If Ember Monk is on the battlefield and I play Consult the Past from hidden, but my opponent plays Defy on it, does Ember Monk still get +2 might?

Ruling: No, Ember Monk does not get +2 might. In Riftbound, a card is not considered "played" until it fully resolves. Since Defy counters Consult the Past before it resolves, it was never "played" and therefore does not trigger Ember Monk's ability.

Sequence:

• You attempt to play Consult the Past from hidden
• Opponent plays Defy targeting Consult the Past
• Consult the Past is countered and does not resolve
• Since Consult the Past never resolved, it was never "played"
• Ember Monk's trigger condition is not met, so no +2 might

Nuances:

• There is a distinction between "play" (the act of putting a card on the chain) and "played" (a card that has resolved)
• Cards with "When You Play Me" (WYPM) triggers work differently because they are permanents that resolve instantly before their triggers go on the chain
• The rules language around "play" vs "played" has some inconsistencies that may create edge cases with cards like Raging Firebrand