Gangplank, Naval
Unofficial Riftbound rulings for Gangplank, Naval, with rules explanations, examples, and Core Rules citations.
If Gangplank, Naval replaces one part of a spell or ability, does the rest still resolve?
Yes, only the qualifying stun, might decrease, or return-to-hand event is replaced; the spell or ability's other instructions continue unless a later linked instruction specifically requires the replaced action to have occurred. A replacement effect only replaces the specific event or instruction that qualifies for it.
Example
You play Star-Crossed, targeting your own Empowered Gangplank as the friendly unit and an opponent's Elder Dragon as the enemy unit.
The return event affecting Elder Dragon would not return Gangplank, so his replacement effect does not apply to it; Elder Dragon is returned to hand normally. Returning Gangplank is the qualifying event: instead of going to hand, he gets +3 might. The rest of Star-Crossed resolves normally; it simply produces a different result for the one return event involving Gangplank.
What happens when Switcheroo would reduce an Empowered Gangplank, Naval's might?
Under the August 2026 Vendetta FAQ, the might reduction is replaced with +3 might, while the modifier applied to the other unit is unchanged. Switcheroo chooses Gangplank when the spell is finalized. When it resolves, Switcheroo determines one difference and creates a separate increase and decrease. If the modifier affecting Gangplank would decrease his might, that event is replaced with +3 might because it comes from a spell that chose him. If it would increase his might, it does not match the events his ability replaces and applies normally. The modifier affecting the other unit is unchanged. Under that ruling, Switcheroo does not recalculate either fixed amount after Gangplank replaces his decrease.
Rules citation needed
Core Rules 1.4 does not yet make this no-recalculation result explicit, and its swap rules need clarification.
Example
An Empowered Gangplank with 6 current might is swapped with a Determined Sentry with 1 current might at the same battlefield via Switcheroo.
The swap action calculates a difference of 5, then creates two modifiers: -5 might for Gangplank and +5 might for Determined Sentry. Gangplank's replacement effect intercedes on his -5 might modifier because decreasing his might is one of the events it replaces, and turns it into +3 might instead. The +5 might modifier applies only to Determined Sentry, so Gangplank's replacement effect does not affect it.
Gangplank ends at 9 might (6 current might + 3 might); Determined Sentry ends at 6 might (1 current might + 5 might).
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Written by Christian “Near” Ivicevic.
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