Setup And Decks
How Do You Read a Card?
Read the name, cost, type, tags, domains and rules text separately. Each tells you a different part of what the card is or does.
RiftPal explanation · Answer first
The short answer
Start with three questions: what is this card, what does it cost, and what does its text tell me to do?
The name identifies it. The type tells you what kind of card it is. Its cost, domains and rules text then explain how it fits your deck and works during play. Reminder text helps explain rules; it does not add a separate effect.
RiftPal explanation
How it works
Card reference
Fiora, Victorious
Use the full name when checking copy limits or whether two cards have the same name. Different versions of the same character can have different full names. Artwork and flavor text do not change how the card works.
Champion Unit
Fiora
Victorious
While I'm [Mighty], I have [Deflect], [Ganking], and [Shield]. (I'm Mighty while I have 5+ [Might].)
Card reference
Cost and Might
On the default frame, the cost is in the upper left. The number is the Energy CostAn Energy Cost is paid using Energy from your Rune Pool. You normally add Energy by Exhausting Ready runes.View in Glossary ; domain symbols there indicate a Power CostA Power Cost is paid using domain-specific Power from your Rune Pool. You normally add Power by Recycling runes of the required Domain.View in Glossary as well. These are costs to pay, not the unit's combat strength.
Unit
Captain Farron
Other friendly units here have [Assault]. (+1 [Might] while they're attackers.)
Card reference
Captain Farron
A unit's 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 is a separate value used for combat damage and how much damage normally kills it.
Unit
Captain Farron
Other friendly units here have [Assault]. (+1 [Might] while they're attackers.)
Card reference
Darius, Trifarian
Read the type line separately from the tags. Unit, Gear and Spell are card types. Champion or SignatureSignature is a supertype linking a card to a champion through its champion tag. In ordinary constructed deckbuilding, include at most three Signature cards in total, all sharing your Champion Legend’s champion tag. They cannot be your Chosen Champion.View in Glossary appears before the type and affects deckbuilding. Tags appear after the type: a character tag can connect a legend with its champion and Signature cards, but a matching tag does not by itself make a unit a champion unit.
Champion Unit
Darius
Trifarian
When you play your second card in a turn, give me +2 [Might] this turn and ready me.
Card reference
Captain Farron
DomainA Domain is one of Riftbound's colors, used to identify different cards and resources.View in Glossary symbols identify which domains a card belongs to. On the default frame they are normally at the lower right; a Champion LegendYour deck's legend card. Its domains set your deck's Domain Identity. It starts in the Legend Zone and stays there; it is separate from the champion unit you choose to play.View in Glossary shows its deck-defining domains in the upper left. Your deck needs to allow all domains printed on a multi-domain card. Do not confuse a card's domains with the cost of playing it.
Unit
Captain Farron
Other friendly units here have [Assault]. (+1 [Might] while they're attackers.)
Card reference
Fiora, Victorious
Rules text contains abilities and instructions. A keyword is a short name for a longer rule. Italic text in parentheses is reminder text: it summarizes relevant rules, and having more, less or no reminder text does not change the card's function.
Champion Unit
Fiora
Victorious
While I'm [Mighty], I have [Deflect], [Ganking], and [Shield]. (I'm Mighty while I have 5+ [Might].)
Card reference
Shadow Temple
On a unit or legend, “I” or “me” refers to that card; gear and spells use “this.” On a battlefield, “here” means that battlefield.
Battlefield
Shadow Temple
When you hold here, [Burn 3]. (Put the top 3 cards of your Main Deck into your trash.)
When an effect says “card,” it means a Main Deck card unless the effect says otherwise. Runes, legends and battlefields are still physical cards, but are not included in that default meaning when following card effects.
Card reference
Boots of Swiftness
A separate Effect Text section and a 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 Bonus, such as +2, apply to the card this one is attached to. The bonus is ignored if that card has no Might. While attached, this card's printed Rules Text is inactive, but abilities granted or added to it remain active.
Gear
Boots of Swiftness
[Equip] [Chaos] ([Chaos]: Attach this to a unit you control.)
Attached effect
[Ganking] (I can move from battlefield to battlefield.)
In practice
Example
Suppose a unit costs 2 Energy and 1 Power and has 4 Might. To cover the Energy cost with basic runes, exhaust two ready runes by turning them sideways. For the Power cost, recycle an appropriate basic rune to the bottom of your Rune Deck, matching the required domain if the cost specifies one. Use the Energy and Power generated to pay the cost. The 4 Might is not paid; it is the unit's combat and damage value.