Riftbound FAQ

Arcane Shift

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Up-to-date: This page has been reviewed against the current core rules document (version 1.4).

Can I use Arcane Shift to banish my only unit at a battlefield and replay it there?

Yes, as long as you control the battlefield.

When Arcane Shift resolves, the replayed unit sits on the chain as a pending item throughout the cleanup that follows. Because a chain exists, the turn is in a closed state,[309.1] and cleanup step 4 — which would make the battlefield uncontrolled — only applies during an open state.[323.6] The battlefield stays controlled, and when the pending unit is finalized you can choose to replay it there. Attackers cannot replay their unit to the attacking battlefield because they never control it in the first place.

Resolution Sequence

When Arcane Shift resolves, the following happens:

  1. "Banish a friendly unit" — the unit leaves the board.
  2. "then its owner plays it, ignoring its cost" — the unit is added to the chain as a pending item,[354.2] but its play process pauses while Arcane Shift continues resolving.[354.3]
  3. "Deal 3 to an enemy unit" and "Banish this" both resolve.
  4. Arcane Shift finishes resolving, queuing one or more cleanups as outstanding tasks.[321.1]
  5. The cleanups run. The pending unit keeps the chain alive, so the turn remains in a closed state[309.1] and cleanup step 4 does not apply.[323.6]
  6. Once all outstanding tasks are complete, the pending unit is finalized.[334.2] You choose where to play it,[355.2] and the battlefield is still under your control.

Related rulings

Outside a showdown, do I lose control of a battlefield as soon as my last unit leaves it?

Canonical ruling on Chain and Priority

How was this page?

Written by Christian I. (Near).

Last updated on .

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Can I use Arcane Shift to banish my only unit at a battlefield and replay it there?Resolution Sequence