Browse Riftbound Rules Questions
Page 148 of 158 · 7,873 verified questions. Each links to the full ruling.
Can an Action Spell be played during a showdown on defense after the attacker's spell has resolved?
Ruling: Yes, after an attacker's spell has resolved during a showdown, you can play an Action Spell. You can only respond to an action with a Reaction before it resolves, but once their action resolves, you return to Showdown Open state and can play your own Action.
Can Udyr move from base to battlefield, be readied with a buff, gain another buff, spend it for ganking, and move a second time in the same turn?
Ruling: Yes, Udyr can move twice in the same turn if he is readied between moves and meets the conditions for the second move (such as gaining ganking).
Can you play a unit with Last Rite if you conquer during the opponent's turn?
Ruling: Yes, you can play a unit with Last Rite when you conquer during the opponent's turn, ignoring normal timing restrictions.
When does Vision trigger on a unit that gains it from Gemcraft Seer, specifically when revealing a hidden unit?
Ruling: Vision triggers immediately when the unit is played (resolves). The unit is on the battlefield when it resolves and can "see" any play effects it has, including those granted by passive effects like Gemcraft Seer.
After using Showstopper to move one unit to attack a battlefield, can you move additional units to that battlefield before resolving the showdown?
Ruling: No, the showdown must be resolved first before you can move additional units to that battlefield. Nuances: - You can move in other units with an ability during the showdown itself.
What game actions in Riftbound can't be responded to?
Ruling: It's easier to think of what CAN be responded to: anything that makes a chain (abilities, units with triggers, and gears). The exceptions are add abilities, units themselves, and gears - these three cannot be responded to even though they use the chain.
When you hide a card like Flight or Fight using the Hide action, can it be played at action speed, reaction speed, or only reaction speed?
Ruling: Cards hidden with the Hide action gain reaction timing, which gives you permission to play them at reaction speed in addition to whatever other timing permissions they already have.
Does activating Zhonya's force a player to save a unit that gets assigned damage first with Tank, or can they choose which unit to save when multiple units die simultaneously?
Ruling: Although Tank requires assigning lethal damage to that unit first, all damage is dealt simultaneously, so all units die at the same time. Zhonya's controller can choose which unit to save.
When Heimerdinger copies tap abilities from friendly legends, units, and gear, does he copy all abilities simultaneously, and when activated, does he use only one ability or all of them at once?
Ruling: Heimerdinger copies ALL tap abilities from ALL friendly legends, units, and gear simultaneously. When you activate one of those copied abilities, you only activate that ONE specific ability, not all abilities at once.
If my opponent uses Hextech Ray to kill my only defending unit during a showdown, can I still play action spells (like Hextech Ray) to kill their unit before they can conquer?
Ruling: Yes, you can still play action spells even after your only unit is killed during a showdown. The showdown does not end until both players pass while the state is open, so you can retaliate with spells to kill their unit and prevent conquest.
When playing Thousand Tailed Watcher, do you have to pay deflect costs, can its effect be counterspelled, or do you need to exhaust a card to use its ability?
Ruling: Thousand Tailed Watcher's ability does not require paying deflect costs because it does not target. It cannot be countered by "counter a spell" effects because it is a unit ability, not a spell card. You do not need to exhaust it when you play it since it is an "on play" ability (unless you haven't paid accelerate or units...
In a showdown where the attacker kills some but not all defending units (one defender was stunned and couldn't deal damage back), does the attacker conquer the battlefield or do they recall?
Ruling: The attacker recalls back to base. As long as any defending units remain at the battlefield after damage cleanup, the attacker does not conquer and must recall.
Are the targets of spells that resolved earlier in the turn public knowledge that opponents must reveal if asked?
Ruling: Targets of spells that have resolved earlier in the turn are not public knowledge. Opponents are not required to tell you what a spell targeted after it has resolved.
Does Lux trigger based on a spell's printed cost or its reduced cost when cost reduction effects are applied?
Ruling: Lux triggers based on the printed cost of a spell, not its reduced cost. Cost reductions do not affect whether Lux triggers.
When Smoke Screen reduces an attacking Jinx's Might to 2, and then Jinx is returned to base and readied, what is her Might? How does Smoke Screen interact with Assault/Shield?
Ruling: Jinx will be at 0 Might in base after Smoke Screen is applied. Smoke Screen snapshots the reduction amount when it resolves (seeing 6 Might from base 4 + Assault 2, reducing to 2), then applies that -4 Might reduction for the entire turn. When Jinx loses attacker status and the Assault bonus, she becomes 0 Might (4 base...
When reacting to a card with a hidden card on the battlefield, do you automatically pass priority to your opponent or can you retain priority and play multiple reactions?
Ruling: You retain priority and can play any number of reactions you wish before passing priority back to your opponent.
If I control a battlefield at the start of my opponent's turn, they move in and remove my unit, and I move a new unit into that battlefield during the same showdown with Ride the Wind and win, do I score?
Ruling: No, you do not score. If you maintain control of the battlefield throughout the showdown (even if your unit is removed and replaced during that same showdown), you will not score when you win.
If I play Hidden Blade and my opponent retreats the target unit, leaving only my own unit at another battlefield as a valid target, do I have to choose my unit or does the card have no valid targets?
Ruling: When you play Hidden Blade, you must select the target immediately. If the target is moved from the battlefield after being chosen (such as by Retreat), you cannot switch targets. Hidden Blade resolves to no effect, and the opponent does not draw a card.
Can a player play a hidden card when their opponent wants to pass turn?
Ruling: No, you cannot play a hidden card when your opponent passes turn. Passing turn does not open a window to play reactions.
Can you use Ride the Wind to move a unit from one battlefield directly to another battlefield in Riftbound?
Ruling: Yes, you can use Ride the Wind (or any spell/ability that moves units) to move directly from one battlefield to another battlefield.
When Miss Fortune Captain moves to an occupied battlefield for the first time, can you immediately move the unit she readies to that same battlefield during the resulting showdown?
Ruling: No, you cannot move the unit readied by Miss Fortune's ability to the battlefield during the showdown triggered by her movement. The unit readied by Miss Fortune can only be moved after the showdown resolves, during a standard move action outside of the showdown.
Can an opponent respond to playing Thundersong with reactions?
Ruling: Yes, opponents can respond to Thundersong with reactions. While units themselves cannot be responded to, the 'when you play me' trigger can be responded to.
When 3c Ahri gives -2 to a target, does she choose a unit and pay deflect cost?
Ruling: Yes, Ahri chooses a unit and must pay the deflect cost if the target has deflect. You may choose not to pay the deflect cost, but if you don't pay it, the targeted unit will not get -2 from the ability.
In Showdown, when both players deal damage, who decides which units die?
Ruling: Each player assigns their total might as damage to their opponent's units in whatever manner they choose. The attacker assigns first, then the defender assigns, then all damage is dealt simultaneously.
When a buffed unit takes damage but survives, does the buff remain after healing or is it removed?
Ruling: Buffs stay on a unit until you spend them or the unit leaves the board. Only damage is cleared during healing, not buffs.
If Pouty Poro has Sacred Shears equipped, with both Baited Hook and Altar of Memories on board, when activating Hook targeting the Poro, can you respond to the Deathknell trigger with Altar of Memories since it creates a chain?
Ruling: No, you cannot get Altar of Memories to resolve before Baited Hook. Baited Hook must fully resolve (including killing the unit) before any triggered abilities can be added to the chain.
How does Time Warp work during extra turns after time is called?
Ruling: When time is called, turns proceed as normal for exactly 5 more turns total, regardless of who takes them. Time Warp takes an extra turn but counts toward the 5-turn limit.
Can I play Cull of the Weak while I control no units and my opponent controls 1 unit?
Ruling: Yes, you can play Cull of the Weak even if you control no units while your opponent controls units.
In 2v2, if you play Charm and move an opponent's unit into a battlefield controlled by the other opponent (their teammate), does this start a showdown between them?
Ruling: No, you cannot play Charm to move an opponent's unit to a battlefield where their teammate has units. The FAQ clarifies that you can never have units at the same battlefield as a teammate, so this play would not be legal.
Can you use different numbers of sleeves (double-sleeving vs single-sleeving) for different deck sections in Riftbound?
Ruling: Yes, you can use different sleeve configurations for different deck sections (e.g., double-sleeve champion unit and deck while single-sleeving battlefields and legend).
Can Yasuo Unforgiven's ability be used in showdowns or only on your turn?
Ruling: Yasuo Unforgiven's ability can only be used on your turn, not in showdowns, because it lacks the action or reaction tag.
When using Charm to move an enemy unit to a battlefield you control, who is the attacker, who gains focus first, does Assault trigger, and who gains a conquest point if the charmed unit wins?
Ruling: When you use Charm to move an enemy unit to your battlefield, your opponent is the attacker (the player whose unit applied the contested status). The attacker gains focus first and would gain the conquest point if they win the battle.
When a unit with a stat-boosting ability dies at end of combat, does the boosted unit die from damage if the boost removal would reduce its power below the damage it took?
Ruling: The boosted unit will not die. Damage is healed at the same time as the stat boost is removed during end of combat cleanup.
In a 4-player FFA game with 8 points to win, how do you score the final point(s)? Specifically, if at 7 points holding a battlefield, do you win at turn start, or must you conquer 2 battlefields?
Ruling: You can win by either holding a single battlefield at the start of your turn or by scoring all 3 battlefields in the same turn. You can also go from 6 points to 8 points by holding 2 battlefields.
Can a player pass priority, let their opponent play and resolve a spell, then play an action spell afterward before combat damage? Can a player play an action instead of a reaction when they have focus?
Ruling: Yes, both scenarios are valid. When a player has focus, they can play either actions or reactions. After passing focus and letting an opponent's spell resolve, the original player regains focus and can play actions or reactions before combat damage occurs.
Can you play reaction spells in the middle of a chain resolving, or only when reflexive triggers add to the chain?
Ruling: You can play reaction spells in the middle of a chain resolving. Each time an item on the chain resolves, priority passes to the player who controls the next item on the chain, and it must be passed again before the next item resolves.
Can Gust be used on Noxian Drummer in reaction to moving to Trifarian Warcamp, or is the Drummer already considered to be in Warcamp (and at 4 power) when the trigger occurs?
Ruling: The Drummer is already considered to be in Warcamp and at 4 power when the trigger occurs, so Gust cannot be used to target it as a 3-power unit.
Does a showdown on one battlefield clear marked damage on units outside of that showdown (on other battlefields)?
Ruling: Yes, combat heals all units everywhere, not just units involved in the specific showdown. Nuances: - This applies regardless of which battlefield the showdown occurs on - All units are healed, even those not participating in any combat
Does Fiora, Peerless's ability trigger if combat becomes 1v1 after she's already been designated as attacker/defender, or does it have to be 1v1 at the moment of designation? Can the bonus be removed if more units are added later?
Ruling: Fiora's "When I Attack/Defend" ability only triggers if she is in a 1v1 situation at the exact moment she is designated as attacker or defender. Once triggered and resolved, the bonus cannot be removed.
When Yasuo, Remorseful attacks a battlefield defended by Ahri, Nine-Tailed Fox with a 4 might unit, what is the correct order for the initial chain, and can Discipline be played during initial chain formation?
Ruling: Yes, Discipline can be played during initial chain formation. The attacker adds their triggers first, then the defender adds their triggers, and then the defender has priority to react to their own trigger before the attacker can react.
Can you activate Flight or Fight while your units are in Vilemaw's Lair (even though they cannot move)?
Ruling: Yes, you can activate Flight or Fight while your units are in Vilemaw's Lair. Since having units in your base is not an illegal game state, the activation is valid even though the units cannot actually move.
If Kai'sa dies from combat damage during a conquest but another unit survives and conquers the location, does Kai'sa's draw ability still trigger?
Ruling: No, Kai'sa's ability does not trigger if she dies before the location is conquered. Sequence: - Combat damage is dealt - Kai'sa dies from combat damage - Conquest occurs (a couple steps after damage is dealt) - Kai'sa must be present when conquest actually occurs to trigger her ability
If Singularity targets two units and one is Retreated before Singularity resolves, can the Singularity player retarget another unit?
Ruling: No, targets cannot be retargeted once chosen. When Singularity is played onto the chain, its two targets are locked and cannot be changed. If one target is Retreated by the time Singularity resolves, the other target still takes damage but no retargeting occurs.
After Yasuo's attack trigger kills the defending unit during a showdown, does focus pass to the opponent before scoring?
Ruling: Yes, focus passes to your opponent after Yasuo's attack trigger resolves and kills the defending unit, giving them an opportunity to use actions before you score the point.
Can players add reactions to the Initial Chain in between triggered abilities, or does the Initial Chain only contain triggered abilities?
Ruling: The Initial Chain only contains triggered abilities that are added in the specified order (attacker with focus, other players in turn order, then defender). However, once the Initial Chain is fully populated, it functions like any normal chain - the attacking player gets priority and all players can play reactions in turn order before anything resolves.
Does Karma's ability trigger when the owner of Karma plays Sabotage and chooses a card for the opponent to recycle?
Ruling: No, Karma's ability does not trigger when you play Sabotage. The opponent is the one actually recycling the card due to Sabotage's effect, so you do not get the trigger from Karma.
Does Fiora Legend trigger when Sett enters play as a 4 Might unit that becomes Mighty through his buff, and does she trigger again when Sett uses his activated ability (spending the buff to become 4 Might, then gaining +4 Might to become 8 Might)?
Ruling: Yes to both situations. Fiora Legend triggers when Sett enters play as a 4 Might unit before his When You Play Me buff resolves, and she triggers again when Sett uses his activated ability.
When Baited Hook sacrifices a unit with Deathknell and finds Karthus, in what order do effects resolve and does Karthus double the Deathknell trigger?
Ruling: The Deathknell trigger only happens once because Karthus enters the board after the Deathknell trigger has already been created. Karthus needs to be on the board when the trigger happens (not when it resolves) to double it.
Does Darius Trifarian ready himself when he's the second card played in a turn?
Ruling: Yes, Darius Trifarian readies himself when played as the second card in a turn. Sequence: - A card is considered "played" when it fully resolves - Darius enters the board as part of his resolution - Darius is already on the board when his "after you play a second card" ability checks - His ability triggers and readies himself
When can equipment be equipped to a unit, does it enter exhausted, and what happens when the equipped unit dies?
Ruling: Equipment (Gear) enters play readied and can be equipped immediately if you have the resources. When a unit wearing gear dies, the gear stays at the base and can be re-equipped following normal timing restrictions.