If I activate Sacrifice and target my Mighty unit with a buff, can I use my Sett the Boss legend ability to save my unit and also draw 2 and channel a rune from Sacrifice's effect?
Yes, you can do this. You will successfully save your unit and receive the full effect of Sacrifice (drawing 2 cards and channeling 1 rune).
This interaction is explicitly covered by RiftJudge FAQ #10301. Here is the breakdown of why this works:
Why it works
- Replacement Effect: The Boss's ability is a replacement effect. When Sacrifice attempts to "kill" your unit as an additional cost, The Boss intervenes and replaces that event with "heal, exhaust, and recall" the unit to your base.
- Cost Paid: According to Rule 357.2.a, costs that are replaced by a replacement effect are still considered successfully paid. Because the game treats the cost as paid, Sacrifice proceeds to resolve normally.
- Buff Spent: As noted in the FAQ, the buff on your unit is spent (removed) as part of the cost of using The Boss's ability.
Sequence of Events
- Playing Sacrifice: You play Sacrifice and choose your buffed [Mighty] unit as the additional cost to be killed.
- Paying Costs: During step 4 of the playing process, you attempt to pay the cost by killing the unit.
- Replacement: The Boss's replacement effect intercedes. The unit is healed, exhausted, and recalled to your base instead of being killed. The unit's buff is spent.
- Cost Completion: Because the replacement effect occurred, the cost of Sacrifice is considered successfully paid.
- Resolution: Sacrifice resolves, allowing you to draw 2 cards and channel 1 rune.
Note: As this is a replacement effect and not a triggered ability, it does not use the chain and cannot be responded to once the cost is paid (FAQ #5828).