Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 91 of 151 · 7,508 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Can you play Star-Crossed to someone playing a Thousand-Tailed Watcher?
Yes, you can play **Star-Crossed** in response to an opponent playing **Thousand-Tailed Watcher**. ### Why this works 1. **Timing:** When your opponent plays **Thousand-Tailed Watcher**, it enters the battlefield and its "When you play me" ability is placed on the chain. Because this is a triggered ability, it uses the chain and can be reacted to (as confirmed by RiftJudge...
Does Vex Apathetic at a Battlefield mean that a Sprite unit from Sprite Mother will not be able to move?
Yes, if your opponent has **Vex, Apathetic** at a battlefield, a Sprite unit created by **Sprite Mother** will be unable to move that turn.
If Noxian Drummer moves to Rockfall Path, does her ability still play the Recruit token there?
Ruling: No. Rockfall Path states "Units can't be played here," and Noxian Drummer's ability instructs you to "play a 1 might Recruit unit token here." According to the "can't beats can" principle, the restriction on Rockfall Path takes precedence and prevents the token from being played there.
If I use Heedless Resurrection and kill my only unit at a battlefield to pay its cost, can I play the resurrected unit to that same battlefield?
Ruling: It depends on whether you are attacking or defending, and whether a showdown is ongoing. Sequence: - Targets are chosen before costs are paid, so you cannot resurrect the same unit you kill for the cost. - If resurrecting a different unit from your trash, battlefield control determines where you can play it.
When Ivern - Friend to All goes to the discard, does he lose the additional tag you gave him?
Yes, when **Ivern, Friend to All** moves to the trash (discard), he loses the additional tag he gained. According to **Rule 110**: "Whenever a Game Object changes zones to or from a Non-Board Zone, all Temporary Modifications of all kinds cease to be tracked on it in all capacities."
If I conquered before attaching Last Rites to a unit, can I use the effect of Last Rites if I attach it to a unit after the conquer?
No, you cannot use the effect of *Last Rites* if you attach it to a unit *after* you have already conquered the battlefield.
In 2v2 format, does Ahri Legend -1 count when your team mate is defending?
No, Ahri's legend ability (Nine-Tailed Fox) does not trigger when your teammate is defending. According to the card text, the ability triggers "When an enemy unit attacks a **battlefield you control**." In the 2v2 format, you and your teammate are distinct players, and you each control your own battlefields. Therefore, an attack on your teammate's battlefield is not an attack...
If the opponent hides Guards at the battlefield, can they still play the sand soldier at the base when they react with the hidden card?
No, they cannot. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9273** and **RiftJudge FAQ #9517**, when you play **Guards!** from its hidden position, the **Sand Soldier** token must be played at the same battlefield where the **Guards!** card was hidden.
Is there a max # of cards that can go on a battlefield?
No, there is no limit to the number of unit cards that can be present at a battlefield. According to **Rule 169.6**: "Any number of Units can be present at a Battlefield."
What happens if I play Stacked Deck and two or three Nocturnes are revealed?
When you play **Stacked Deck** and reveal two or three **Nocturne** cards, you can choose to play any number of them. Here is the breakdown of how this interaction resolves:
Does Bullet Time and Unchecked Power if there is a Pouty Poro with a Deflect do you pay a Deflect cost?
No, you do not pay a Deflect cost for *Bullet Time* or *Unchecked Power*, even if a *Pouty Poro* with Deflect is on the battlefield.
When you spend power using Rune Cards, can you still use them for energy?
Yes, you can use a rune for both energy and power in the same turn, but the order matters. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5399**, a single rune can provide both 1 energy (by exhausting it) and 1 power (by recycling it) in the same turn. These resources go into your resource pool and can be used to pay for different...
If I play Temporal Portal and play Rocket Barrage next, would I get to repeat it twice? Essentially playing that spell 3 times instead of twice?
Yes, if you use **Temporal Portal** and then play **Rocket Barrage**, you can execute the spell's instructions a total of **three times**.
If I use the Temporal Portal and Rocket Barrage combo, having Temporal Portal in base, I'll recycle a rune to tap Temporal Portal then tap 4 runes and recycle a blue to play Rocket Barrage next. Does Temporal Portal discount the repeat of Rocket Barrage?
To address your question about whether **Temporal Portal** discounts the **Repeat** cost of **Rocket Barrage**, we must look at how costs are calculated and how the **Repeat** keyword functions.
I have Elder Dragon and Anivia in base. I move my Anivia to a base where an enemy has units. The enemy reacts with Rengar Trophy Hunter. Does Rengar take damage since he was played as a reaction before Anivia's ability resolved?
To determine if Rengar, Trophy Hunter takes damage, we must look at the timing of the chain and the resolution of Anivia's ability.
If I play a Hidden Wingslinger on my turn and not during a showdown, can I target a unit at a different battlefield?
No, you cannot. When you play a card from "Hidden," any targets chosen by its play effect must be at the same battlefield where the card was hidden (Rule 811.1.d.2).
If I have a Watchful Sentry at a battlefield and my opponent attacks and kills my Watchful Sentry, if I play Rengar Trophy Hunter in response to the deathknell trigger and win the combat, will I conquer the battlefield again and get a point?
To answer your question: **No, you will not conquer the battlefield or gain a point in this scenario.** Here is the breakdown of why this occurs based on the game rules:
Player 1 has Master Yi, Wuju Bladesman as his legend, and is holding a battlefield with Stalwart Poro. It is player 2's turn, and he plays an Accelerated Thousand-Tailed Watcher. He then moves the watcher to the battlefield held by the Stalwart Poro. How much might does the Poro have when defending?
To determine the Stalwart Poro's Might, we must follow the sequence of events and the timing of the abilities involved.
If I have two units in my base and my opponent uses Cull of the Weak, can I use Deathgrip on the unit that I chose? Will I still have to pick the other unit for Cull of the Weak?
To answer your question, we must look at the timing of how these spells interact on the chain. ### The Ruling **Yes, you can use *Deathgrip* in response to *Cull the Weak*.**
Using Rengar Legend, if I play a unit and it is my only unit, can I give it to himself his +1?
Yes, you can give the +1 Might bonus to the unit you just played. According to the rules for **Rengar, Pridestalker** (the Legend), its ability reads: "When you play a unit, give a unit +1 [S] this turn."
Point me to the rule that states hidden cards can only target the battlefield they are hidden at.
According to Rule 811.1.d.2, when a card is played from Hidden, any targets chosen by its play effect must be selected from the battlefield where it was hidden:
If a 1 might unit, buffed +1 might by an equipment, has strikedown played on it against another token, does that token die, then when my equipment detaches from strikedown, does my unit die also?
To provide an accurate ruling, I have analyzed the interaction based on the card **Strike Down** and the core rules regarding damage and unit death.
Does Star Cross require you to own a unit to play it?
No, you do not need to own a unit to play **Star-Crossed**. According to RiftJudge FAQ #7532, you can play a card even if you do not have a unit, as players will "do as much as they can." However, there is an important nuance regarding targeting:
Is there a rule where the opponent scores if you cycle through your deck?
Yes, there is a rule regarding this. When you need to draw a card or move cards from your Main Deck to another zone (like the trash) and your deck is empty, you perform an action called **Burning Out**.
When you conquer with Last Rites, can you hide Teemo from trash?
To answer your question: **No, you cannot hide Teemo from your trash.** ### Reasoning: 1. **Last Rites Effect:** The effect of *Last Rites* allows you to **play** a unit from your trash. 2. **Definition of "Play":** Playing a unit (Rule 359) is a distinct game action from **hiding** a card (Rule 421). Hiding is a separate, discretionary action that requires...
If I Switcheroo and swap Might, do I retain that Might on the unit for the rest of the turn, even if I Ride the Wind over to the other battlefield?
Yes, the Might modification applied by **Switcheroo** persists on the unit for the rest of the turn, even if you use **Ride the Wind** to move that unit to a different battlefield.
For Elder Dragon, is enemy base consider a location I can target?
Yes, an enemy base is considered a location, and you can target an enemy unit located there with Elder Dragon's ability.
Can I play Thrill of the Hunt to a battlefield I don't control?
Yes, you can play **Thrill of the Hunt** to move a unit to a battlefield you do not control. According to the card's text, when you play *Thrill of the Hunt*, you banish a friendly unit, and then its owner plays it to **"any battlefield."** There is no restriction in the card text or the game rules that limits this...
When a showdown starts, is my opponent able to play a ready card from his base to the battlefield when it's his priority?
No, your opponent cannot play a ready unit from their base to the battlefield once a showdown has started. According to **Rule 144.1.c** (as referenced in RiftJudge FAQ ID 9703), a standard move "cannot be performed during a Showdown or Combat."
If you counter a spell, does Jhin still get to banish it for his legend effect?
No, you cannot banish a spell with Jhin's legend effect if it has been countered. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8769** and **Rule 425.1.b**, a spell that is countered is not considered to have been played. Furthermore, **Rule 425.1.a** states that a countered spell is cleared from the chain.
How does Undying Loyalty cost work? Do you choose the unit you want to play at the moment you play the spell, and pay 2 less if that unit is a cat, dog, poro, or bird? Or do you first pay 2 energy and a power, then choose a unit, then based on the choice get the energy back?
To understand how **Undying Loyalty** works, we must look at the standard sequence for playing a card (Rule 357 and Rule 356).
If I conquered both battlefields on my turn and I'm on 7 points after conquering both, can I ride the wind on opponent's turn to win after to get both battlefields?
No, you cannot win the game by using *Ride the Wind* to conquer a battlefield on your opponent's turn if you are at 7 points.
Can you use a Gold gear token's ability to generate power and then destroy that same token with Malzahar, Fanatic's ability to generate additional power?
Ruling: No. You cannot generate power from both abilities using a single Gold gear token. You must choose to activate either the token's ability or Malzahar's ability, but not both.
Can Glasc Mixologist Deathknell play a unit that dies at the same time as Glasc?
Yes, you can play a unit that died at the same time as **Glasc Mixologist** using its *Deathknell* ability. ### The Ruling According to the established logic in Riftbound FAQs regarding *Deathknell* (specifically **FAQ #9482** and **FAQ #9392**), when multiple units die simultaneously, their *Deathknell* triggers are added to the chain as pending items before the units are moved to...
Does After Showdown heal all units everywhere?
Yes, at the end of a **combat showdown**, all units everywhere in play heal all damage marked on them simultaneously.
If I use sacrifice on a might unit and then save it using Tactical Retreat do I draw 2?
Yes, you do draw 2 cards. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9425**, when you play **Sacrifice** and use **Tactical Retreat** to save the unit intended as the sacrifice cost, the following occurs:
Does Deathknell happen after unit heal from Showdown?
To clarify the interaction between **Deathknell** abilities and healing after a combat showdown, the healing occurs **before** Deathknell abilities resolve.
Can I use a Hidden Wages of Pain on an enemy at a different battlefield?
No, you cannot. According to **Rule 811.1.d.2**, if a spell played from Hidden chooses any targets, those targets must be chosen from among options at the same battlefield where that card was hidden.
Does Imperial Decree trigger the moment something takes damage?
Yes, *Imperial Decree* triggers the moment a unit takes damage. According to the **RiftJudge FAQs (#1917, #5341, #8633)**, *Imperial Decree* creates a lasting effect for the turn that functions as a triggered ability. When any unit takes damage while this effect is active, the trigger fires immediately.
Can you attach multiple Gear to the same unit?
Yes, you can attach multiple pieces of gear to the same unit. According to **RiftJudge FAQ 9165**, there is no limit to the number of equipment cards that can be attached to a single unit at the same time. As long as you have the resources to pay the costs and the equipment is not already attached (because you cannot...
If I control a Battlefield and have Glass Mixologist and Xin Zhao at the same Battlefield die by combat, can I revive that same Xin Zhao to that same Battlefield?
Yes, you can revive that same Xin Zhao to that same battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9620** and **FAQ #8739**, when your **Glasc Mixologist** dies during combat, its *Deathknell* ability triggers and is placed on the chain as a pending item during the cleanup process. Because the game pauses to resolve this chain before finalizing the combat result and control...
Can the Fiora legend buff a unit if it's already a 5 might card?
No, Fiora (Grand Duelist) cannot trigger her ability when a unit that is already at 5 or more Might (already Mighty) receives a buff.
If my Ferrous Forerunner dies in combat with Rek'Sai on base, do I have to pay for Mechs to be accelerated?
Yes, you must pay the Accelerate cost if you want the Mech tokens to enter the battlefield ready. According to the RiftJudge FAQ (#8671, #9360), here is how this interaction works:
In the beginning of the game, after you roll to see who goes first, are the battlefields revealed and then the winning player picks who goes first? Or what is the order of beginning a game?
According to the official rules, battlefields are revealed **before** determining turn order. The winning player of the "roll to go first" (or any other fair random method) then chooses whether they wish to play first or last.
Can you sacrifice on Temporary Death?
Yes, you can. When a unit with **Temporary** dies at the start of your Beginning Phase, it creates a chain, which allows you to play [Reaction] speed abilities and effects in response to that death trigger. If you control a card that requires a sacrifice as a cost to activate its ability or play it, you can use that unit...
So if my Yone took damage and is from a 5 to a 4, and I move it to an empty battlefield, after gaining a point for Conquer, do I also heal, and then use his ability? Or because there was no defender, there was no combat, does he stay at 4?
To address your question regarding Yone, damage, and combat: ### 1. Does Yone heal? **No, Yone does not heal.** As clarified in RiftJudge FAQ #9649, there is a critical distinction between a combat showdown and an open showdown: * **Combat Showdown:** Occurs when a unit moves to an opponent-controlled battlefield. This triggers combat, which includes a "Combat Cleanup" step where...
Does the damage on a unit from Challenge units fighting each other stick around?
Yes, the damage dealt by **Challenge** persists on the units involved until it is removed. According to **RiftJudge FAQ 7781**, damage from **Challenge** remains on units until either combat occurs on any battlefield (which triggers a Combat Cleanup) or the turn ends.
If you're not so fast an overzealous fan, does the fan still die from defending?
Yes, if you use *Not So Fast* to counter *Overzealous Fan's* triggered ability, the *Overzealous Fan* still dies. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8702** (which reflects the current Unleashed rules update), the "kill me" instruction in *Overzealous Fan's* text is a **cost within instructions** that must be paid upfront to finalize the ability onto the chain.
If I stun a unit to prevent damage once in a showdown, do we commence combat a second time without healing taking place in between calculating total might? Example: 5 might, counterstrike proc, into 8 might, I assume takes 5, and triggering a second round of damage calculation, 5 into 3?
No, a second round of combat does not occur. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6276**, if units from both players remain at the end of a showdown (such as when a unit is stunned and survives), **another showdown does not start**. Instead, the attackers are simply recalled back to their base.
If I own 0 battlefields and I'm 1 point from winning but I use Hostile Takeover on an enemy unit, do I score a hold point and win the game?
No, you do not win the game by scoring a "Hold" point. You would potentially win the game through a **Conquer** point, but **not a Hold point**.