What is the correct order to begin a match?
According to the official Tournament Rules and RiftJudge FAQs, the sequence to begin a match is as follows:
- Sideboard: Players may exchange cards between their main deck and sideboard.
- Legend: Players select and reveal their Legend.
- Chosen Champion: Players select and reveal their Chosen Champion.
- Battlefield: Players choose and reveal their Battlefields simultaneously.
- Turn Order: The starting player (or the loser of the previous game in a Bo3 match) chooses whether to go first or last.
- Draw/Mulligan: Players draw their initial hand of 4 cards and perform any mulligans.
Important Nuances:
- Simultaneous Reveals: To prevent counter-picking, all reveals (Legend, Champion, and Battlefields) must be done by placing them face-down first and revealing them simultaneously.
- Bo3 Starting Player: For the first game, the starting player is determined by an agreed-upon random method (or designated player rules in high-level play). For subsequent games in a match, the loser of the previous game chooses who goes first or last.
- Timing: This process occurs after sideboarding but before drawing the initial hand of 4 cards.