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Riftbound FAQ

Targeting

Commonly asked questions about targeting and what constitutes a target in Riftbound

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

What makes something a target?

Unless one of the exceptions below applies, a game object, player, or zone mentioned by a spell or ability is a target.[355.7][355.10] All targets are declared during finalization.[355.8]

Card text does not need to use the word "target" or "choose" explicitly — targeting can be implied, as in "Kill a unit" or "Move a friendly unit." Abilities that reference "when you choose" a game object, such as Irelia, Fervent's "When you choose or ready me, give me +1 Might this turn," are specifically triggered when being targeted.[383.4.b.3]

When in doubt, assume it is a target — the list below covers the only situations where it is not:

  • It is in a non-public zone (hand, main deck, etc.)[355.10.a] e.g., "You may play a unit from your hand" does not target a unit — it merely lets you play one.
  • It is only a location requirement for another target.[355.10.b] Words like "at a battlefield" narrow down which objects are valid targets; the battlefield itself is not a target — unless the effect lets you choose which of several battlefields to affect, as in "Kill all units at a battlefield."
  • It is part of a trigger condition, cost, or replacement effect.[355.10.c][355.10.c.1] Objects referenced in "when X happens" conditions, payment costs (see also When do I pay a cost in a triggered ability that says "you may"?), or "instead" effects are not targets. e.g., the dying unit in "When a friendly unit dies, kill a gear" is not a target — only the gear is.
  • There is no real choice involved.[355.10.d] If an effect applies to every object meeting a description rather than a specific one you pick, nothing is targeted. e.g., "Kill all units at battlefields" targets nothing because you are not choosing among individual units. This applies only when a choice is never possible — not when an object merely happens to be the only valid choice right now: "Kill a unit at a battlefield" still targets a unit even if only one unit is there.[355.10.d.1][355.10.d.2]
  • It is part of a set chosen wholly or partly by other players.[355.10.e] Objects chosen this way are not targets, even if the spell or ability's controller also chooses part of the set. e.g., "Each player kills a unit they control" targets nothing — each player chooses their unit as the effect resolves.
  • The instruction uses "must".[355.10.f] This signals the choice is made on resolution rather than upfront. e.g., "You must recycle one of your runes" does not target, whereas "Recycle a rune you control" does.

Does "Kill a unit if it has 3 might or less" mean I can only choose a unit with 3 might or less?

No. Only words that describe the target restrict which objects can be chosen.

For example, "Kill a unit with 3 might or less" can target only a unit meeting that description.[355.9.b]

A separate condition on an effect does not restrict its targets. "Kill a unit if it has 3 might or less" can target any otherwise legal unit; the might condition is checked when that instruction resolves.

What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?

The illegal target is unaffected, but the spell or ability still resolves. Instructions related to that target cannot be followed, while independent instructions continue normally.[359.3.e.5][359.3.e.6]

If an instruction needs information from the illegal target, that information is null and calculations using it are ignored.[359.3.e.12] If a later instruction is linked to an earlier instruction that was ignored, the later instruction is also ignored.[359.3.e.14.a]

Related rulings

Lacerate

Relevant to: Does "Kill a unit if it has 3 might or less" mean I can only choose a unit with 3 might or less?

Alpha Strike

Relevant to: What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?

Baited Hook

Relevant to: What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?

Hidden Blade

Relevant to: What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?

Lilting Lullaby

Relevant to: What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?

Baited Hook

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Bone Skewer

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Emperor's Dais

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Equipment

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Irelia, Fervent

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Sacrifice

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

Vex, Apathetic

Relevant to: What makes something a target?

How was this page?

Written by Christian I. (Near).

Last updated on .

On this page

What makes something a target?Does "Kill a unit if it has 3 might or less" mean I can only choose a unit with 3 might or less?What happens if a target becomes illegal before a spell or ability resolves?