If a Gear is stolen by Akshan by player A and then player B steals the same Gear, what happens when both Akshans leave the battlefield?

When both Akshans leave the battlefield, the control-change effect of each Akshan stops applying. Consequently, control of the gear reverts to its original owner (the player who brought the card into the game).

This is determined by the timestamp order of the control-change effects, as detailed in RiftJudge FAQ #5396 and RiftJudge FAQ #8851.

Sequence of Events

1. Player A's Akshan: When Player A plays their Akshan (and pays the additional cost), it creates a control-change effect giving Player A control of the gear.
2. Player B's Akshan: When Player B plays their Akshan (and pays the additional cost), it creates a newer control-change effect. Because it is newer, it depends on and overrides Player A's effect due to timestamp order. Player B now controls the gear.
3. Akshans Leave:
   • If Player B's Akshan leaves the board first, their control-change effect stops applying. The game recalculates control, and Player A's original effect is once again the active effect, so Player A regains control of the gear.
   • When the final Akshan (Player A's) leaves the board, its control-change effect also stops applying.
4. Final Recalculation: With no control-change effects remaining, control of the gear reverts to its original owner (the player who started the game with the card in their deck).

Important Nuances

• No "Bounce": The gear does not jump between players or locations when these effects end; control is simply recalculated at each step.
• Attachment: If the gear is currently attached to a unit, it will not automatically detach or return to the original owner's base when control reverts; it remains attached to the unit it is currently on until moved by a card effect or the unit itself leaves the board (RiftJudge FAQ #9043).
• Controller Inability: Once control reverts to the original owner, the players who previously stole it can no longer use any of the gear's activated abilities, as they are no longer its controller.