Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 132 of 158 · 7,873 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Opponent has one unit on the battlefield. I attack with one unit. Then he casts in reaction Shen Kinkou. Can I cast my Kha'Zix Mutating Horror in response to his Shen, and does Kha'Zix get the +2 Might?
**Yes, you can cast Kha'Zix in response to Shen. But Kha'Zix does NOT get the +2 Might.** Here's why: Shen was played *first* (added to the chain by your opponent as a Reaction), then you responded with Kha'Zix. During the Finalize step (Rule 337.1.b), pending items are finalized in the order they were appended to the chain. So Shen is...
What happens when you play Temporal Breach on a unit that is located on Rockfall Path?
**The unit is banished permanently and does not return.** Temporal Breach's resolution has two steps: "Banish a unit" (executes — the unit goes to Banishment) followed by "its owner plays it to the same location." Since the *same location* is Rockfall Path, and Rockfall Path's passive ability says "Units can't be played here," the play-back instruction cannot be followed and...
When you play Shuriken Flip and target an enemy unit at a battlefield, must you move your friendly unit to that same battlefield?
Ruling: No. You can move your friendly unit to any valid location, including your Base or a different battlefield. The card does not restrict the destination of the move.
Blighted Battleaxe, if I don't conquer the gear dies right?
**No — the gear doesn't die. It unattaches and deals 4 damage to the unit, then gets Recalled back to your base.**
Does Sandswept Tomb work with Moonfall?
No, **Sandswept Tomb does not discount Moonfall.** Sandswept Tomb reduces spells that **"choose one or more units here that are friendly to it."** Moonfall chooses a **battlefield**, not units. Its optional move instruction can choose an enemy unit elsewhere to move — but that unit is an enemy, not friendly, and it isn't "here" at Sandswept Tomb at the time...
Does Sandswept Tomb work with Void Assault?
**Yes, but only if the friendly unit you target with Void Assault is at Sandswept Tomb when you cast it.**
Ride the Wind, you have to move the unit right, you can't just ready and not move?
**No, you can't just ready it without moving.** Ride the Wind says "Move a friendly unit **and** ready it" — both actions are part of the spell's instructions.
Do you have to pay the extra power for ambush units in the new Mystic Vortex battlefield during showdowns?
**Yes.** When you play an Ambush unit to a battlefield where you control units during a showdown at Mystic Vortex, you must pay the extra [A] (1 Power).
What happens if you try to draw a card but you can't?
**You Burn Out.** If your Main Deck is empty or has fewer cards than you need to draw, here's what happens (Rules 413.4, 431):
If I have a Emperors Divide that was hidden at my bf with my Jhin and he survived turn, next turn I go and attack the other bf with Akali. Can I play my hidden Divide to get the Akali back to base since it's my turn?
**No.** Your hidden Emperor's Divide can only move units at the battlefield where it was hidden — the one with Jhin — not Akali at a different battlefield.
If I move Shadow Order Disciple, can I burn 5 to add +5 might?
**No.** You can only pay **Burn 1** once per trigger — one move, one Burn, one +1 Might. Shadow Order Disciple's ability is a triggered ability with a cost within instructions (Rule 742.1.b): *"When I move, you may [Burn 1] to give me +1 [S] this turn."* When the trigger resolves, you choose whether to pay the single Burn 1...
Does Renekton Legend ability work on Accelerate ability?
Yes, Renekton's legend ability can be used to pay the Energy portion of the Accelerate cost. **Renekton, Butcher of the Sands** adds `[2]` Energy to your rune pool with the restriction "Spend this Energy only to play units or activated abilities of units." Accelerate (Rule 805.1.a) is an optional additional cost of `[1] Energy and 1 Power` that you pay...
Can you reveal Zhonya's from hidden at a battlefield in reaction to combat resolving (both players pass) or do you need to reveal it and pass action before combat can happen?
**No — you cannot wait until both players pass during the Showdown to reveal a hidden Zhonya's in reaction to combat damage.**
If I move my Irelia from one battlefield to another (after holding), and then start a showdown with another unit there, and the enemy uses Thrill of the Hunt to materialize his unit to other battlefield. We both conquer, and then I move my Irelia back to the other bf, does another showdown start and can I score another point?
Yes, a showdown starts when you move Irelia back to BF A — but no, you cannot score another point there.
If Jhin plays Curtain Call, and it's denied, can Jhin, Meticulous Killer still be played by cycling a blue rune?
Yes, you can. Jhin, Meticulous Killer checks whether you spent **4 or more energy** to play a spell this turn, not whether that spell actually resolved. Curtain Call has a base cost of 4 energy — once you pay it and the spell becomes a Finalized Chain Item, the condition is locked in. Defy countering Curtain Call doesn't un-spend that...
It's my second turn: my opponent controls a battlefield with an Otterpus; I attack, kill the Otterpus, conquer the battlefield. Do I draw or score?
**You score 1 point.** Otterpus's ability does not apply here because it's already dead before the conquer happens. Here's why: During combat, damage is dealt in Step 2, then the Combat Cleanup in Step 3 kills all units with lethal damage (Rule 323.5 / 3b) — that's where Otterpus, a 2-Might unit that took 2 damage, goes to the trash.
When I play Gust on an enemy Unit and the enemy buffs the unit above 3 Might, does Gust still count as Played and trigger the Ravenbloom Student?
Yes. **Gust still counts as played and will trigger Ravenbloom Student.** Here's the sequence:
Why do some spells need to choose their targets on play and others on resolution? Can you give me examples?
Great question — the short version is: **targets are always chosen when the effect goes on the Chain**, never on resolution. What *looks* like "targeting on resolution" is actually a **reflexive trigger** ("Do this:") creating a *separate* Chain item after the first part resolves.
When I conquer Sigil of the Storm with Ivern Legend, can I replace it with a Brush when I conquer and don't need to recycle?
**No, you cannot skip the recycle.** You can choose to replace Sigil of the Storm with a Brush token — Green Father's ability says "you **may** exhaust me," so it's optional. But that does not cancel Sigil's trigger. Here's why:
Can Acceptable Losses be played if both players do not have a Gear?
**Yes, you can.** Acceptable Losses does not require targets — it instructs each player to kill one of their gear at resolution. If no player controls any gear when it resolves, each player's instruction simply cannot be performed and is ignored (Rule 359.3.e.6). The card resolves, and nothing happens.
If my Empowered Nasus, Ascended equip Song, how many points will he have when Conquer?
**3 points.** Here's the breakdown:
If a unit is killed in combat, since Endless Riches says to banish the unit, does that count as me banishing the unit for Zed Legend?
**Yes, it counts as you banishing the card.** When Endless Riches' replacement effect turns a death into a banishment, **you** (the controller of Endless Riches) are the one performing the banish. Rule 374 states that a replacement effect's controller is the player who controls its source. Endless Riches says "banish it instead" — that banish action originates from your permanent,...
Winning the game on Minefield with no cards in decks. If we are both at 7 points, I have no cards in deck and conquer for the win on Minefield, what happens? Do I win before Minefield triggers and gives 8th point to opponent?
Let me clarify the scenario you're describing. I'll assume you mean you're at 7, held or conquered the other battlefield earlier this turn (otherwise you can't "conquer for the win" at all).
When can I react with Kharox trigger ability, after burn 3 or before burn 3?
You can react at **both** points — there are two separate reaction windows. **Before Burn 3:** Once Kharox becomes Empowered, his "When I become Empowered" triggered ability goes on the Chain. At this point, players can play Reactions (e.g., remove Kharox or respond to the trigger). Note that killing Kharox in response won't stop the trigger — it's already on...
If I play Kennen from my champion unit zone, will it trigger the ability of Kennen legend ability?
**Yes.** Playing a Kennen champion unit from your Champion Zone triggers **Heart of the Tempest**'s ability. The Legend reads: "**When you play a card from anywhere other than your hand, empower me.**" By default, you can only play cards from your hand **or your Chosen Champion zone** (Rule 419.1.a). The Champion Zone is not your hand, so playing a card...
Does Mel, Newly Awakened's empower work with Ahri Legend?
No. Mel's empowered ability reads, "If a spell or ability you control would give -[S] to a unit **it chooses**, it gives an additional -1[S]." Ahri's legend gives -1 Might to an attacking unit automatically — it never **chooses** a unit. The controller has no selection; the affected unit is programmatically identified by the trigger condition (the unit that attacked).
Does Astral Heron played on the battlefield as the first card already reduce the cost of the next card?
**Yes.** You play Astral Heron as your first card. Once it's finalized on the battlefield, its triggered ability checks — it sees you've played your first card and that Astral Heron is now at a battlefield, so the trigger fires and gives the discount. Your *next* card (the second card you play that turn) costs [2][A][A] less.
Assuming I have applied Researcher Empowered in base, my opponent is holding BF1 with a unit that has deflect. I move in and attempt to stupefy the enemy unit.
**Yes, you can play Stupefy, and your empowered Applied Researchers will offset the Deflect Power cost.** Here's how the costs work out:
When you play me, name a spell. When I attack, choose a unit. Do these cards need to target something before resolving, or only when it is resolving, because my opponent can react to that trigger on the chain, and that can change a lot of things?
Short answer: **they differ.** "Choose a unit" (targeting) is locked in when the trigger goes on the Chain. "Name a spell" is not targeting and is decided on resolution.
Does Patched Porobot trigger both Swain the Visionary?
**Yes.** Playing Patched Porobot counts as playing both a non-token unit and a non-token gear for Swain, Visionary's conquer condition.
I have 7 runes, I play Nasus. Can I play Thousand Tailed Watcher for 7, proc Nasus legend and pay accelerate with the 2 runes readied?
**No — you can't use Nasus's ready to pay Accelerate for the same Thousand-Tailed Watcher.** Here's why in two sentences. Accelerate is an additional cost you choose to pay during **step 4 (Pay costs)** of playing the card (Rule 357; FAQ #9414). Nasus's triggered ability fires **when the card is fully played** (Rule 419.4.a — "when the act of playing...
When do I win a combat? Do I have to kill a unit, or can I also move an enemy unit away during the showdown?
**Yes, you can win combat by moving enemy units away during the Showdown — you don't have to kill them.**
My opponent plays Promising Future. I reveal Brynhir and he reveals Dazzling Aurora. I play Brynhir first as mentioned in Promising Future. Does the Aurora get played?
**Yes, Dazzling Aurora is played normally and enters the battlefield.** Here's why: When Promising Future resolves, "starting with the next player" (you), each player plays their banished card. You play Brynhir first, then your opponent plays Dazzling Aurora — both go onto the chain as **pending items** before Brynhir's "When you play me" trigger has a chance to do anything.
What is the difference between a unit with Reaction keyword and Ambush keyword?
The core difference is that **Reaction** gives only timing permission, while **Ambush** gives both **location permission** and **conditional timing permission**.
Does Might go to minus? In that case, if I use a combat trick on a unit, how does it go?
**Yes, Might can go to negative.** Rule 143.2.b explicitly allows it — the game tracks the actual negative value for calculation purposes, but treats it as 0 whenever a spell, ability, or combat damage step references it.
My unit "when I attack" triggers, then the priority goes to the owner of the next pending item on the chain, that is me, right?
Not quite — it depends on whether the opponent also has "when I defend" triggers. Here's how the initial combat chain works (Rule 464.2.e):
If I equip Shady Spectacles to a unit with Temporary (such as a Sprite or Reflection token), does it remove the Temporary keyword?
Ruling: It depends on whether the Temporary is printed or granted. Shady Spectacles' copy effect operates in Layer 1 (trait-altering), while granted keywords apply in Layer 2 (ability-granting). The copy effect only affects copyable traits, not granted effects.
If I play Cleave on my unit and conquer a contested battlefield, can I react with Deathgrip to transfer the +3 Might from Cleave's Assault before combat ends?
Ruling: Only if a conquer trigger creates a chain. Deathgrip is Reaction timing and requires a chain to be played. Without a trigger (like Vi Legend Piltover Enforcer's conquer ability), there is no chain between conquering and combat ending, so you cannot play Deathgrip in time.
What happens if I Moonfall a Scuttle Crab?
**The Scuttle Crab's Might becomes -2 (treated as 0 for most purposes), and it survives.** Moonfall doesn't deal damage, so the Crab isn't killed by the reduction alone.
Can you react to Empower? So if Kayle gets empowered, can I react with Starcrossed before she gets Deflect?
**Yes, you can react to the Empower activation with Star-Crossed before Kayle gets Deflect.** Here's the timing: Empower is an activated ability — it goes on the Chain as a Pending Item, creating a Closed State (Rules 377.3, 827). Star-Crossed has **[Reaction]**, so you can play it during that Closed State. The ability hasn't resolved yet, so Kayle is **not...
How does repeat work with Lux legend? For a base 3 cost and a base 5 cost spell?
**Base 3 cost spell:** Lux does **not** trigger. Lux's legend ability checks the **printed cost** (the number in the top-left corner), not what you actually pay. A base 3 spell is below the threshold, and Repeat is an additional cost that doesn't change the printed cost (Rule 206; FAQ #10574).
For Red Rek'Sai, does it work for Shadow Clone tokens, like from Death Mark? Can it accelerate?
**Yes, you can accelerate Shadow Clone tokens from Death Mark with Rek'Sai, Breacher.** When Death Mark resolves and says "Play a 0 [S] Shadow Clone unit token," that token is played from a zone other than your hand, so Rek'Sai grants it Accelerate. You may pay the optional cost — **1 Energy and 1 Shadow Power** — during the Pay...
Can I react with Zhonya after my unit dies so Zhonya doesn't activate?
**No — not if Zhonya's is already in play.** Zhonya's Hourglass is a **mandatory replacement effect**, not an optional trigger (FAQ #5836). It doesn't have a "you may." When a friendly unit would die, Zhonya's **must** kill itself instead and save the unit. You cannot let the unit die to save the Hourglass for later.
Can Sandswept Tomb be used to discount Deflect as an additional cost if a Rampage is played on a unit there?
**Yes**, Sandswept Tomb's [A] discount can reduce the Deflect cost when playing Rampage — assuming the friendly unit you choose with Rampage is at Sandswept Tomb.
If my opponent reacts to Siphoning Strike using a spell like Hidden Blade to kill their own creature in response, does Siphoning Strike still channel 1 rune or would the premature death disrupt the timing?
**No — Siphoning Strike will not channel a rune and will resolve with no effect.** Here's why. When your opponent responds with Hidden Blade and kills the unit, Hidden Blade resolves first. By the time Siphoning Strike resolves, its target is no longer at a battlefield (it's in the trash), making it illegal (Rule 359.3.e.2). The damage instruction is ignored.
If I have a Kharox and a Hidden Tornado Warrior at a battlefield, then reveal Tornado Warrior to empower Kharox, can I play the unit from the trash to the battlefield?
I wasn't able to find a card named **Tornado Warrior** in the database. Could you double-check the exact name of that hidden card? It's possible it has a different name — e.g., **Windsinger**, **Tideturner**, or another card with similar wind/tornado flavor — and knowing the exact card matters for the interaction.
If I use Rebuttal on Stacked Deck, can I look at 3 and draw 1?
**Yes — if you pay the [A] for Rebuttal, you gain control of Stacked Deck and it resolves for you.**
What happens when a temporary unit token like a spirit gets a gear like Shady Spectacles. Will it die or does it get rid of the temporary tag?
It depends on what unit Shady Spectacles copies. The copy effect overwrites the Sprite's printed traits — including its printed **Temporary** keyword — so if you copy a unit *without* printed Temporary, the Sprite loses Temporary and **survives** its next Beginning Phase. If you copy a unit *with* printed Temporary (e.g., another Sprite), it keeps Temporary and will die as...
Is Keeper of the Light in the trash but her condition is fulfilled, does she count as a 3 cost or a 5 cost for the purpose of summoning rules on other cards?
**It counts as a 5-cost (printed cost), not 3.** The card in the database matching your description is **Keeper of Law** — printed cost [5] (plus 1 Power). Her "I cost [2][C] less if…" discount only applies during the play process when she's actually being played; it never changes her cost for other effects.
If Leblanc makes a reflection unit and makes it a copy of a card, then Temporal Break is cast on the copy, what happens to the copy?
The Reflection is banished and **ceases to exist permanently** — it does not come back. The copy is still fundamentally a token (copy effects only copy traits, not token-ness — FAQ #11371), and Rule 186.1 says a token that enters any Non-Board zone besides the Chain ceases to exist immediately. Temporal Breach banishes it first, so by the time "its...