After the initial chain resolves during a showdown in Riftbound, does the attacker retain focus to play another action, or does focus pass to the defender?

Ruling: Focus passes automatically when a chain resolves, with one exception: when resolving the initial chain in combat (the attack/defense triggers chain), the attacker retains focus afterward. After any subsequent chains resolve during the showdown, focus passes to the other player.

Sequence:

• Attack triggers go on chain → defense triggers go on chain
• Players alternate adding reactions until both pass
• Initial chain resolves one link at a time
• Attacker retains focus (exception to normal rule) and can play an action to start a new chain
• When this new chain resolves, focus passes to the defender
• Players alternate having focus after each chain resolves
• Combat continues until both players pass focus back-to-back without playing anything

Nuances:

• The player who owns the next link when something resolves gets priority during chain resolution
• You can play multiple reactions before passing while holding priority
• Attacker always gets focus first in showdowns, regardless of turn player
• If showdown is initiated via contested (e.g., Ride the Wind to open battlefield), the player who applied contested gets focus first
• A chain resolving is not the same as passing focus - both players must pass consecutively for combat to proceed