Sacrifice
Unofficial Riftbound rulings for Sacrifice, with rules explanations, examples, and Core Rules citations.
If Sacrifice is countered, is the killed unit returned?
No. Killing a friendly Mighty unit is an additional cost paid while playing Sacrifice. Countering the spell later does not refund that cost, so the killed unit is not returned.
Can Mordekaiser, Twice Slain survive being chosen for Sacrifice's additional cost?
Yes, if Mordekaiser, Twice Slain is Mighty, his once-per-turn replacement effect is available, and you kill another friendly unit for its cost. Mordekaiser is healed, exhausted, and recalled, while Sacrifice's additional cost remains paid.
Sacrifice's additional cost attempts to kill Mordekaiser while the spell is being finalized. Mordekaiser's effect replaces his death, so Sacrifice's kill action does not occur. The kill action being replaced does not undo its payment as a cost, so Sacrifice can finish finalizing. Killing the other friendly unit pays the cost of Mordekaiser's replacement effect, which then heals, exhausts, and recalls him.
Can my opponent play a reaction after I choose the Mighty unit for Sacrifice's additional cost but before I kill it?
No. Your opponent has no normal reaction window after you choose the Mighty unit but before you kill it. Costs are paid during step 4 of finalization, and finalization does not pass priority. During that step, as Sacrifice's controller, you may activate an eligible Add ability with Reaction when resources are required, even without priority. This limited exception does not create a normal reaction window or permit your opponent to play a spell like Stupefy between choosing and killing the unit.
Does the Deathknell of the unit killed as the cost resolve before Sacrifice draws and channels?
Yes. The unit is killed while Sacrifice's additional cost is being paid. Its Deathknell is therefore added above Sacrifice as a pending ability. The Deathknell resolves before Sacrifice draws and channels.
Steps
Sacrifice moves to the chain as a pending spell. Its controller then pays the additional cost by killing a friendly Mighty unit.
That unit's Deathknell is added above Sacrifice as a pending ability before the unit moves to the trash.
Sacrifice finishes finalizing. The pending Deathknell then finalizes.
The Deathknell resolves before Sacrifice. Sacrifice then resolves, drawing 2 and channeling 1 rune exhausted.
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Written by Christian “Near” Ivicevic.
Last updated on .