Rules Ruling · Turn Structure
How Priority and Focus Work in Riftbound
Riftbound manages “who can act now” with two concepts: Priority decides who may take discretionary actions, and Focus decides who may act during a Showdown. They often travel together but are independent. Based on the official 2026-07-16 Core Rules.
Citations: CR 2026-07-16 §311–313（Priority 與 Focus 定義）、§335–336、§337–340（FEPR 流程）、§345–348（Showdown 焦點轉移）、§429.2.a、§429.3（Add 能力不傳優先權）
Priority: held by at most one player
At any time, up to one player has Priority (CR 312). Priority is “the singular exclusive right to take Discretionary Actions” (CR 312.1): its holder may take appropriately timed discretionary actions (CR 312.1.a), and if no one has it, no one can (CR 312.1.b). Limited Actions taken when instructed still work without Priority (CR 312.1.b.1).
When a player receives Priority
- During their Main Phase while the turn is Neutral Open (CR 312.2.a).
- When the turn is in a Showdown State and they gain Focus (CR 312.2.b).
- In a Closed State, once all pending items finish finalizing, if they control the next item on the chain (CR 312.2.c).
- In a Closed State, as the next player in turn order when the player with Priority passes (CR 312.2.d).
Focus: the Showdown action permit
At any time, up to one player has Focus (CR 313). Focus is permission to take appropriately timed discretionary actions while the turn is in a Showdown Open State (CR 313.1), with extra restrictions — e.g. no spells or abilities without Action or Reaction (CR 313.1.a). Gaining Focus also grants Priority (CR 313.2); passing Priority keeps Focus (CR 313.3); Focus without Priority is not enough to act (CR 313.4). In a Neutral State, no player has Focus (CR 313.5).
How Focus moves during a Showdown
As a Showdown begins, the player who applied Contested status to the battlefield gains Focus (CR 345). The player with Focus may play a legally timed card or ability (starting a chain; when that chain closes, Focus passes, CR 347.1.b) or pass; once all players have passed in sequence, the Showdown closes (CR 347.2, 348).
When the last chain item resolves and the turn returns to an Open State, Focus passes with Priority to the next player — except when the chain was opened by a triggered ability or an Add ability, in which case Focus does not pass this way (CR 346, 346.1).
FAQ
Do I get Priority on my opponent’s turn?
Yes, but only in a Closed State with a chain: when you control the next chain item (CR 312.2.c) or priority is passed to you (CR 312.2.d). What you can play is then limited to Reaction cards and abilities (CR 309.1.a).
Do I lose Focus when I pass Priority?
No. A player who passes Priority retains Focus (CR 313.3) — in a Showdown you can pass to hold a reaction and it is still your Showdown turn.
Who acts first in a Showdown?
The player who applied the Contested status to the battlefield gains Focus first (CR 345) — usually the attacking player.
If a chain was opened by a triggered ability, does Focus pass when it empties?
No. When the last item resolves and the turn returns to Open, Focus does not pass if the chain was opened by a triggered ability or an Add ability (CR 346.1) — the combat chain is the official example.
What can I do without Priority?
Limited Actions taken when instructed require no Priority (CR 312.1.b.1), and Reaction-tagged Add abilities can be activated whenever resources must be paid (CR 429.3). Everything else discretionary needs Priority.
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