Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 95 of 133 · 6,628 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If I cast Bellows Breath on an enemy Unsung Hero and Recruit, can I proc my Ezreal Legend?
Yes, you can satisfy the requirement for your **Ezreal** legend ability by casting **Bellows Breath** in this scenario. ### The Ruling According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8816**, **Bellows Breath** is a spell that requires you to choose (target) up to three units at the same location.
If I choose not to use a Legend or Chosen Champion for Prerift Event, do I draw an extra 1 or 2 on my first turn?
If you do not use both a Champion Legend and a Chosen Champion in your deck, you draw **one additional card** at the start of the game.
Can I use Lunar Boon without hand cards?
Yes, you can play Lunar Boon even if you have no cards in your hand. According to the rules regarding discarding and the "Do as much as you can" (DAMAYC) principle (Rule 8870), if an effect instructs you to discard but your hand is empty, you simply discard zero cards and continue with the rest of the effect. Because the...
I played Brynhildr Thundersong, then killed my opponent's Machine Evangel. Does my opponent get Machine Evangel's deathknell or no?
Yes, your opponent still gets the Machine Evangel's Deathknell effect. According to the established rulings for Brynhir Thundersong (specifically RiftJudge FAQ #8909 and #5853):
Can you play Stalking Wolf to a different battlefield than the one where you killed a unit to pay its additional cost?
Ruling: Yes. Stalking Wolf's text states you "may" play it to the battlefield of the unit killed to pay its additional cost. Since this is optional, you can instead play Stalking Wolf to any other legal location, such as your base or another battlefield where you control units.
I am playing Volibear legend. I use here to help to play Towering Combatant while defending. Does this trigger the Volibear legend ability?
No, playing Towering Combatant in this situation will **not** trigger Volibear’s legend ability. Here is the breakdown of why:
If I play Guards! while it is hidden, can I play the sand soldier to base?
No, you cannot play the **Sand Soldier** token created by *Guards!* to your base. According to **Rule 811.1.d.3** of the Core Rules: "If a hidden spell or a play effect of a hidden permanent causes you to play a unit, you must choose to play that unit at that battlefield [where the card was hidden]."
If I play a weaponmaster unit as a reaction on an opponent's turn, can I equip an item?
Yes, you can equip an item. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #254** and **Rule 821.1.b**, **Weaponmaster** functions as a "When you play me" triggered ability. Because it is a triggered ability on play, it can be activated even when the unit is played during a reaction window (such as when playing a unit with **Reaction** on your opponent's turn).
What happens if you Brush a Brush?
If you use an ability (such as **Green Father's**) to replace a **Brush** battlefield token with another **Brush** battlefield token, the original Brush token ceases to exist, and the new Brush token occupies that space.
If I play Cruel Patron, and I have a unit alone at a battlefield I control, I choose to kill my Recruit to pay the additional cost of Cruel Patron. Can I play my Patron to that battlefield?
Yes, you can play Cruel Patron to that battlefield in this scenario. According to **Rules FAQ Clarification 2026-04-29** (updating rule 187.4.c):
If I play Cruel Patron, and I have a unit alone at a battlefield I control, I choose to kill my Recruit to pay the additional cost of Cruel Patron. Can I play my Patron to that battlefield?
Yes, you can play Cruel Patron to that same battlefield. According to the **Riftbound Rules FAQ (updated 2026-04-29)**, this interaction is specifically permitted:
If I hold Reckoner's Arena with Yone, Blademaster, will he do damage?
No, Yone, Blademaster will not deal damage in this scenario. According to the official rules (FAQ ID 9922):
What happens when I play Long Sword with Quickdraw and my opponent reacts with a Gust?
To resolve this interaction, we look at the chain timing and the targeting requirements of *Gust*. ### The Sequence of Events 1. **Playing the Gear:** You play *Long Sword* from your hand. You pay its cost. It enters the battlefield at your base immediately. As established in **RiftJudge FAQ #9577**, playing a Gear card itself does not use the chain...
If an Elder Dragon is played and pings one of my units for 1 damage to kill it, do I have time at any point to play Janna to that area to heal the unit and stop it from dying?
To answer your question: **No, healing your unit with Janna will not stop it from being killed by the Elder Dragon's play effect.**
Can I cast Void Assault if I don't want to move a friendly unit, only an enemy unit?
No, you cannot cast **Void Assault** if you do not want to move a friendly unit. According to the card's text, the ability is: "Move a friendly unit, **then** move an enemy unit." In Riftbound, when a spell or ability contains instructions connected by "then," those actions are mandatory steps of the effect. Because the spell requires you to move...
Can a reaction be used against a unit moving to an empty battlefield?
No, generally speaking, you cannot react to a unit moving to an empty battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #1645** and **FAQ #6337**, a standard move—such as a player moving their unit to an empty battlefield—does not open a chain. Because no chain is opened, there is no window for players to play reactions.
If someone Hidden Blades a Yasuo at a battlefield, can the Yasuo player use Ride the Wind to prevent Hidden Blade from going off on him?
No, the Yasuo player cannot use **Ride the Wind** to prevent **Hidden Blade** from resolving. ### The Reasoning 1. **Action vs. Reaction:** **Ride the Wind** is an **[Action]** spell. According to Rule 158.2.a and RiftJudge FAQ #9557, [Action] spells can only be played during an **Open State** (when no chain exists) to start a new chain. They cannot be added...
If I have two units at a battlefield and my opponent plays Elder Dragon, and I react with Flash on both of my units, do they then not take damage from Elder Dragon?
Yes, your units will not take damage in this scenario. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ #9919**, Elder Dragon’s play effect has specific targeting restrictions: it allows its controller to choose **up to one** enemy unit at **each** board location.
Does Stun reduce Alpha Strike damage to 0?
No, Stun does not reduce the damage *Alpha Strike* deals to 0. According to **Rule 423.1.b**, "A Stunned Unit does not contribute its might to damage in the combat damage step." Because the Stun condition specifically restricts combat damage, it has no effect on damage dealt by card effects like *Alpha Strike*.
Can I react to removal with Vi Hothead by paying its cost to double its might?
No, you cannot use Vi, Hotheaded's activated ability to "react" to a removal spell that is already on the chain.
If someone moves Atakhan into an empty battlefield, when they pass focus the opponent uses Zenith Blade to move a unit into the same battlefield as Atakhan, does the attack effect "When I attack, the defender must kill one of their units here" apply to the unit or does that trigger happen the moment it moves?
### The Ruling **Atakhan's "When I attack" ability activates.** While a unit does not trigger "When I attack" upon moving to an empty battlefield, the transition to combat triggered by your opponent's *Zenith Blade* causes your unit to gain the "Attacker" designation. At that moment, Atakhan triggers.
Does a spell countered with Abandon count towards Jhin legend? Because it goes to hand?
### Ruling: Does a spell countered by Abandon count toward Jhin, Virtuoso? **No, a spell countered by Abandon does not count toward Jhin, Virtuoso's legend ability.**
Do you get +1 from Assault in a non-combat showdown?
No, you do not gain the +1 might bonus from **Assault** in a non-combat showdown. According to the rules and official FAQs regarding the **Assault** keyword:
If I control BF1 with one of my units and conquer BF2 with Rumble Hotheaded, can I recycle my unit at BF1 and play a unit from my trash onto BF1 still using Rumble Hotheaded's conquer effect?
Yes, you can do this. Because the conquer ability of **Rumble, Hotheaded** is a triggered ability that goes on the chain after you successfully conquer a battlefield, you can use the period after it triggers to take actions if you have priority, or simply resolve the chain item as intended.
If the opponent attempts to conquer, then I ride the wind one of my units to an empty battlefield, which battlefield resolves first?
To determine which showdown resolves first when you play **Ride the Wind** to move a unit to an empty battlefield while another showdown is already in progress, the showdown that was already in progress always resolves first.
How does Kinkou Initiate work? Is it total might on board or might of single unit?
*Kinkou Initiate's* ability checks the **total Might of all your other units** on the board, not the Might of a single unit.
Can you react to a unit being played as Ambush, what's the rule that says yes or no?
No, you cannot react to the playing of a unit with **Ambush**, even though the Ambush keyword grants the unit the **[Reaction]** permission to be played.
Does Deathknell proc before or after damage cleanup in a combat showdown?
According to the official rules governing combat and cleanup in Riftbound, the interaction between **Deathknell** and **healing** is as follows:
Is Recall always exhausted?
No, recall does not inherently exhaust a unit. According to **Rule 453**: "Recalls do not affect the state of the Permanent being recalled."
Can you play Abandon without having to counter a spell?
No, you cannot play **Abandon** without a valid spell on the chain to target. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5039** and **Rule 4070**, if a spell requires a target, you must have a legal target available on the chain to put the spell on the chain in the first place. Since **Abandon** specifically says "Counter a spell," it requires a spell...
Does Rengar Pridestalker effect proc when playing token units?
Yes, the legend ability of **Rengar, Pridestalker** triggers when you play a token unit. According to **FAQ #3881**, playing a recruit unit token counts as playing a unit. Additionally, while tokens are not considered cards, they are nonetheless "played" when created by abilities (as confirmed by **Rule 350.2** and **FAQ #9271**). Because the legend ability of **Rengar, Pridestalker** triggers "When...
Can you react with Ambush in your beginning phase to a temporary unit on your battlefield dying? Do I get the hold effect and points if I do so? (I.e. I had a single temporary sprite on the battlefield)
Yes, you can react to your "Temporary" unit's death trigger by playing a unit with **Ambush** during your Beginning Phase, and you will maintain battlefield control to score the Hold point.
If my opponent moves Vex Cheerless to an empty battlefield and I answer with Rengar Trophy Hunter, what units move back to base and does anyone stay at the battlefield?
To answer your question regarding the showdown between *Vex, Cheerless* and *Rengar, Trophy Hunter*: ### Sequence of Events 1. **Opponent's Move:** Your opponent moves *Vex, Cheerless* to an open battlefield. This initiates a non-combat showdown, and your opponent is the **Attacker** (Rule 442.1.a.1). 2. **Your Response:** You play *Rengar, Trophy Hunter* to that battlefield as a **[Reaction]**. Because there is...
The legend Ivern has an effect 'it can be swapped back when scored'. What does this mean?
The text "It can be swapped back when scored" on the **Brush** battlefield token (created by the **Green Father** Legend) refers to a specific interaction involving the **Replace** game mechanic.
The legend Ivern has an effect 'it can be swapped back when scored'. What does this mean?
When you use the ability of **Ivern, Green Father** to replace a battlefield with a **Brush** battlefield token, that token carries the text: *"When you score here, you may replace this with the battlefield it replaced."*
Ask the legend Ivern has an effect 'it can be swapped back when scored'. What does this mean?
The effect "It can be swapped back when scored" on the **Brush** battlefield token created by **Ivern, Green Father** refers to your ability to return the original battlefield card to the board.
What defines the domain of a card?
According to Rule 134, a card's domain is defined by one or more symbols located in the lower-right corner of the card. Each domain has an associated color, a unique symbol, and a shorthand notation used in text:
Can I use an action gear from my hand?
Yes, you can play an **Action** gear from your hand, but its timing depends on whether it has the **Action** keyword or is being played normally.
Can Forgotten Signpost be played as an action or does this card already have to be in base to use its ability during a showdown?
"Forgotten Signpost" is a Gear card with the ability: "[Action][>] Exhaust a unit you control, [T] : Move a different unit you control to the location of the unit you exhausted to pay for this ability."
If my opponent moves to an unoccupied battlefield, and I ambush there with Rengar, Trophy Hunter, who is attacking and who is defending?
To determine the attacker and defender designations in this scenario, we must look at the rules for Contested status and the specific play conditions of *Rengar, Trophy Hunter*.
Can Atakhan kill a Reflection to reduce cost?
Yes, you can kill a Reflection token as the additional cost for playing Atakhan, and you will receive a cost reduction, but that reduction will be zero.
Can you defy square up at repeat?
You can use **Defy** to counter **Square Up**. ### Analysis of the Interaction
If my opponent moves Vex Apathetic to an empty battlefield and I answer with Rengar Trophy Hunter, what units move back to base and does anyone stay at the battlefield?
To determine the outcome of this showdown, we must follow the sequence of events and the combat cleanup rules. ### Sequence of Events 1. **Opponent's Move:** Your opponent moves **Vex, Apathetic** to an empty battlefield. This initiates a non-combat showdown and makes the battlefield **Contested**. Your opponent is the **Attacker** (Rule 442.1.a.1). 2. **Your Response:** You play **Rengar, Trophy Hunter**...
Do you exhaust Forgotten Signpost after use?
Yes, you do exhaust the Forgotten Signpost to activate its ability. According to its card text and the Riftbound rules: * The card has the **[T]** symbol (Exhaust symbol) in its ability cost. * Rule 414.5 states: "In abilities, the Exhaust symbol represents the cost 'Exhaust this' or 'Exhaust me.'"
When I move an enemy unit to a battlefield I control, does that make the enemy unit an attacker?
Yes, the enemy unit becomes the attacker. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5394** and **FAQ #7275**, when you move an enemy unit into a battlefield you control, that unit is treated as the attacker. The enemy unit is considered to have moved to contest the battlefield you control, and therefore it applies the "Contested" status to that location, which designates it...
Will reacting to purple Kha'zix with a hidden Evelyn Entrancing cause his +2 might ability to fail?
No, reacting with a hidden **Evelynn, Entrancing** will not cause **Kha'Zix, Mutating Horror's** ability to fail, provided the condition ("an enemy unit is alone here") was met when Kha'Zix entered the battlefield.
I make a Reflection token on a unit with plus might counters on it. Does the Reflection also get the might counters?
No, your Reflection token does not inherit those might counters. According to the **Patch Notes (2026-03-30)** regarding copy effects, reflection tokens only copy the "copyable traits" of a unit, which are defined as the printed or copied traits (including its Rules Text).
Do defend and attack triggers that target something need to be decided before a Reaction?
Yes, the targets for "When I attack" and "When I defend" triggers must be chosen before any player can play a reaction.
When doing a chain and having the latest card resolve, does each player get to react while the chain is resolving during each card is resolving?
Yes, each player has the opportunity to play reactions while a chain is resolving. The chain does not resolve all at once; it resolves one item at a time, and players are given a window of priority between each resolution.
Can seals be used for energy that can be used for basic costs?
No, seals cannot be used to generate energy. According to the **RiftJudge FAQ** (specifically FAQ #2715 and #2245), seals generate **Power** (the colored resource), not **Energy** (the colorless/numerical resource).