If you attack an empty battlefield, are you considered an attacker? Can you still use Cleave (which grants Assault) in this situation?

Ruling: If you move a unit to an unoccupied battlefield, a showdown (not a combat) begins and you are not considered an attacker. You can still play Cleave to target a unit since it only requires "a unit" as a target, but the unit won't get the +3 Might from Assault because they are not an attacker.

Sequence:

• Moving to an empty battlefield triggers a showdown, not a combat
• Your unit is not an attacker in a showdown
• Cleave can still be played on any unit (legal target)
• The unit gains Assault until end of turn
• If that unit later becomes an attacker in combat during the same turn, they will get the +3 Might from Assault

Nuances:

• If you move to an occupied battlefield and the opponent flashes their units away mid-combat, you still complete the full combat process and your units remain attackers with the Assault bonus until end of combat
• Cleave does not help you play around Gust when moving to an empty battlefield because you won't be an attacker and won't get the +3 Might