When a unit moves to attack but stuns the defender without removing them (e.g., 4 Might attacking 5 Might), does the attacking unit return to base via a 'recall' or a 'move'?

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Accepted Answer

The attacking unit is Recalled to base (a Recall), not moved, as part of Combat Cleanup when Defenders remain after damage is dealt. See [460.2.d], [143.2.a], and [461.1.a.2]. Recall. After damage is dealt simultaneously and the Defender is not killed (4 damage < 5 Might), the attacking unit is Recalled to base during the Combat Cleanup, per [461.1.a.2]. The Showdown/Combat proceeds to the Combat Damage Step and damage is assigned using current Might [460.2.c]. When damage is dealt, it is dealt simultaneously to each unit equal to the amount assigned [460.2.d]. Compare damage marked to each unit's Might; a unit dies only if damage >= its Might [143.2.a]. In your example, 4 damage on a 5-Might Defender does not kill it. Because the Defender remains present after damage is dealt, the Combat Cleanup instructs: Recall Attackers present at the Battlefield if Defenders are still present [461.1.a.2]. Therefore the attacking unit returns to base via that Recall action, not via a generic Move. If the Defender were killed by the damage (damage >= its Might), attackers would not be recalled under this instruction because Defenders would not still be present; the subsequent state and cleanup could differ [143.2.a] [461.1.a.2]. If some other effect removed or moved the Defender to a non-board zone before damage is dealt, that target may be treated as null for calculations per [359.3.e.12], and the board state could change the cleanup outcome. If a specific card or effect replaces, prevents, or modifies the Recall instruction (not present in the provided rules), that card's instructions would take precedence; this ruling assumes no such overriding effect is active. Combat damage is assigned and then dealt simultaneously; after assignment is complete, the game deals damage equal to the assigned amounts to each unit [460.2.d]. A unit only dies if the damage marked on it is nonzero and equals or exceeds its Might [143.2.a]. In the example (attacker deals 4 to a 5-Might defender), the Defender survives because 4 < 5. The Resolution Step’s Combat Cleanup then explicitly instructs the game to "Recall Attackers present at the Battlefield if Defenders are still present" [461.1.a.2]. That is a Recall as part of combat cleanup, not a generic Move action. Therefore, when an attacking unit fails to remove the defender (as in your 4 vs 5 example), the attacker returns to base via Recall during the Combat Cleanup [460.2.d] [143.2.a] [461.1.a.2].