Chain and Priority
Commonly asked questions about the Chain, Priority, and Focus in Riftbound
Can I react to units being played?
No.
Unlike spells, units resolve the moment they are finalized and do not open a window of opportunity for reactions — they enter the board immediately without priority being passed to other players (CR 337.1.c, CR 359.2).
If the unit has a play effect ("When you play me…"), or if another permanent's triggered ability fires as it enters the board, those triggered abilities are placed on the chain as pending items after the unit has already entered (CR 383.4.a.2, CR 383.3). Once those pending items are finalized with no further items pending, priority passes and players may react (CR 337.1.c.3) — but by that point, the unit is already in play.
Can I play a reaction after one, but not all, items on the chain have resolved?
Yes, once you have gained priority. The chain does not have to resolve in its entirety prior to (re)gaining priority, unlike in some other TCGs.
Any time the most recent item on the chain resolves and there are no pending items, the controller of the newest item on the chain gains priority (CR 337.1.c.3, CR 340.4).
Example
You put Singularity on the chain targeting an opponent's unit. Your opponent reacts by putting their Wind Wall on the chain, attempting to counter the Singularity. In response, you play Stupefy, in the hopes of drawing into a counterspell of your own. Once Stupefy resolves and you draw a card, priority is back to your opponent as the most recent item is their Wind Wall. After they pass priority, you can react once again and play your own counterspell, assuming you drew it off of the Stupefy.
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