Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 89 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
How does Forgotten Monument work? Is it the 3rd total turn or the third turn for each player? Aka turn 6 total?
According to the card text of **Forgotten Monument** and the associated RiftJudge FAQs, the restriction "until their third turn" refers to the **third turn taken by that specific player**, not the total number of turns taken in the game.
When I play Lilia, if I move from base to battlefield, where does the sprite token spawn?
The Sprite token spawns at the location Lillia moved **from** (your base). According to Rule 359.3.f.3, triggered abilities that reference a location moved from note that location when the ability is placed on the chain.
Are Sprite tokens spawned ready?
Sprite tokens are not inherently ready; they enter the board in the state specified by the effect that creates them. If the effect does not specify a state, they enter ready by default, unless the effect is an action that would otherwise cause them to enter exhausted.
Can I use an emboss and clear sleeve?
Yes, you can use different sleeve types for different deck sections (e.g., Main Deck, Rune Deck, Legend), provided that all cards within each individual deck section use identical sleeves. However, all sleeves must have opaque backs and must not be marked, worn, or interfere with play, and the head judge has the final authority to disallow any sleeves they deem...
Do all units heal after you conquer an empty battlefield but score?
No, units do not heal when you conquer an empty battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #7796** and **#9131**, there is a critical distinction between a **combat showdown** and an **open showdown**:
Will Legion effect still work if a card I played gets countered?
Yes, your **Legion** effect will still work if the card you played is countered. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9463** and **#9461**, the **Legion** condition is satisfied the moment a card is **Finalized** on the chain.
If I choose my Irelia Fervent with Challenge, does she gain 1 before the damage is done? Also, if they Counterspell it, does she get 1 still for being chosen?
Yes, Irelia, Fervent will gain the +1 Might bonus before combat damage is dealt, and she will still receive that bonus even if the spell targeting her is countered.
Does moving an enemy unit to a different battlefield cause a showdown?
Moving an enemy unit to a different battlefield causes a showdown only if that move makes the battlefield **contested**. A battlefield becomes contested when a unit moves to a location not controlled by that unit's controller (Rule 445). Therefore, a showdown occurs if the unit moves to an uncontrolled battlefield or a battlefield controlled by a different player, but it...
When I play Showstopper, can I move more than 1 unit for the showdown?
No, you cannot move more than one unit with **Showstopper**. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 4591), **Showstopper** allows you to move only one unit. Additionally, as noted in the related FAQ (ID 4987), when you move a unit with a spell like **Showstopper**, that unit must attack alone; you cannot move other units alongside it.
My opponent has a Lonely Poro and a hidden card on Battlefield A. I attack with my Pit Rookie. Both of our units have 2 might. Both players pass and units both die. Then my opponent flips his hidden and shows a Zhonya's and puts it in base. Is this legal? Isn't the hidden discarded because my opponent lost control of the Battlefield?
Yes, this is legal. Normally, if you lose control of a battlefield, any hidden cards there are immediately discarded to the trash. However, because **Lonely Poro** has a `[Deathknell]` ability, its death creates a specific timing window that allows your opponent to save their hidden card.
If I use Repeated Bellows Breath on single units at two different locations, does Repulse counter the full spell?
### Ruling **No, Repulse cannot counter a repeated Bellows Breath if that spell targets units at two different locations.** ### Reasoning 1. **Repulse's Targeting Constraint:** Repulse can only be used to counter an enemy spell or ability that targets exactly one friendly unit and no other friendly units. 2. **Bellows Breath's Targeting:** Bellows Breath instructs you to "Deal 1 to...
Can a player use Relentless Pursuit to move a ready unit to a battlefield, then conquer, then return to base still ready, then move it to the other battlefield, then conquer, and return to base?
Yes, you can perform that sequence. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8229** and **RiftJudge FAQ #9079**, the movement granted by **Relentless Pursuit** is a special effect that does not consume the unit's "ready" status, nor does it count as a "Standard Move."
Can you reattach an equipment in the same turn if the unit it was originally on dies?
Yes, you can equip that equipment to another unit on the same turn after the original unit dies. When the unit dies, the equipment detaches and returns to your base in a ready state, allowing you to pay its equip cost to attach it to a new unit during your Main Phase when the chain is empty.
If I Smokescreen and kill an Irelia with Guardians Angel attached at a battlefield, does she still have -4 when she recalls to base?
Yes, Irelia will still have the -4 Might effect applied to her when she is recalled to your base. According to **Rule 453.1**: "Unless otherwise stated by the source of the Recall, Damage, Exhausted Status, Buffed Status, and applied Layer alterations will all remain unaffected by a Recall."
My unit with an attack trigger enters a battlefield and kills a unit. My opponent then uses Ride the Wind to bring a unit into the battlefield. Does my attacking unit get to use the attack trigger again?
No, your attacking unit does not get to use its attack trigger again. According to **Rule 383.4.e.2.a** and the **Patch Notes (2025-10-24)**, attack triggers only trigger once per combat, specifically the first time a unit gains the attacker designation during that combat. Even if a unit leaves and re-enters the battlefield or if the combat state changes (such as an...
If I place Hexdrinker on Irelia, does that mean Deflect doubles?
No, placing Hexdrinker on Irelia, Fervent does not "double" the Deflect keyword in the sense of multiplying the value. Instead, the Deflect values are **summed**.
If a unit with Vision enters the battlefield during the resolution of a spell or ability, does the Vision trigger resolve before the spell finishes resolving?
Ruling: No. A spell or ability cannot be interrupted by triggered abilities while it is resolving. You must finish executing all of the spell's text first, then any triggered abilities that occurred during resolution are finalized and added to the chain.
Does Blighted Battleaxe require the equipped unit specifically to conquer, or does any conquest by the controller prevent its end-of-turn effect?
Ruling: The equipped unit specifically must conquer a battlefield to prevent the effect. If that particular unit did not conquer during your turn, Blighted Battleaxe unattaches and deals 4 damage to the equipped unit.
Can you play a hidden Zhonya's Hourglass in reaction to a Deathknell trigger to save the dying unit?
Ruling: No. When a unit with Deathknell is killed, the Deathknell trigger is added to the chain as a pending item before the unit moves to the trash. By the time you have priority to react to the Deathknell trigger, the unit is already dead and in the trash. Playing Zhonya's Hourglass at this point will not save the unit...
What happens if I kill a unit with Smite and that unit has a Deathknell effect?
When you play **Smite** to kill a unit with a **Deathknell** effect, the **Deathknell** effect will **not** trigger. Here is the breakdown of why this happens based on the rules:
If I move a unit with Irresistible Faefolk, is that enemy unit attacking or defending?
When you use **Irresistible Faefolk** to move an enemy unit to the battlefield it just entered, the enemy unit becomes the **defender**.
Does Vanguard Armory spawn recruits on the turn it is played?
Yes, **Vanguard Armory** can spawn Recruit tokens on the turn it is played, provided you have the necessary resources and the game state allows it.
Can you play Fizz and play repeated Piercing Light from trash?
Yes, you can play **Fizz, Trickster** and use his "When you play me" ability to play **Piercing Light** from your trash, including paying its [Repeat] cost.
I have Vex Cheerless in combat vs a unit with deflect. If I target the deflect unit with Frigid Touch, what is the total cost I have to pay to cast it?
To determine the total cost to play *Frigid Touch* while *Vex, Cheerless* is in combat and targeting a unit with *Deflect*, we follow the standard cost-finalization process (FEPR).
In combat if both sides do not deal enough damage to kill all the opponents on one side, how does combat/damage resolve and who gets priority?
In a combat showdown, combat damage is dealt simultaneously, and the game proceeds to the Resolution Step once both players pass priority consecutively with an empty chain.
If I use Portal Rescue on a friendly unit of my teammate in 2v2, do I play it to my base?
No, you do not play it to your base. According to the RiftJudge FAQ for **Portal Rescue** (FAQ #5570), when you target a teammate's unit with Portal Rescue, the unit gets played to its **owner's base** (your teammate's base), and your teammate counts as playing the card, not you.
Can I use Dragons Rage in a showdown?
No, you cannot use **Dragon's Rage** during a showdown. According to the rules for showdowns and the card's text:
If I play a unit to Star Spring as an ambush reaction to my opponent playing a spell to deal enough damage to kill another unit at a battlefield, can I then use Star Spring's ability to push that unit back and save it?
To answer your question: **Whether you can save the unit depends on the specific targeting requirements of the damaging spell.**
Can I react to the Effect of Dazzling Aurora?
Yes, you can react to the triggered ability of Dazzling Aurora. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (ID 2639), Dazzling Aurora's ability is a triggered ability, and you can use reactions in response to that trigger. However, you cannot react to the gear being played itself.
Can I use sets spend my buff action in a showdown?
No, you cannot use Sett, Brawler's ability to spend his buff during a showdown. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9601** and **RiftJudge FAQ #9127**, Sett, Brawler's ability ("Spend my buff: Give me +4 might this turn") is a **base-speed ability**. Because it lacks the **[ACTION]** or **[REACTION]** keywords, it is subject to strict timing restrictions:
Can Nocturne be played through look AND reveal or look only and no reveal?
Nocturne can be played through **both** looking at and revealing it from the top of your deck. According to the card's text and established rulings:
Do I get my equipment back if it is equipped to another unit? This equipment was originally taken from Akshan. I have killed Akshan but their equipment is attached to another unit.
Yes, you regain control of the equipment, but it remains attached to the other unit. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9043** and **FAQ #9395**, here is how this interaction works:
In a close showdown, the heal comes before or after Deathknell?
To resolve the conflict between FAQ #9244 and FAQ #9514 regarding whether units heal before or after *Deathknell* abilities resolve, we must look at the official rules governing combat cleanup.
If I use Strike Down to have my friendly Lucian Merciless (with Warmog and a buff from Warmog from conquering) then detach the Warmog, does Lucian keep the buff or not?
Yes, your Lucian, Merciless will keep the buff. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8468** and **#529**, when an equipment (like Warmog's Armor) detaches from a unit, the unit **retains any buffs** it already gained while the equipment was attached.
If I only have one rune up and an opponent kills my Ekko, can I let the death trigger go through to untap my runes and then play a Shen?
Yes, you can do this. Here is the sequence of events:
If I react to a temporary trigger with a card in my hand, does this use my fresh awakened runes?
Yes, you can use your fresh, readied runes to pay for a card played in response to a *Temporary* trigger.
If I summon Breakneck Mech readied because I have 2 mech tokens at a battlefield, can I move the Breakneck Mech and one or two mech tokens over at the same time to attack the enemy unit at their held battlefield?
Yes, you can move the **Breakneck Mech** and your **Mech tokens** to the same battlefield simultaneously to attack, provided you follow the rules for a Standard Move.
When my opponent uses Hard Bargain and I pay the extra value, can he play another Hard Bargain, or does the spell resolve when I pay the extra?
Yes, your opponent can play another *Hard Bargain* in response to you paying the cost for the first one. Here is the breakdown of how this interaction works based on the rules of the chain:
If I buff Irelia Fervent with Blind Monk, does she get +1 from Choose?
Yes, Irelia, Fervent will gain +1 Might from her ability when you use Blind Monk's ability to buff her. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9143** and **#9507**, the act of choosing a unit to buff it counts as "choosing" or "targeting" that unit. Since Irelia, Fervent's ability states, *"When you choose or ready me, give me +1 Might this turn,"* the...
Are you now allowed to use Chinese cards mixed with English in tourneys or events? Such as buying Chinese seals?
Yes, you are allowed to use official Riftbound cards of any language (including Chinese) in your decks during tournaments and events, provided they meet specific conditions.
Does the units Azir moves with him still go to his attacking battlefield if he gets pushed back to base by Overzealous Fan?
No, the token units will not move to the battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2127**, Azir, Sovereign's ability requires him to be at a valid battlefield for the effect to resolve. If Azir is moved to his base by an effect like **Overzealous Fan** before his attack trigger resolves, the ability "whiffs" because "this battlefield" no longer refers to a...
Is there a window to play action or reaction cards in a showdown after damage is assigned and units are dead?
No, there is generally **no window** to play Action or Reaction cards after combat damage is dealt if no triggered abilities occur.
When I play Thrill of the Hunt on a unit that has a Long Sword attached, when it gets played to the battlefield after being banished, does it no longer have the attached equipment?
When you play **Thrill of the Hunt** on a unit with a **Long Sword** attached, the equipment does not remain attached to the unit when it is played to a battlefield after being banished.
Can Frigid Touch make you go below 1 Might?
Yes, *Frigid Touch* can reduce a unit's Might below 1. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9565** and **RiftJudge FAQ #421**, units can have negative Might values. While the game treats negative Might as 0 for purposes like combat or checking for lethal damage, the actual negative value is tracked internally for arithmetic operations.
Do reflections get any current buffs or might increases on the card they copy, can they be reacted to before they copy a card, and as they are 0 might, will any damage kill them before they copy?
### 1. Do Reflections get current buffs or might increases? **No.** According to the Patch Notes (2026-03-30) regarding Copy Effects, copy effects only copy the "copyable traits" of a game object, which are defined as the printed or copied traits (including Rules Text). The notes explicitly state: **"Nothing appended or granted will be seen by the copy effect."** Since buffs...
If Zhonyas is at base, does it have to trigger when a unit dies? And if Zhonyas is hidden, can you leave it hidden till you want to trigger?
Yes, Zhonya's Hourglass is a mandatory replacement effect, and you have flexibility with how you use it when it is hidden.
Can you conquer a Battlefield where you scored a Hold already and moved your unit back this turn?
No, you cannot. According to Rule 465 and multiple RiftJudge FAQs (such as FAQ #3369 and #2805), a player may only score a given battlefield once per turn, regardless of the method used (Hold or Conquer).
If I am at 6 points and have a unit at 1 battlefield, and my opponent is at 7 points and has a unit at a battlefield, if I played Time Warp would my opponent get a point for holding and win, or does it just skip his turn and I go to 7 points?
According to the Riftbound rules and the relevant RiftJudge FAQs, your opponent will **not** get a point for holding, and they will not win.
Can I play Wages of Pain hidden on one battlefield to a unit that is trying to conquer on the other?
No, you cannot. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9433** (which specifically addresses this interaction with **Wages of Pain**), while you can react by revealing a hidden card at a different battlefield than where the showdown is occurring, you are bound by a strict targeting restriction:
Can I still use an action if my only unit in a battlefield I'm attacking is pushed out by Overzealous Fan?
Yes, you can still use an action. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8798**, the combat showdown does not end immediately when a unit is removed from the battlefield by **Overzealous Fan**. The showdown only concludes when both players pass with focus on an empty chain.