If I deal 3 damage using Wages of Pain to a 5 might unit and start a showdown bringing in my 3 might unit to that battlefield, do both units die from combat?

To determine the outcome of this scenario, we must look at how damage, Might, and the combat sequence interact.

The Short Answer

No, both units will not necessarily die.

Combat in Riftbound does not simply "kill" units based on being in the same battlefield; it resolves through a specific Combat Damage Step where units compare their current Might to the damage assigned to them.

Step-by-Step Breakdown

1. The Setup (Before Combat)

• You play Wages of Pain, dealing 3 damage to an enemy unit with 5 Might.
• Result: That enemy unit is currently on the board with 3 damage marked on it. Because 3 is less than its 5 Might, it is still alive and remains at the battlefield.

2. Starting the Showdown

• You move your 3-Might unit to that battlefield. Since there are now units from opposing players at the same location, a Combat Showdown begins (Rule 447.1).

3. Combat Damage Step (Rule 460)

When the combat resolves, the game calculates damage based on the units' current Might and total damage marked:

1. Might Summation:
   • Your total attacking Might: 3
   • Enemy total defending Might: 5
2. Damage Assignment (Rule 460.2.c):
   • Attacker (You): You assign your 3 Might as damage to the enemy. Added to the 3 damage already marked on it, the enemy unit now has 6 total damage marked. Since 6 exceeds its 5 Might, the enemy unit is killed (Rule 143.2.a).
   • Defender (Opponent): They assign their 5 Might as damage to your unit. Your unit has 3 Might and now has 5 damage marked on it. Since 5 exceeds its 3 Might, your unit is also killed.

Conclusion

In this specific scenario, both units die, but only because the total damage assigned during the combat step (plus any previously marked damage) equals or exceeds their respective Might values.

Key Tactical Takeaway:

• Damage is not wiped between the spell and the combat.
• If your unit had higher Might (e.g., 6 Might), it would have survived the combat, while the enemy unit would still have died.
• Conversely, if the enemy unit had higher Might (e.g., 7 Might), your unit would die, but the enemy unit would survive with 6 total marked damage (which is less than its 7 Might).