It is a general Goad ruling for C20, also found in Shiny Impetus and the rest of the Impetus cycle. Because the way it happens in your End Step and ends when your next turn begins, you're never forced to attack with it (unless there's a way to gain an additional combat phase after the end step, I'm unaware of).
Yes, your creature usually doesn't have to attack, due to lack of combat phases where you could attack. Usually. But your creature can change controllers, like with Act of Treason, before your next turn. And then the player who took control of it would have to obey the goading and attack with it.
I have an issue with the second part of the effect. When it says "Goad every creature that had counters put on it this way." Does it refer to the way the creature got the +1/+1 counters or as part of the triggered ability?. Because to me, "this way" means if the opponent decided to put the +1/+1 counters on his creature, on each of my endsteps (if it's still alive), that creature will get goaded, because it got the counters via this effect. It would make more sense if the effect said "Goad every creature that had counters put on it this way THIS TURN".
I have an issue with the second part of the effect. When it says "Goad every creature that had counters put on it this way." Does it refer to the way the creature got the +1/+1 counters or as part of the triggered ability?. Because to me, "this way" means if the opponent decided to put the +1/+1 counters on his creature, on each of my endsteps (if it's still alive), that creature will get goaded, because it got the counters via this effect. It would make more sense if the effect said "Goad every creature that had counters put on it this way THIS TURN".
The phrase "each creature that had counters put on it this way" means each creature on which one or more +1/+1 counters were put because of the choice earlier in the ability to "put two +1/+1 counters on" that creature. (In rare cases, a player can choose to put counters on a creature but nevertheless fewer, more, or even no counters are ultimately put on that creature [C.R. 608.2d, 614.6; see also C.R. 118.11]. This can happen if, for example, Vizier of Remedies or Doubling Season is involved. Also, compare Ancient Excavation or Read the Runes with Varina, Lich Queen or Frantic Search.)
Note that "each player", not just your opponents, may choose to put +1/+1 counters on a creature they control with Agitator Ant's ability.
Also, the keyword action "goad" in this case already contains a duration: "until the next turn of the controller of [Agitator Ant's ability]" (C.R. 701.38a). Thus, adding the phrase "this turn" as you suggest could result in a confusing wording.
"this way" in a resolving spell or ability's instructions refers only as far back as that spell or ability instance.
Different spells and abilities resolving don't have anything in common with each other out of which to construct a 'continuity' to base any other interpretation on, except for having the same text/instructions, which is, from the point of view of those abilities, coincidence.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Epic banner by Erasmus of æтђєг.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].
At endstep each player can put 2 +1/+1 counters on a creature and gets goaded
The confusing part is why does my creature still have to attack if I did it? (according to the rules)
Because it's said ”until your next turn” doesn’t it turn off the goad when my next turn comes along since it happened during the last turn?
Former Rules Advisor
"Everything's better with pirates." - Lodge
(The Gamers: Dorkness Rising)
"Any sufficiently analyzed magic is indistinguishable from science."
(Girl Genius - Fairy Tale Theater Break - Cinderella, end of volume 8)
Note that "each player", not just your opponents, may choose to put +1/+1 counters on a creature they control with Agitator Ant's ability.
Also, the keyword action "goad" in this case already contains a duration: "until the next turn of the controller of [Agitator Ant's ability]" (C.R. 701.38a). Thus, adding the phrase "this turn" as you suggest could result in a confusing wording.
EDIT (Mar. 28): Edited.
Different spells and abilities resolving don't have anything in common with each other out of which to construct a 'continuity' to base any other interpretation on, except for having the same text/instructions, which is, from the point of view of those abilities, coincidence.
Awesome avatar provided by Krashbot @ [Epic Graphics].