Combo · ENGINE

820.1.c.2 — a spell that already has [Repeat] and is granted a second instance executes THREE times

2 cards · chaos · verified

Pieces

• Syndra, Transcendent ×1 UNL-146 · engine · chaos

  While I'm in a showdown, your spells have [Repeat] 2 Energy + 1 Chaos Power. (You may pay the additional cost to repeat the spell's effect.)

• Existential Dread ×1 UNL-134 · payoff · chaos

  [Action] (Play on your turn or in showdowns.) [Repeat] 2 Energy (You may pay the additional cost to repeat this spell's effect.) [Stun] an attacking enemy unit. If it's already stunned, return it to its owner's hand instead. (A stunned unit doesn't deal combat damage this turn.)

Payoff

Deck

• Any legend with Chaos among its two domains (103.1.b.3) — 16 names: Loose Cannon (OGN-251), Unforgiven (OGN-259), Swift Scout (OGN-263), Bounty Hunter (OGN-267), Dark Child - Starter (OGS-017), Glorious Executioner (SFD-185), Blade Dancer (SFD-195), Prodigal Explorer (SFD-199), Battle Mistress (SFD-203), Bloodharbor Ripper (UNL-185), Gloomist (UNL-193), Scorn of the Moon (UNL-197), Voidreaver (UNL-201), Master of Shadows (VEN-143), Soul's Reflection (VEN-151), Heart of the Tempest (VEN-155).
• Syndra standing at the battlefield where the Showdown is happening — the entry takes the narrow reading of 'in a showdown', see the second notable.
• 5 Energy and 2 Chaos Power available in that window; on the opponent's turn that means runes held ready (167, 415.3.a) or a Seal.

Prerequisites

• TWO INSTANCES OF [Repeat] ARE THREE EXECUTIONS, AND THE RULE SAYS SO IN TWO LINES. 820.1.b gives 'a second time' per instance; 820.1.c.2: 'If a spell or ability has more than one instance of Repeat, each Cost may be paid or not paid individually'; 820.1.c.3: 'Each Repeat Cost can be paid only a single time.' So a spell that PRINTS [Repeat] and is GRANTED a second one by Syndra runs its effect three times — once for the base cost and once for each Repeat cost paid. This is the one card in the pool that grants [Repeat], so it is the only way to reach three, and the project's standing line that '[Repeat] gives EXACTLY one extra execution' (820.1.b) is per INSTANCE, not per spell.
• THE ENTRY TAKES THE NARROW READING OF 'IN A SHOWDOWN' AND DOES NOT NEED THE WIDE ONE. 740.2 defines when a unit is 'alone', 'one on one' and 'in combat' (740.2.c: 'occupying a battlefield where combat is ongoing and has a combat designation') and says nothing about a unit being 'in a showdown'; 343.1 defines a Showdown STATE for the turn, not for a unit. The entry therefore assumes the demanding reading — Syndra is at the battlefield where the Showdown is in progress — because that is the one that costs the most to satisfy. A wider reading (any Showdown State, wherever she stands) only adds windows and never removes one, so no reading needs to be filed for the line to stand.
• THE THREE EXECUTIONS ARE NOT INTERCHANGEABLE, AND THE CARD IS WRITTEN FOR IT. 820.2.a: 'Choices made for the additional execution do not have to be the same as the choices made' for the first — a permission, not a requirement. So: execution one stuns attacker A; execution two chooses A again, finds it stunned (423.1.a.1: 'A Stunned Unit can not be Stunned again') and takes the printed branch, returning it to hand; execution three stuns attacker B. One card, one attacker removed outright and a second muted for the combat (423.1.b).
• PRICED WHOLE, AND IT IS NOT CHEAP. 1 Energy + 1 Chaos Power for the spell, 2 Energy for its own [Repeat], 2 Energy + 1 Chaos Power for Syndra's — 5 Energy and 2 Chaos Power, inside the opponent's Combat Showdown, on top of a 6 Energy + 1 Chaos Power body that has to be standing there. 806.1.b is the permission for the spell ([Action] reaches Showdowns on either turn); the Energy is the constraint, and `OGN-204 Seal of Discord` is the natural way to pay the Power half.
• Syndra's grant is a static that applies to EVERY spell you play in that window, so the entry generalises: `SFD-136 Hard Bargain` (Chaos, [Reaction], its own [Repeat] :rb_energy_2:, 'Counter a spell unless its controller pays :rb_energy_2:') becomes a three-execution counter that taxes six. That is a synergy-rule shape — one anchor, every printed-[Repeat] spell as partners — rather than a second entry.
• The companion entry on the other trigger card is eclipse-herald-existential-dread-repeat-bounce, which uses the SAME spell with only its printed [Repeat]: two executions, one stun and one bounce. This one adds the third execution and a second victim.

Steps

1. Play Syndra, Transcendent (6 Energy + 1 Chaos Power) at a battlefield you expect to be attacked.
2. The opponent attacks it; a Combat Showdown opens and their units gain the Attacker designation (464.2.c.3).
3. Play Existential Dread for 1 Energy + 1 Chaos Power (806.1.b). Pay its printed [Repeat] cost of 2 Energy AND Syndra's granted [Repeat] cost of 2 Energy + 1 Chaos Power — 820.1.c.2 lets each be paid individually.
4. Execution one: stun an attacking enemy unit.
5. Execution two: choose the same unit (820.2.a). It is already stunned (423.1.a.1), so the printed alternative returns it to its owner's hand.
6. Execution three: stun a second attacking enemy unit. 423.1.b keeps its Might out of the damage assignment.

Per iteration

-1 card, -5 Energy -2 Chaos Power, one attacking unit returned to hand and one silenced

How it ends

engine — one attacker bounced to hand and a second muted, from one card, for 5 Energy and 2 Chaos Power inside a Showdown; nothing here scores

Sources

Published elsewhere

• Riftbound Core Rules, Last Updated 2026-07-16 (data/Riftbound-Core-Rules-2026-07-16.txt) 2026-07-16

Walked here, in this project

• Hand walk 2026-09-07, issue #173 — the uncatalogued Fury / Body / Chaos cards 2026-09-07 record

Walked against Core Rules 2026-07-16

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