Combat
How Do Assault, Shield, Tank and Backline Change Combat?
Assault and Shield add Might while Tank and Backline change combat damage assignment order.
RiftPal explanation · Answer first
The short answer
AssaultA unit keyword that adds its value to the unit's Might while it is an attacker. An omitted value is 1, and multiple values add together.View in Glossary adds MightMight represents both how much Combat Damage a unit can contribute and how much marked Damage it can normally take before being killed.View in Glossary while a unit is an attacker; ShieldA unit keyword that adds its value to the unit's Might while it is a defender. An omitted value is 1, and multiple values add together.View in Glossary adds Might while it is a defender. When assigning CombatCombat is the part of play where opposing players' units fight for the same Battlefield.View in Glossary damage to a player's units, TankA unit keyword that changes combat damage assignment. Assign lethal damage to that player's Tank units before assigning damage to their non-Tank units.View in Glossary units go first and BacklineA unit keyword that changes combat damage assignment. Assign damage to that player's Backline units only after their non-Backline units have lethal damage assigned.View in Glossary units go last.
RiftPal explanation
How it works
Card reference
Vayne, Hunter
AssaultA unit keyword that adds its value to the unit's Might while it is an attacker. An omitted value is 1, and multiple values add together.View in Glossary applies while a unit is an attacker; ShieldA unit keyword that adds its value to the unit's Might while it is a defender. An omitted value is 1, and multiple values add together.View in Glossary applies while it is a defender. If a value is omitted, it is 1. Multiple Assault or Shield values add together, changing the unit's current MightMight represents both how much Combat Damage a unit can contribute and how much marked Damage it can normally take before being killed.View in Glossary .
Champion Unit
Vayne
Hunter
[Assault 3] (+3 [Might] while I'm an attacker.) If an opponent controls a battlefield, I enter ready. When I conquer, you may pay [Energy 1] to return me to my owner's hand.
TankA unit keyword that changes combat damage assignment. Assign lethal damage to that player's Tank units before assigning damage to their non-Tank units.View in Glossary and BacklineA unit keyword that changes combat damage assignment. Assign damage to that player's Backline units only after their non-Backline units have lethal damage assigned.View in Glossary affect damage assignment order, not MightMight represents both how much Combat Damage a unit can contribute and how much marked Damage it can normally take before being killed.View in Glossary . Assign Lethal DamageMarked damage sufficient to kill a unit in cleanup. Normally it must be a nonzero amount at least equal to the unit's Might. Effects can change the amount needed.View in Glossary to a player's Tank units before their non-Tank units, and to their Backline units after their non-Backline units. You must still assign lethal damage to one unit before moving to the next. Duplicate Tank or Backline instances are redundant. If the same unit has both Tank and Backline, the assigning player chooses which conflicting requirement to satisfy.
In practice
Example
A 3-Might attacker with Assault 2 contributes 5 Might; a 2-Might defender with Shield 1 contributes 3. Tank and Backline then determine assignment priority among the units on each side.