I use Baited Hook on a unit with GA, does it activate or does Guardian Angel recall mean it was not killed?
If you use **Baited Hook** on a unit equipped with **Guardian Angel**, the unit is **not killed**, and you will not be able to play a unit from your deck.
Can you choose to not play Deflect costs upon playing a spell, making it fizzle?
No, you cannot choose to not pay Deflect costs to make a spell "fizzle." According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6603** and **Rule 809.1.d**, the Deflect cost is a **mandatory additional cost** that must be paid during the finalization of the spell (when you declare the target). Because this cost is required to place the spell on the chain, you cannot choose...
Can you tap all your runes before Ekko Deathknell to ready all runes to double them?
Yes, you can tap (exhaust) all your runes for energy before Ekko's Deathknell trigger resolves, and then use the Deathknell effect to ready them.
If I have a hidden Wages of Pain card at a battlefield, and my opponent moves in to conquer the other battlefield on their turn that has one of my units, can I react by revealing the hidden card at my other battlefield to Wages their unit?
Yes, you can react by revealing your hidden **Wages of Pain** at your other battlefield to target the opponent's unit, provided you meet the timing and targeting requirements.
Can Ranata score 1 point win the game when it's your turn?
Yes, you can win the game by using Renata Glasc, Mastermind's activated ability to score your final point, provided you have more points than any opponent.
If I charm my opponent's Volibear Furious into my battlefield and I have a Yuumi and a Vilemaw, would the Vilemaw still get +3 might and tank from Yuumi's effect or would she die to Volibear's effect first?
To determine the outcome of this interaction, we follow the Showdown Timing Flowchart and the rules regarding triggered abilities. ### The Ruling Vilemaw will receive the +3 Might and [Tank] from Yuumi, Magical Cat before Volibear, Furious deals his attack damage.
If my opponent attacks with Fiora Peerless onto a battlefield, where I have a Pouty Poro, do I have a chance to gust her to hand before her might doubles?
Yes, you have a chance to play **Gust** to return **Fiora, Peerless** to your opponent's hand before her Might doubles.
Does Eager Apprentice decrease the cost of Repeat Spells?
Yes, Eager Apprentice reduces the total cost of a spell that includes a **Repeat** cost. According to RiftJudge FAQ #629 and FAQ #9301, Eager Apprentice reduces the total cost of a spell (which includes the base cost plus the optional **Repeat** additional cost) once.