Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 97 of 128 · 6,389 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
If I use Baited Hook on a Ruined Rex and summon a Karthus, does the Deathknell effect from Ruined Rex happen twice?
No, the *Deathknell* effect from Ruined Rex will only trigger **one time**. According to the established game rules for *Baited Hook* and *Karthus, Eternal*, Karthus must already be on the battlefield at the moment a *Deathknell* trigger is created for his passive ability to apply and double it.
If a baron bit cannot be placed, does baron nasher still enter into the pit?
Based on the text of Baron Nashor, the conditional phrasing addresses your question directly. **Ruling:** If the **Baron Pit** cannot be placed on the board, **Baron Nashor does not enter it.**
Does Moonfall's ability to reduce all enemy units might by 2 at a battlefield affect units played after Moonfall resolves?
No, **Moonfall** does not affect units played at that battlefield after it resolves. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #6445**, might reduction effects like the one on Moonfall "snapshot" the game state when they resolve. They apply their modification only to the units currently in play at the targeted location at the moment of resolution.
Can Vex apathic ability stun tokens?
Yes, **Vex, Apathetic** can stun unit tokens, but only if the effect that creates them explicitly uses the word **"play"** in its text.
If I use Star Crossed to return an enemy unit that is being targeted to receive the might from Deathgrip, does the unit that was killed to buff still die?
To answer your question: Yes, the friendly unit targeted by **Deathgrip** still dies, but the second friendly unit does not receive the Might bonus.
When Rengar Trophy Hunter ambushes a battlefield that you don't control, are you attacker or defender?
When you use *Rengar, Trophy Hunter* to enter a contested battlefield that you do not control, you become the **Defender**.
If my opponent has 1 unit on a BF when I attack and he then ambushes a unit in, what happens if I react to the ambush with a Star-Crossed to bounce back the only unit he had pre-Ambush?
To determine what happens when you use **Star-Crossed** in this scenario, we must look at the timing of your reaction and the targeting requirements of the spell.
If my opponent plays Star Crossed and I react with Sacrifice to kill my only unit, does my opponent still need to return a friendly unit?
To resolve this interaction, we must look at how **Star-Crossed** handles multiple targets when one becomes unavailable. ### The Ruling Yes, your opponent’s remaining legal target (the enemy unit) is still returned to their hand.
If I star-crossed a reflection unit that has a deathknell effect, does that deathknell effect trigger?
No, the **Deathknell** effect will not trigger. According to **Rule 808.1.d**, the trigger condition for **Deathknell** is the permanent being **killed and sent to the trash**.
Can you reveal hidden cards and play hidden cards and reveal hidden cards on your turn?
To answer your question, we need to distinguish between "revealing" a card and "playing" a hidden card, as they are governed by different rules.
Does Deathknell trigger happen after the unit heals from Showdown or before?
In a combat showdown, **Deathknell abilities resolve after the units are healed.** While the *Deathknell* trigger is placed on the chain during the Combat Cleanup phase, the actual resolution of the effect happens only after the surviving units have been healed.
If an opponent starts a showdown at a battlefield I have a unit at, I react by playing Heedless Resurrection and get back Overzealous Fan which I play to my battlefield, can I then use Overzealous Fan's effect to move the opponent's unit to base?
Yes, you can use *Overzealous Fan's* ability to move the opponent's attacking unit to its base. ### Sequence of Events 1. **Showdown Begins:** Your opponent moves a unit to a battlefield you occupy, applying Contested status. Per Rule 345, the opponent (the player who applied Contested status) gains Focus. 2. **Reaction:** While the opponent has Focus, you play *Heedless Resurrection*...
If my opponent uses Hard Bargain, then I counter with Lilting Lullaby, then can my opponent still play an En Garde?
Yes, your opponent can play *En Garde* in this situation. ### The Chain State 1. Your opponent plays **Hard Bargain** ([Reaction] spell). It is on the chain. 2. You play **Lilting Lullaby** ([Reaction] spell) in response. It is placed on top of *Hard Bargain*. 3. The chain is currently in a Closed State.
If I play Bewitching Spirit and discard from my opponent's hand Moonlight Affliction, can the opponent still play it as a reaction?
No, your opponent cannot play *Moonlight Affliction* as a reaction in response to being forced to discard it. Here is the breakdown of why this is the case:
Can Turn to Dust give temporary to a Trinity Force attached to a Kaisa survivor?
Yes, you can use **Turn to Dust** to give the **Temporary** keyword to a **Trinity Force** that is attached to a **Kai'Sa, Survivor**.
If Ruined Rex dies, do I need to use the deathknell, or can I opt not to?
According to the official Riftbound rules and **RiftJudge FAQ #5520**, **you cannot opt out of using a Deathknell ability.** Deathknell triggers are mandatory. As established in Rule 808.1, Deathknell is a triggered ability that occurs automatically when the permanent is killed and sent to the trash. Because Ruined Rex's text does not include the word "may" (e.g., "you may deal...
If I have one Mask of Foresight and I start a showdown with only one sprite token and then react with an ambush unit, does my sprite token get the +1 from the Mask of Foresight?
Yes, your Sprite token will receive the +1 Might bonus from the Mask of Foresight. According to the **RiftJudge FAQs** (specifically FAQ 2776 and 6983), the timing works as follows:
Can you play Flurry of Feathers to satisfy Grand Plaza?
No, you cannot play *Flurry of Feathers* to directly satisfy the win condition for *The Grand Plaza*. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #10013**: * You cannot play the Bird tokens from *Flurry of Feathers* to a battlefield you are attacking (i.e., a battlefield controlled by your opponent). * Tokens must follow all normal rules for playing units, which require you to...
Does Ruined Rex Deathknell damage happen before or after cleanup in a Showdown?
In a combat showdown, Ruined Rex's **Deathknell** ability deals its damage **after the healing step** of the Combat Cleanup. While the *trigger* for the Deathknell is identified and added to the chain during the Combat Cleanup, the actual execution of the effect happens only after the healing step is completed, as part of the game's finalization process.
If I have an Ivern Brush on top of Aspirant's Climb and score to 8 points by holding and my opponent also already has 8 points - if I decide to get rid of the brush - who wins?
To determine who wins when you score at a battlefield occupied by a *Brush* token that replaced *Aspirant's Climb*, we must look at the sequence of the "swap back" mechanic and how *Aspirant's Climb* interacts with the win condition.
Does a 2 Might unit kill two units at a Battlefield if Elder Dragon is on the board?
Yes, a 2-might unit can kill two units at a battlefield if you control Elder Dragon. According to the Elder Dragon's ability, **"Any amount of your damage is enough to kill enemy units."** This effectively changes the definition of lethal damage to "any non-zero amount" for damage you are responsible for.
If I play Relentless Pursuit on a unit that is readied, does the unit exhaust from moving? Same thing with Emperors Divide?
No, neither **Relentless Pursuit** nor **Emperor's Divide** will cause your unit(s) to exhaust when they are moved. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #9814** and **RiftJudge FAQ #8882**, when a unit is moved by a card effect, its state (Ready or Exhausted) does not change unless the card explicitly states otherwise. Since neither of these cards includes an instruction to exhaust the...
What happens if Korthus and Leblanc die by Falling Star? Does Karthus effect count?
Yes, **Karthus, Eternal's effect counts**, and it will apply to any *Deathknell* effects that trigger from LeBlanc or any other units dying simultaneously with him.
Can my opponent conquer with Adaptatron at the same battlefield twice, assuming he used Ride the Wind. Would this allow them to remove 2 gear and only get 1 point?
No, your opponent cannot trigger **Adaptatron**'s ability twice at the same battlefield in a single turn, nor can they remove two gears in this manner.
Can you play a hidden card at BF1 if a showdown is occurring at BF2?
Yes, you can play a hidden card at Battlefield 1 while a showdown is occurring at Battlefield 2. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2813** and **Rule 811.1.c.3**, playing a card from hidden opens a chain and functions as a Reaction. You can play a reaction at any time you have priority, regardless of which battlefield the showdown is happening at, provided...
Does Reflections gain the power and energy costs of the chosen unit?
Yes, a Reflection unit token does gain the energy and power costs of the unit it is copying. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8759**, cost is an inherent trait that is copied when a game object becomes a copy of another. While tokens normally have a cost of 0, when a token becomes a copy of a card, it adopts all...
If the opponent plays Cull of the Weak, can I react to the unit I chose to die with Thrill of the Hunt to banish it and save it by replaying?
To address your question: **Yes, you can use *Thrill of the Hunt* to "save" a unit from *Cull the Weak*, but your unit will still likely die.**
Can I use LeBlanc deceiver to create a reflection of a reflection at a battlefield?
Yes, you can create a Reflection unit token that is a copy of an existing Reflection unit token using the ability of **LeBlanc, Deceiver**.
If enemy go to battlefield A where I have unit, I use Ride the Wind to other battlefield. Which one score first?
To address your question regarding the showdown sequence and who scores, we must look at the impact of moving your unit away from a contested battlefield while a showdown is in progress.
If I conquer with a Rengar pouncing and Rumble hot headed, will Rengar's might be 5 or 3 when I recycle Rengar to use Rumble's ability?
When you conquer with *Rengar, Pouncing* and *Rumble, Hotheaded*, *Rengar’s* Might will be **5** when you recycle him for *Rumble’s* ability.
Does gear count as a friendly unit? Would the Sprite Fountain gear itself count as a temporary friendly unit towards the "Bashful Bloom" legend's "this ability cost 1 less for each friendly unit with temporary"?
No, gear does not count as a friendly unit. According to **Rule 148.1**, gear is a distinct game object and card type from units. Therefore, the **Sprite Fountain** gear—even though it possesses the *Temporary* keyword—does not count as a "friendly unit with *Temporary*" for the ability on the **Bashful Bloom** legend.
For Deathgrip, if I choose no unit to kill, can I still draw one or do I have to kill a unit to put it on the stack?
To answer your question, you **must** choose a friendly unit to kill when you play *Deathgrip*. You cannot choose "no unit" as a way to avoid the kill requirement.
Can Jhin Legend ability play more than 12 runes with his passive?
No, you cannot exceed the maximum of 12 runes on the board using the ability of the Jhin Legend, **Virtuoso**.
Can Jhin Legend ability play more than 12 runes with his passive?
No, you cannot exceed the limit of 12 runes on the board. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #5452**, 12 runes is the maximum you can have on the board. If you are already at the maximum of 12 runes, the instruction to "channel 4 runes" from the ability of **Virtuoso** cannot be executed, and the effect simply fails to channel those...
Can I play Smoke and Mirrors from hidden to swap a unit at the hidden battlefield with a unit at a different location?
Ruling: Yes. Although hidden cards normally must target only the battlefield where they are hidden, Smoke and Mirrors explicitly requires choosing "another unit you control at a different location." This targeting restriction makes it impossible to fulfill the ability using only units at the hidden battlefield, so the exception in Rule 811.1.d.2 applies.
If I use a spell to move a unit from a battlefield with a 'when a player plays a spell' triggered ability, does the unit receive the buff from that battlefield?
Ruling: No. The unit will not receive the buff because it is no longer at the battlefield when the trigger resolves. Under the Unleashed rules update, "play" in a triggered ability refers to when the spell finishes resolving, not when it is finalized onto the chain.
Can you save a unit targeted by Singularity by moving it to a different board zone?
Ruling: No. Singularity does not specify a location restriction (such as "a unit at a battlefield"), so it will track the targeted unit even if it moves to a base. The spell will still deal 6 damage to the unit upon resolution. Movement only breaks targeting if the unit moves to a non-board zone (such as being recalled to hand...
Does Rek'Sai's legend ability trigger Fresh Beans when you play a unit from it?
Ruling: No. Fresh Beans requires you to play a unit during a showdown, but Rek'Sai's Void Burrower ability triggers during the Resolution Step after conquering a battlefield. By that time, the showdown has already closed.
Can you use Ambush to play a unit into your base at reaction timing?
Ruling: No. The [Reaction] timing granted by Ambush only applies when playing the unit to a battlefield where you control units. When playing a unit to your base, the Ambush condition is not met, so the unit must be played at [Action] timing during an open state.
If my Ruined Rex deals damage to a 6 might unit, does it die from the deathnell trigger before it gets healed?
No, the unit will not die from the **Deathknell** trigger before it gets healed. According to the combat cleanup sequence established in official **RiftJudge FAQ #10018** and **FAQ #10069**, the **Deathknell** ability of Ruined Rex resolves *after* the healing step of the Combat Cleanup.
I control a battlefield. My opponent attacks the battlefield. He has enough might to kill all of my units. However, when the units die, their deathknell triggers allow me to do damage and due to this, I am able to kill all of his attacking units. Does he still conquer?
No, the opponent does not conquer the battlefield in this scenario. According to **Rule 461.3.d**, if both players have no units remaining at the battlefield during the "Determine Combat Result" step of the combat resolution (or if both have units remaining), the result of the combat is **"No Result."**
Can Akshan use Weapon Master when played to equip friendly gear and then also steal gear and equip that all at once?
Yes, Akshan can perform both actions—using **Weaponmaster** to attach an Equipment you already control and using his "When you play me" ability to steal an enemy's gear—within a single chain resolution sequence.
On Abandoned Hall, if my spell is defied, do I still give my units plus one might?
No, you do not get to give your units +1 Might if your spell is defied (countered). According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8877** and **Rule 412.1.b**, a card that is countered is not considered to have been played. Because the spell never finishes the process of being played, any triggered abilities that rely on a spell being played (such as the...
If a star-crossed targets A and B, and another one is played in reaction targeting B and C, is the second star-crossed on the chain still played even though one of the original targets is gone?
Yes, the second *Star-Crossed* remains on the chain and will resolve. Whether a spell remains on the chain after its targets change depends on whether those targets have become completely **illegal** (moved to a non-board zone) or merely **invalid** (no longer meet the targeting requirements but are still on the board). However, in your specific scenario, the second *Star-Crossed* is...
Do you get attacker status when you attack an open battlefield?
No, you do not receive the Attacker designation when moving a unit to an open (unoccupied) battlefield. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #8593** and **Rule 807.1.d**, the "Attacker" designation is only gained during **Combat**. Moving a unit to an open battlefield initiates a non-combat Showdown, not Combat. Because there is no opposing unit present to create a combat encounter, the Attacker/Defender...
Can I cast Tactical Retreat on a unit in base to save it from a kill spell or damage?
Yes, you can cast **Tactical Retreat** on a unit that is already in your base to "save" it from a kill spell or damage.
If I use a card that allows me to draw cards at reaction speed during a showdown, am I allowed to play a card I draw at reaction speed?
Yes, you are allowed to play a card you draw at Reaction speed during a showdown. According to **RiftJudge FAQ #2948** and **RiftJudge FAQ #4246**, when a card resolves from the chain and allows you to draw a card, you can immediately play that card as a reaction (if it has the Reaction keyword or is otherwise at Reaction speed)...
Do I attack with Ezreal Dashing and target a unit with Deflect? Do I have to recycle a Rune?
Yes, you must recycle one rune to pay the Deflect cost when Ezreal, Dashing's triggered ability targets a unit with Deflect.
When conquering Starspring with a non-token unit, and then I activate Legend LeBlanc's ability to create a token there, can I then move the non-token unit back to the base?
No, you cannot move your non-token unit to your base using the ability of Star Spring in this scenario. ### Ruling Breakdown * **Trigger Condition:** The ability of Star Spring states: *"The first time a player plays a **non-token unit** here each turn, they may move another unit they control here to its base."* * **Token vs. Non-Token:** A unit...
With Rek'Sai Burrower, when revealing a unit, do you need to pay the cost to play the unit?
Yes, you must pay the full cost of the unit when using the **Rek'Sai (Void Burrower)** legend ability. According to RiftJudge FAQs #9823, #9215, and #284, you are required to pay the card's energy and power costs as normal when you play it using this ability. Only effects that explicitly state "ignoring its cost" allow you to play cards for...