Playing Cards
Unofficial Riftbound rules answers about playing cards, with examples and Core Rules citations.
What does "play" mean on a card?
"Play" has three meanings in rules text: starting the play process, a non-triggered check counts a card when it finalizes, and a trigger condition counts it only when it resolves.
- Starting play — "play a card." A play starts by moving the card to the chain as a pending item. If a game effect gives the instruction during resolution, as on Here to Help or Fizz, Trickster, the card follows every normal play step unless the effect says otherwise. Hiding is a separate action, so it does not satisfy an instruction to play a card.
- Non-triggered check — "if you've played." This checks whether the card finalized, not whether it resolved. A finalized spell still counts if it is later countered. This is the meaning used by Battering Ram, Crescent Guardian, Back Off, and Legion.
- Trigger condition — "when you play." This waits for the card's resolution to complete. Units and gear resolve immediately after finalizing, but a spell resolves only after players receive priority and all pass without adding another item. A countered card does not fulfill this trigger condition because it does not resolve. This is the meaning used by Ravenbloom Student and Darius, Trifarian.
What is the process for playing a card?
Playing a card moves through six play steps, then resolves according to its card category.
Move the card to the chain. It leaves its current zone and becomes a pending item waiting to be finalized.
Make the relevant choices. For a unit, choose the valid location where it will enter. Also make any applicable mode, move destination, target, and optional-additional-cost choices.
Determine the card's total cost.
Pay that cost.
Check legality. Check the card's targets, costs, resulting game state, and timing permission. If a check fails, undo the actions taken during the play process and cancel the play.
Finish finalizing the card.
After finalization, resolution depends on the card category. A unit enters the board exhausted at its chosen location, while non-unit gear enters the board ready at its controller's base. Both resolve immediately without passing priority. A spell instead becomes a finalized chain item. It resolves only after no pending items remain and all players pass priority in sequence without adding another item.
When does a card leave my trash when I play it from there?
It leaves your trash as soon as you begin playing it, although a failed legality check undoes that move and cancels the play. The first step of playing a card moves it from its current zone to the chain, where it waits to be finalized. If a legality check fails, the actions taken during the play process are undone.
While the play continues, the card is no longer in your trash when you make choices, determine its total cost, pay its costs, or finalize it. It also remains outside your trash while it resolves. For example, Shadow Assassin does not count itself for its "card with my name in your trash" condition; only another copy still in the trash counts. Likewise, Rhasa the Sunderer does not include itself among the cards in your trash when determining its cost reduction.
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Written by Christian “Near” Ivicevic.
Last updated on .