On high OPL, what is the order of operations for deciding battlefields, revealing battlefields, and choosing who goes first, etc.?

In Riftbound (including High OPL/Competitive play), the setup sequence is strictly defined to ensure players have full information about the Battlefields before deciding who goes first.

The correct order of operations is:

1. Sideboarding: Players swap cards from their sideboards (if applicable). This is done before any information is revealed.
2. Reveal Legends: Both players reveal their Legend cards simultaneously.
3. Choose and Reveal Champions: Both players select their Chosen Champions and reveal them.
4. Select and Reveal Battlefields: Both players select their Battlefields. These are revealed simultaneously and placed in the Battlefield Zone. They are public knowledge before the next step.
5. Determine Turn Order:
   • In Game 1, turn order is determined by a fair random method (e.g., a die roll or coin flip).
   • In Games 2 and 3, the player who lost the previous game chooses whether to go first (Play) or second (Channel). This choice is made after seeing the revealed Battlefields.
6. Draw and Mulligan: Players draw their starting hand of 4 cards. The player going first performs their mulligan first, followed by the second player.

Key Nuances

• Battlefields Before Turn Order: You must know which Battlefields are in play before deciding to go first or second. According to official rulings, "Battlefields are revealed before determining turn order."
• Simultaneous Revelation: While players often place Battlefields face-down temporarily to prevent "counter-picking" during the selection process, they must be revealed at the same time before the turn order is decided.
• BO3 Battlefield Rule: In a Best of 3 match, you cannot reuse a Battlefield you have already used in a previous game of that match.

Citations:

• Rule 166.2.b: "Battlefields are established at the start of a game and remain in place for the duration of regular play."
• Official FAQ: "The order is the same for every game: Legend > Chosen Champion > Battlefields chosen and revealed > Turn order > Draw & Mulligan."