RulingRules Reference 1.7

If Rocket Raccoon uses his “Tinkering” ability but the Tech upgrade is not placed into a discard pile (such as due to…

Question

If Rocket Raccoon uses his “Tinkering” ability but the Tech upgrade is not placed into a discard pile (such as due to Collector’s ability), will Rocket Raccoon draw 2 cards?

Answer

Yes. Discarding is the act of attempting to place a card into a discard pile. Even if the Tech upgrade ends up in a different game area, the cost of Rocket Raccoon’s “Tinkering” ability was still paid.

— Rules Reference 1.7