Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 130 of 158 · 7,873 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Can Janna heal back damage from --4 cards?
**Janna can heal back damage that has already been marked on your units**, but there's an important timing catch. Janna's "When you play me" trigger goes on the chain *after* she enters — so if you play her as a Reaction to a spell that's about to deal damage (like Void Seeker dealing 4, or Falling Star dealing 3+3), her...
Does Shady Spectacles copy temporary?
**Yes — Shady Spectacles copies Temporary** if the chosen unit has it as a printed keyword (a copyable trait). Copy effects copy "copyable traits" — a card's printed (or previously copied) traits, including its rules text and keywords (Rule 472.1.b.3, FAQ #11685). Temporary is a keyword, and if it's printed on the chosen unit (e.g. a **Sprite** token, **Spinning Axe**,...
Does the ability of a defender or attacker resolve first?
**Defend triggers resolve first.** Attack triggers are added to the initial combat chain before defend triggers (attacker first, then non-defenders, then defender — Rule 459.2.d.1). Since the chain resolves Last-In, First-Out (LIFO), the defender's triggers are newest on the chain and resolve first, followed by the attacker's triggers.
If I have no cards in hand, do I still draw a card when moving with Traveling Merchant?
**Yes, you still draw 1 card.** Traveling Merchant says "discard 1, then draw 1" — the discard and draw are separate instructions resolving independently. When you have no cards in hand, the discard instruction is simply ignored (you can't discard from an empty hand), and you proceed to draw 1 card as normal.
If Player A has a unit, and then Player B uses Lotus Trap on Player A's unit, Player A reacts by using Ki Barrier. Does Player A determine the order of the replacement effects?
**Yes, Player A determines the order.** Both **Lotus Trap** ("double all damage") and **Ki Barrier** ("prevent the next 7 damage") are replacement effects that apply to the same event — damage being dealt to the unit. Per **Rule 372**, when multiple replacement effects apply to the same event, the **owner of the object being acted on** chooses the order they...
In Vendetta, what does 'played' mean now?
In *Vendetta*, "played" has **three distinct meanings depending on context** (per the 2026-07-17 Patch Notes): 1. **Play as game action** — "Play a unit" or "play a spell" means **put the card on the chain and queue it to be finalized** (Rule 419.1). This is what you do normally on your turn.
Does Empowered Ambessa, Respected and Feared attack trigger go through before my opponent's Winds and Ghosts return it to my hand?
**Yes, Empwered Ambessa's attack trigger resolves before the opponent can return her with Wind and Ghosts.** Here's why: when Ambessa gains the Attacker designation, her "When I attack" trigger goes on the Chain immediately, creating a **Showdown Closed** state (Rule 383.4.e.2, FAQ #8384). While the Chain has items on it, only **Reaction**-speed cards can be played (Rule 354.1). Wind and...
Does Mirror Image copy any Empower a unit has?
No, **Mirror Image** does not copy the empowered status. Per the official rules on copy effects (Patch Notes 2026-03-30), a copy effect only copies a card's **"copyable traits"** — its printed characteristics and rules text. The empowered status is a **granted/appended state** applied by activating the Empower keyword, not a printed trait. As the rules state: *"Nothing appended or granted...
Does Dusk Rose Lab trigger before scoring? And does it go on the chain without paying the cost aka removing a unit? Can you put on chain then decline?
**Yes, Dusk Rose Lab triggers before scoring.** The Beginning Phase has a Beginning Step (where "at the start of Beginning Phase" effects happen) followed by a Scoring Step where Hold occurs (Rule 315.2). The card's own text even notes this: "(This happens before scoring.)"
If I attack with Empowered Akali against a Lonely Poro with Master Yi Wuju Bladesman as Legend, will the 2 damage trigger first or the Legend ability?
The Master Yi passive applies **first** — it's a continuous effect, not a triggered one. Here's the sequence:
I move in with a lonely poro to attack a battlefield controlled by my opponent. I let the combat resolve and my poro dies - can I then react to the Lonely Poro deathknell trigger and Ambush Nidalee down to the battlefield my Lonely Poro was attacking?
**No, you can't play Nidalee there.** Two separate rules block this. First, Nidalee's Ambush says "to a battlefield where you have units" — your Lonely Poro just died, so you have no units at that battlefield anymore. Second, you don't control that battlefield mid-combat (control only transfers after Conquer resolves post-Combat, Rule 464.1.b), and Rule 813.3.a is clear: Reaction units...
I have a 2 might unit. It gets 1 damage done by a spell. Then stupify. Is it dead?
Yes, the unit dies. The unit starts at 2 Might with 1 damage marked on it from the spell. When Stupefy resolves, it reduces the unit's Might to 1 (minimum of 1). During the next cleanup, the game compares marked damage to current Might — since 1 damage ≥ 1 Might, the unit is killed (Rule 143.2.a).
If I try to empower my Steel Paws for 7 energy, and my opponent responds by returning the Steel Paws to my hand, does my Nasus legend still trigger to give me 2 runes back?
Yes — **Nasus still triggers.** The Empower ability was fully activated (cost paid, placed on the Chain) and it **resolved**, even if its effect did nothing because Steel Paws left play.
Does Viktor's legend ability work for Legion?
**No.** Playing a Recruit token from Viktor's legend ability does **not** satisfy the Legion condition. Legion (Rule 812.1.c) requires that **a card** different from the one with Legion has been Finalized this turn. The Recruit token from Viktor's ability is playing a unit, but it is **not** playing a card (FAQ #3881). Tokens aren't cards — they're game objects created...
If I play Shuriken Flip from its flow cost, can it get Defied?
**Yes, Defy can counter Shuriken Flip played from its Flow cost.** Defy checks the **printed cost** of the target spell — the actual numbers on the card, not what you paid. Shuriken Flip's printed cost is 1 Energy and 1 Power, which is within Defy's range (≤4 Energy, ≤1 Power). Playing it via Flow (3 Energy + any Power) doesn't...
If I play Shuriken Flip, targeting an enemy unit to deal 2 damage at a battlefield move my unit into that battlefield as part of the spell's effect, and afterward play an Akali's Legend or a move reaction spell to move my unit out of that battlefield, does the enemy unit heal?
Yes, the enemy unit heals. Once Shuriken Flip resolves and your unit moves into the occupied battlefield, a **Combat Showdown** is initiated. That combat runs through all its steps, including Combat Cleanup (Rule 461.1.a.1), which heals **all units in play** — regardless of whether you move your unit out before Combat Damage happens. Per **FAQ #8342**: "Units heal after combat...
If I'm at 6 points and I conquer a battlefield with a unit whose equipped with Trinity Force and Skyfall of Areion, do I win?
**Yes, you win.** Here's how it plays out:
If I reveal an Undertitan with the Move Trigger from Rift Herold, will I get the 2 Energy?
Yes. If you reveal Undertitan with Rift Herald's move trigger, you get the 2 Energy. Here's why: Rift Herald's ability explicitly says "You may **reveal** a unit from among them" — it uses the word "reveal." Undertitan's "As I'm revealed from your deck, [Add] [2]" only triggers when a game effect instructs you to reveal cards from your deck (per...
If I move Akali, Deadly Weapon into a battlefield with Mask of Foresight on board and then ambush in Morgana, Vindictive and then move Akali back out with my Akali legend, does Morgana get the 1 might from Mask of Foresight?
**No, Morgana does not get the +1 Might from Mask of Foresight.** Mask of Foresight's trigger condition ("when a friendly unit attacks or defends alone") is checked **only at the moment that unit gains its attacker/defender designation** — it does not re-check if the board changes later (FAQ #6385, #5554).
If I use the Akali legend ability to move the red Akali champion back and it ends a showdown, would the defending units heal before the move trigger resolves?
**No, the defending units do not heal** before Akali's "When I move" trigger resolves. Here's the sequence:
I have one unit at a battlefield and I'm at 7 points. The opponent conquers the other battlefield and goes to 7 points too. He then comes on the battlefield I control with more might than me. I ride the Wind to the other battlefield and I have more might than him. Who wins?
**Your opponent wins.** Here's the sequence: 1. **Opponent conquers Battlefield B** → scores to 7 points. 2. **Opponent moves into Battlefield A** (where your unit is) → Combat Showdown opens at A. 3. **You play Ride the Wind** to move your unit from A to B. Since you left A with your only unit, your opponent is now the only...
If a unit is dealt damage and then a buff is removed from it, does it die?
**Yes, the unit will die.** Removing a buff reduces the unit's Might by 1 (Rule 703: each buff gives +1 Might). When non-zero damage marked on a unit equals or exceeds its current Might, it is killed (Rule 143.2.a). So if a 3-Might unit with a buff (effectively 4) takes 3 damage and then its buff is removed, its Might...
Does playing a hidden card at a location start a showdown?
**No, playing a hidden card does not start a showdown.** A showdown begins when a battlefield becomes **Contested** and the turn is in a **Neutral Open State** (Rule 344). Playing a hidden card from facedown opens a **Chain**, immediately putting the turn into a **Closed State** — which blocks a showdown from starting. More importantly, you can only hide cards...
If I play Falling Star, do I have to wait for my opponent to give no response, then I can use Stupefy afterwards? Or can I first use Falling Star, then hold priority and use Stupefy immediately?
**You can play Stupefy immediately without waiting for the opponent.** After your Falling Star becomes a Finalized Chain Item, **you** (as the controller of the newest item) gain Priority first (Rules 337.1.c.3, 312.2.c). Since Stupefy has **[Reaction]**, it's legally timed during the Closed State, so you can play it right then before your opponent gets any chance to respond.
Can I play Falling Star, pass priority, then opponent also passes priority, then I use Stupefy on the same chain?
No. Once you pass priority and your opponent also passes, both players have passed consecutively and the chain proceeds to **resolve** the top item (Falling Star). There is no window to insert Stupefy after that — you missed your chance.
If I conquer with Kennen Storm of Shuriken, can I play Drag Under from trash for 3 energy 1 power?
**Yes, you can play it for 3 Energy and 1 Power.** Here's why: Kennen gives Drag Under Flow "equal to its cost." Per Rule 131.4, "its cost" means the **printed cost** of 5 Energy and 1 Power — so the Flow cost is set to 5E/1P.
Player 1 has Ravenbloom Student on Ravenbloom Conservatory, Player 2 enters to that battlefield with empowered Akali, Deadly Weapon, empowered—when she moves she deals 2 damage to Ravenbloom Student, P1 doesn't react. Will Player 1 get defend trigger from the battlefield or not?
No, Player 1 does **not** get the defend trigger from Ravenbloom Conservatory. Here's the sequence: Player 2 moves Empowered Akali to Ravenbloom Conservatory (controlled by Player 1, with Ravenbloom Student there). The move completes and Contested is applied. During the following Cleanup, Akali's "When I move" trigger is finalized and placed on the chain, resolving to deal 2 damage to...
Can I play Rengar trophy hunter on a reaction chain on a battlefield where I do not have units but my opponent does?
**Yes.** Rengar, Trophy Hunter can be played as a Reaction (during a Closed State) to a battlefield that has enemy units, even if you control no units there.
If I am playing Lux legend and I have an applied researcher in the back line making my falling comet cost four instead of five do I still get to draw one off of lux legend?
**Yes, you still draw 1.** Lux's Legend ability checks the **printed cost** of the spell (the number in the top left corner), not the reduced cost you actually pay. Falling Comet has a printed Energy cost of 5, so it meets Lux's threshold regardless of Applied Researcher's discount. Cost reduction effects like Applied Researcher lower what you pay but don't...
If I am playing Jhin Legend and I have an Applied Researcher on the board and I play Consult the Past for three energy instead of four, does my Jhin Legend still proc to banish Consult the Past?
**No, Virtuoso's ability will not let you banish Consult the Past.** Virtuoso checks "if you spent [4] or more" — that's the actual energy you paid, not the spell's printed cost. Applied Researchers reduces Consult the Past from 4 energy to 3 energy (its base cost of 4 minus the [1][A] discount, minimum 1). So you only spent 3 energy,...
Can Heedless Resurrection play the unit sacrificed for it as cost.
**No.** You cannot resurrect the same unit you kill to pay Heedless Resurrection's cost. When you play Heedless Resurrection, targets are chosen in Step 2 of playing the card — you must pick a unit *already in your trash*. The unit you're about to kill is still on the board at that point, so it's not a valid target. You...
If a unit has already 3 damage marked and I play Imperial Decree afterwards does the unit die?
**No, the unit will not die.** Imperial Decree creates a triggered ability that kills a unit **when it takes damage** — it does not check the *state* of being already damaged. The trigger condition is the *event* of receiving damage, not the *condition* of having damage marked. Since the 3 damage was already dealt before Imperial Decree resolved, that damage...
If I have a temporary unit on a battlefield but it would die on my turn, do I still get the hold point first or not?
**No, you do not get the Hold point if you have only a Temporary unit and do nothing in response.**
Rek'Sai has 4 might and I have two 1 might units, but I used Wages of Pain, so does 1 of my units live and Rek'Sai die?
**No, both of your 1‑Might units die, and Rek'Sai dies too.** Here's the combat breakdown after *Wages of Pain* deals 3 damage to Rek'Sai:
If I play Kennen from hidden, can I stun an enemy at a different battlefield?
No. When you play **Kennen, Keeper of Balance** from Hidden, the "When you play me... stun a unit" is a **play effect** (Rule 383.4.a), and Rule 811.1.d.2 restricts play effects of hidden cards to target only units at the same battlefield where the card was hidden. Since "Stun a unit" has no targeting restriction that makes targeting another battlefield necessary,...
Can I always have a chance to use Stupefy without opponent response right after I use Hextech Ray in a Showdown?
No, you cannot always do this without your opponent getting a chance to respond — but it depends on whether you **retain priority**.
Can you play Evelyn from face down hidden on the same turn you play her?
**No.** You cannot play Evelynn from facedown on the same turn you hide her. Hidden cards can only be played from facedown beginning on the next turn (FAQs #3046, #3982, #8114; Rule 811.1.b).
Does Defy counter Shadow Dash played from trash for flow cost?
**Yes, Defy can counter Shadow Dash even when it's played from the trash via Flow.** Defy checks the **printed cost** of the target spell (2 Energy, 1 Power), not what you actually paid. Shadow Dash's printed cost is well within Defy's range (≤4 Energy, ≤1 Power). Paying Flow's alternate cost of 5 Energy and 2 Calm/Order Power doesn't change the...
Can Decree of Strength choose Rebuttal (Mel's Signature Spell)?
**Yes, Decree of Strength can choose Rebuttal.** Decree of Strength says: "Choose an opponent. They reveal their hand and you choose a **Mind** ([C]) card from it." Rebuttal's domains are **Mind** and **Chaos**. A card qualifies as "a Mind card" if it has the Mind domain — it doesn't need to be *only* Mind. Rebuttal is a Mind card and...
My opponent has a unit at a battlefield with a hourglass in base. If I walk in (as attacker) and beat that unit in combat and trigger hourglass, can they replay Rengar Trophy Hunter to the same battlefield to start another combat? If so, are they the attacker or defender in this combat?
**Yes** — they can play Rengar to that battlefield after the first combat ends. And when they do, **they are the Attacker** in the new combat.
If my legend is Draven, and my 4 might unit is stunned, my opponent attacks with a 3 might unit into my 4 might stunned unit at a battlefield I am defending. Does this result in a tie combat or a win combat on my end? Will I draw if their unit is reset back to base after?
**No, you do not draw.** The combat result is "No Result," not a win. Here's the breakdown:
Do I have to pay Power for Weaponmaster?
**Yes, you pay Power when using Weaponmaster — just 1 less than the equipment's Equip cost.** Weaponmaster works by taking the equipment's Equip cost and reducing it by [A] (1 universal Power). So if the gear's Equip cost is 2 Power, you pay 1. If it's 1 Power, you pay 0. If it has no Power cost component... you can't...
What are legal targets for Red Rumble Discard on Conq?
Rumble, Hotheaded's conquer ability doesn't use **discard** — it says **"recycle another friendly unit."** Those are two different game actions. Here's what's a legal target for that recycle choice:
Once Endless Riches is played, will you ever draw a card, or is burn the only way to fill the discard after it is played?
**Yes, you can still draw cards, and yes, Burn is essentially the only way to fill your trash.** Endless Riches only skips your **Draw Phase** (the one-per-turn draw in your Beginning Phase). Other card effects that say "Draw X" still work normally — you just don't get your free draw each turn.
Does a non-combat Showdown heal units?
**No.** Units do not heal after a non-combat showdown. Healing only occurs at two specific times: during Combat Cleanup (after a **combat** showdown — one where units controlled by different players are present) and at the end of each player's turn (FAQ #9016, #9726, #11213). A non-combat showdown — when a battlefield is contested but only one player has units...
My unit is in a battlefield and has damage marked on it. If I start a non-combat showdown in the other battlefield will my unit with damage heal?
**No, your damaged unit will not heal.** Healing only happens at two specific times: during a **Combat Cleanup** (which occurs as part of a combat's Resolution Step) and at the end of each turn (Rule 143.3.b, 461.1). A non-combat showdown — moving to an empty/uncontrolled battlefield — does not go through the Steps of Combat, so there is no Combat...
If I move a unit into a battlefield I control, does it start a showdown and give a window for me to play when in showdown effects or for my opponent to play action or reaction speed cards?
**No.** Moving a unit to a battlefield you already control does **not** start a showdown and does **not** open a window for either player to play action/reaction cards (FAQ #8066, FAQ #5090).
If Embessa goes to the battlefield, does her when I attack trigger resolve before the "shield" effect from my units? Can I play a reaction speed card to increase the might of my unit to prevent it from dying?
**Yes to both — but the details matter.** **1. Ambessa's attack trigger does NOT resolve before Shield's passive bonus.** Shield is a static/passive ability — "While I am a defender, I have +X [M]" (Rule 814.1.c). It's active the moment your unit gains the Defender designation, which happens before any triggers resolve. The defending unit already has its Shield Might...
When do defender and attacker get designated? When combat starts or when showdown starts?
**Attacker and Defender designations are assigned when Combat opens — specifically as the first task of the Combat Showdown Step (Rule 459.2.b).** They are **not** assigned when a general (non-combat) Showdown begins.
If my Hwei is attacking but is stunned at a battlefield and the defender has lower might, when moving back to base does my Hwei's move effect trigger?
**No, Hwei's ability will not trigger.** Returning to your base after combat is a **Recall**, not a **Move** (Rules 450–451). Recalls are explicitly not Moves and do not trigger abilities that trigger on Move actions (Rule 451.1). This applies regardless of whether Hwei is stunned or the defender has lower Might — as long as defenders remain at the battlefield...