Layers — Riftbound Rules

Section 450 — 45 rules

451.: Layers are the mechanism in which Game Effects alter the Traits, Intrinsic Abilities, or other properties of Game Objects.
452.: Layers are an organizational structure.
452.1.: Layers only serve to structure the application and order that Game Effects apply to Game Objects to maintain consistency.
453.: The layers are applied repeatedly until all effects operating on objects have been applied once and no changes have been processed.
453.1.: Layers are applied in sequence. Each effect in them is applied as soon as able, and only a single time across all sequences.
453.2.: When a sequence of applications completes, recur the process, and evaluate each layer again applying any effects that may now be applicable.
453.3.: The removal or disqualification of an effect is separate from the application of the effect, but still can only be applied once. Example: Fiora, Victorious has printed Might 4 and says “While I'm Mighty, I have Deflect, Ganking, and Shield.” If a player places a buff on Fiora, her Might is increased in the Arithmetic layer, after the layer for Ability-Altering Effects. The Ability-Altering Effect layer is then re-checked and the abilities Deflect, Ganking, and Shield applied. Since each effect has been applied once and there are no other effects to apply, Fiora’s characteristics are finalized as 5 Might with Deflect, Ganking, and Shield. While a buffed Fiora, Victorious is in combat as a defender, an additional +1 Might will be applied in the Arithmetic layer, giving her 6 Might and the 3 keywords. Example: A buffed Fiora, Victorious is in combat as a defender when her buff is removed. Reevaluating the layers in sequence, she no longer gains Deflect, Ganking, and Shield during the Ability-Altering Effect layer, so when the Arithmetic layer is evaluated, neither the buff (which is gone) nor Shield (which she no longer has) apply. She goes directly from 6 Might with three keywords to 4 Might with no keywords..
454.: Layers are applied in the following order:
454.1.: 1. Trait-Altering Effects
454.1.a.: This layer deals with effects that grant, remove, or replace inherent traits of Game Objects. Name Super Type Type Tags Controller Cost Domain
454.1.a.1.: Assignment of Might is dealt with in this layer. Example: A spell reads "A unit's Might becomes 4 this turn." The unit's Might is set to 4 in this layer.
454.1.b.: One Game Object becoming a copy of another.
454.1.b.1.: All Traits, including the Rules Text, replace or are added to those of the original Game Object as specified by the Game Effect directing the Copy. This is applied in this layer.
454.1.c.: Effects for this layer can be identified by the phrase "become(s)", "give," "is," or "are" in the text. Example: A permanent has the ability "Other friendly units are Yordles." Other friendly units gain the Yordle tag in this layer.
454.2.: 2. Ability-Altering Effects
454.2.a.: This layer deals with effects that grant, remove, or replace the abilities or rules text of Game Objects. Keywords Passive Abilities Appending rules text Removing rules text Duplicating Rules Text from one Game Object to another
454.2.b.: Effects for this layer can be identified by the phrase "become(s)," "give," "lose(s)," "have," "has," "is," or "are" in the text. Example: A permanent has the ability "Other friendly units have [Vision]." Other friendly units gain the Vision keyword in this layer.
454.2.c.: Abilities of Effect Text of Attached cards are appended in this layer.
454.3.: 3. Arithmetic
454.3.a.: This layer deals with the mathematics of increasing and decreasing the numeric values of the traits of Game Objects. Might Energy Cost Power Cost
454.3.b.: When an arithmetic effect has a limitation that applies, it is limited at the time of its application, and is “remembered” at that limited level for the duration of its effect. This process is called “snapshotting.” Example: If an effect gives a unit “-4 [M] to a min of 1 until end of turn” choosing a unit with 2 [M], then the effect will generate -1 [M] until end of turn.
454.3.c.: Might Bonuses of Attached cards are applied in this layer.
454.3.d.: This layer applies arithmetic in the following way.
454.3.d.1.: 1. Increases
454.3.d.1.a.: Positive values, or increases, to Might are applied first. 454.3.d.1.b If there is a restriction or limitation to this increase, the limitation is “snapshotted” for the duration of the effect.
454.3.d.2.: 2. Decreases
454.3.d.2.a.: Negative values, or decreases, to Might are applied last.
454.3.d.2.b.: If there is a restriction or limitation to this decrease, the limitation is snapshotted for the duration of the effect.
455.: If more than one effect applies to the same Game Object in the Same Layer, or to each other in the same layer, then both effects will apply but their order may be determined by Dependency.
455.1.: A Dependency is established if:
455.1.a.: Applying one of the effects alters the existence of the other; or
455.1.b.: Applying one of the effects alters the number of objects the other effect can influence
455.1.c.: Applying one of the effects alters the outcome when applying the other non- deterministically
456.: To determine which effect Depends on another, determine which of the prior criteria applies, and then also which effect’s evaluation is altered by the sequence of applications. That effect is said to Depend on the other.
456.1.: To resolve a dependency, the effects within the same layer that created the dependency must be applied such that:
1.: Identify which effect Depends on the other within the Layer.
2.: Apply the effect that is depended on first.
3.: Immediately apply the effect that Depends on the first effect next.
457.: If more than one effect applies in the same layer but no dependency is established, then Timestamp order is applied to the effects within that layer and sublayer
457.1.: When an effect begins applying, it establishes a time for which it is compared against other Game Effects for purposes of resolving Layered effects as its Timestamp.
457.1.a.: Timestamps are not rote values.
457.1.b.: Timestamps are relative comparisons between effects and when they began applying to the game.
457.1.c.: Timestamps are not referenced by Game Effects in any way. They are only used to finalize layered effects.
457.2.: When Rules Text becomes Inactive for any reason, it loses its Timestamp. When it ceases to be Inactive, a new Timestamp is established.
457.3.: Effects are applied such that the earliest Timestamp within each Layer and Sublayer applies first, followed by other Effects in that Layer and Sublayer in chronological order.