From b9212d2b2d72a7053653c1e3ea1514bcb5f87db0 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Christian Ivicevic Date: Wed, 25 Mar 2026 17:40:07 +1100 Subject: [PATCH] Add targeting rules clarification --- content/general-rules/targeting.mdx | 40 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ 1 file changed, 40 insertions(+) create mode 100644 content/general-rules/targeting.mdx diff --git a/content/general-rules/targeting.mdx b/content/general-rules/targeting.mdx new file mode 100644 index 0000000..05f97ba --- /dev/null +++ b/content/general-rules/targeting.mdx @@ -0,0 +1,40 @@ +--- +title: "Targeting" +description: "Commonly asked questions about targeting and what constitutes a target in Riftbound" +crdVersion: "1.2" +authors: +- "Near" +--- + +## What makes something a target? [#what-is-a-target] + +Any game object, player, or zone that a spell or ability chooses to affect is a target (), and must be declared when putting that spell or ability on the chain (). + +Card text rarely uses the word "target" or "choose" explicitly - most of the time targeting is implied, as in "Kill a unit" or "Move a friendly unit." +Abilities that reference "when you choose" a game object, such as [Irelia, Fervent Blade](https://riftbound.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/card-gallery/#card-gallery--sfd-057-221)'s "When you choose or ready me, give me +1 Might this turn," are specifically triggered when being targeted. + +When in doubt, assume it is a target - the list below covers the only situations where it is not: + +- **It is in a private zone** (hand, deck, etc.) (). 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** (). 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** (, ). Objects referenced in "when X happens" conditions, payment costs (see also [When do I pay costs within instructions using "may"?](/general-rules/abilities#costs-within-instructions)), 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** (). 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. +- **Another player makes the choice** (). Targeting requires that *you* make the choice. e.g., "Each player kills a unit they control" does not target - each player picks their own unit when the spell resolves. +- **The instruction uses "must"** (). 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 "you may" mean I choose the target at resolution? [#may-targets-at-resolution] + +No. + +Targets are always declared when putting a spell or ability on the chain (), not at resolution. +If a "you may" effect involves choosing a game object, that choice is still a target and must be declared upfront. +The "you may" means the effect is optional - you can decline to complete it on resolution - but it does not defer when the target is declared. + + + [Relentless Pursuit](https://riftbound.leagueoflegends.com/en-us/card-gallery/#card-gallery--sfd-184-221) reads "Move a friendly unit. You may attach an Equipment with the same controller to it. This turn, that unit has 'When I conquer, you may move me to my base.'" + + When playing this spell, you must immediately declare both targets: the friendly unit to move and an Equipment to attach. + You cannot wait until resolution to decide which Equipment to name, and you cannot put the spell on the chain without a valid Equipment target at all. + + The "you may" only means you can decline to complete the attach when the spell resolves - it does not make the Equipment target optional. +