What counts as choosing a unit?

Question

Accepted Answer

In *Riftbound*, "choosing" a unit is synonymous with **targeting** it. When a card instructs you to choose one or more specific game objects to affect, those objects are considered targeted (Rule 352.6).

### Key Principles for Identifying "Choosing/Targeting"
According to Rule 352.10, a game object mentioned in the text of a spell or ability is a **target** (and thus is being "chosen") unless one of the following exceptions applies:

*   **Programmatic Selection:** If the object is selected automatically based on its characteristics rather than by the controller's choice, it is not targeted.
    *   *Example:* "Kill all units at a battlefield" targets the battlefield, but does not target the units themselves because they are selected by the criteria of being at that location.
*   **Costs, Triggers, and Replacement Effects:** Objects mentioned only as part of a cost, a trigger condition, or a replacement effect are not targeted.
    *   *Example:* "As an additional cost to play me, kill a friendly unit" does not target the unit.
*   **Non-Public Zones:** Objects in non-public zones (like your hand) are generally not targeted.
*   **Mandatory Instructions:** If an instruction forces a player to complete an action (e.g., "You must recycle one of your runes"), the choice is made upon resolution, not when the spell is placed on the chain, and it does not count as targeting.

### Important Nuances
*   **Equipping:** Attaching an equipment (gear) to a unit counts as choosing/targeting that unit (FAQ 4550, 7601).
*   **Self-Reference:** When a unit refers to itself (e.g., "give me +3"), it is not considered choosing or targeting itself, as it is programmatically selected (FAQ 3999).
*   **"Any Number" / "Up To":** If a card allows you to choose "any number" or "up to" a certain amount, each object you choose is targeted independently (Rule 352.12, 352.13).
*   **Splitting Damage:** If a card specifies that damage may be split among units, each unit chosen to receive damage is targeted (Rule 352.14.a).

If you are ever unsure if a specific card effect counts as "choosing," check if the controller is making an active selection of a specific object on the board. If the selection is forced by criteria or is part of a cost/trigger, it is likely not a target.