Control — Riftbound Rules

189.

Control is the concept of a player having influence of a Game Object and applies differently to different card types.

Related FAQ (12)

Can my ally and I share control of battlefields?

No, you and your ally can never have units at the same battlefield. A maximum of two players can have units at a battlefield. Those players must be opponents, and a combat will result.

If I use Hostile Takeover to take control of my opponent's only unit at a battlefield, will there be a showdown? Will it be a combat?

You'll start a noncombat showdown. A gap exists in the current rules, but we believe starting a noncombat showdown is the least disruptive way to handle this scenario.

What happens when I play Moonfall choosing an enemy unit while I control an empowered Mel, Newly Awakened?

The chosen unit is given -3 Might; all other enemy units at the battlefield get -2 Might. Mel's empowered ability is a replacement effect that applies only to the event of a unit your spell or ability chooses being given -Might. Moonfall chooses only one unit, so only that unit's event is replaced.

Can my opponent play Abandon on my spell while I control an empowered Mel, Newly Awakened? What happens?

They can play it, but on resolution they Predict and nothing else happens. Mel says your spells and abilities can't be countered, so Abandon's counter fails; the event of the spell going to the Trash never occurs, so Abandon's replacement (return it to hand) has nothing to replace. The replacement only functions during Abandon's resolution, so when the spell resolves later it goes to the Trash as normal.

If I gain control of my opponent's Stupefy with Rebuttal, does Ravenbloom Student trigger? What do Battering Ram and Legion see?

Ravenbloom Student triggers (twice, counting your Rebuttal) because it checks whether a spell you control resolves — and the stolen Stupefy resolved under your control. Battering Ram and Legion instead check who finalized cards: you never finalized Stupefy, so your Battering Ram only gets a discount for the cards you finalized yourself, and your opponent's Legion abilities remain active.

I used Hostile Takeover to control an enemy unit and moved it to base. What happens if I play Temporal Breach choosing it?

The unit stays in Banishment. Units can't be played to a base of a player other than their own controller under any circumstances. The owner is instructed to play the unit to a base that isn't theirs, so finalization's legality check fails, the play is undone, and the unit returns to Banishment.

If I play Mobilize while I control Seraphic Wyvern and I only have one rune left in my Rune Deck, do I still draw a card?

No. Mobilize's "If you can't" refers only to the original channel action and the rune it was performed on. Seraphic Wyvern adds another rune to that channel, but the action Mobilize references was still performed, so you don't draw. The same goes for Catalyst of Aeons with Seraphic Wyvern on the board and only two runes left in your Rune Deck: you channeled 2 runes, so you don't draw 1, even though Seraphic Wyvern's extra rune couldn't be channeled (rule 359.3.e.14.c).

If I control Hunters' Circle and play Baron Nashor without a Baron Pit on the board, does he cost [1] less?

Yes, so you can play him for [9] and 3 Power. Hunters' Circle reduces the cost of the first unit or gear each player plays there on their turn. Baron Nashor entering at the Baron Pit is a replacement effect that applies as he resolves and enters the board. Hunters' Circle's reduction applies earlier, during finalization, when you choose the play location (step 2) and determine the total cost (step 3). By the time Baron Nashor's replacement effect applies, his cost has already been determined and paid (rule 355.2).

If I control a battlefield and my legend is Riven, The Exile, can I play Baron Nashor without a Baron Pit on the board and have him enter ready?

Yes. Riven, The Exile applies a replacement effect to units you play to a battlefield you control, which you pick as the play location in step 2 of finalization: they enter ready. When Baron Nashor enters in this case, two replacement effects apply to the event: entering ready, and entering at the Baron Pit. In either order, he enters ready at the Baron Pit (rule 355.2).

If I play Charm to move an enemy unit to a battlefield where I control Gravity Field, does its controller have to pay the cost?

No. Gravity Field makes your opponent pay [1][A] to move a unit to its battlefield, but Charm has you move the enemy unit, not your opponent. If your opponent controlled the Gravity Field at that battlefield, you would have to pay [1][A] to move the enemy unit there when Charm resolves (rule 412.2 and its subrules).