When an attacker is stunned by Facebreaker at Vilemaw's Lair (which prevents units from moving to base), can the attacker return to base during cleanup?

Ruling: Yes, the attacker returns to base during cleanup. Attackers who are stalled in combat recall to base, which is not considered a move, so Vilemaw's Lair's restriction does not prevent it.

Sequence:

  • Attacker moves to Vilemaw's Lair to initiate conquest
  • Defender plays Facebreaker, stunning both units
  • Units remain at the battlefield
  • During cleanup, the attacker recalls to base (not a move)

Nuances:

  • Recall is mechanically distinct from moving - it places units in base but does not count as a move
  • Vilemaw's Lair only prevents moving from the battlefield to base, not recalling