If I have one unit controlling a battlefield and my opponent plays Hostile Takeover, does that count as winning a combat and thus awarding a point? What happens then when the control is lost to my points?

When you use Hostile Takeover to take control of your opponent's only unit at a battlefield, you do not win a "combat" in the traditional sense, but you do trigger a noncombat showdown, which can lead to a conquest point.

Here is the breakdown of how this interaction works:

1. Does it count as winning a combat?

No, it is not a combat. According to RiftJudge FAQ #8417, using Hostile Takeover to take control of an opponent's only unit at a battlefield initiates a noncombat showdown.

• Why it matters: Combat requires units from two opposing players to be present at the battlefield (Rule 438). Since you have taken control of the only unit there, there are no opposing units left to fight, so the game initiates a noncombat showdown instead.

2. Does it award a point?

Yes, you can earn a conquest point.

• According to Rule 446.1, you score a point for "Conquer" when you gain control of a battlefield you have not yet scored that turn.
• Because the noncombat showdown results in you establishing control of the battlefield (Rule 345.2.a), and assuming you haven't already scored that battlefield this turn, you will successfully "Conquer" it and gain 1 point.

3. What happens when control is lost?

If you lose control of that battlefield later in the same turn (for example, if your opponent moves a new unit in and wins a subsequent showdown), the following applies:

• Points are not lost: You keep the point you gained from the initial conquest. Points in Riftbound are cumulative and are not removed if you lose control of a battlefield later.
• Re-conquering: If you were to regain control of that same battlefield later in the same turn, you would not gain another point. According to RiftJudge FAQ #4653, you can only score each battlefield once per turn, regardless of how many times you lose and regain control of it.

Summary of the sequence:

1. Hostile Takeover resolves: You take control of the opponent's unit.
2. Noncombat Showdown begins: Because you now control the only unit at the battlefield, you establish control.
3. Conquer: Since you established control and haven't scored this battlefield yet this turn, you gain 1 point.
4. Loss of Control: If your opponent later takes the battlefield back, you keep your point, but you cannot score that battlefield again until your next turn.