For example, I'm playing Teemo and I just used the legend effect to move a Teemo from the board into my hand. I want to hide a card but not make it obvious it's Teemo. Am I allowed to shuffle my hand or place my hand below the table so the opponent can't track the card I'm hiding?
According to the rules of Riftbound, you are not allowed to shuffle your hand below the table or outside of the visible playing area to obscure which card you are hiding.
Here is the breakdown of why based on the rules and policy provided:
- Rule 424.1 (Display): During a match, players must keep cards above the vertical level of the playing surface. This is to ensure that game actions are transparent and to prevent the manipulation of game objects in a way that is hidden from the opponent's view.
- Rule 128.4 (Privacy): While cards in your hand are private information (meaning your opponent cannot look at their faces), they must still be maintained in a way that respects tournament policies regarding the playing surface and physical game state.
- Hiding Action (Rule 421): The act of Hiding requires you to take a card from your hand (or Champion Zone) and place it facedown at a battlefield. While you are allowed to choose which card you hide from your hand, you must do so in a way that maintains the integrity of the game state as specified by tournament rules.
Regarding your strategy: While you cannot hide your cards below the table, you are permitted to obscure your choice naturally within the constraints of the game. Once you have moved the Teemo to your hand using the Legend ability, you may take a moment to look at your hand before choosing which card to place facedown. You are not required to reveal your hand to the opponent, and they cannot demand to know which card you selected. However, you must keep your hand above the table at all times.