In the release notes, Wizards said the following about this cards ability - "You choose the target of the triggered ability as it goes on the stack, but you choose whether or not to fight as that ability resolves"
This seems to mean that if I choose a target, and the opponent responds by pumping the creature, I can simply choose not to fight. That seems clear. What is not clear though is if the fighting happens as part of the resolution of the ability, meaning if I decide I want to fight, my opponent cannot respond by pumping the creature. If so, this makes this card a lot better!
That is correct. In general, "you may..." on a triggered ability is a choice made only as the ability resolves (C.R. 603.5), so without any other player knowing whether you will choose that option before it resolves. However, you must choose legal targets as you put the ability on the stack if the ability requires them, even if you decide not to exercise the "you may..." choice (C.R. 603.3d, 601.2c-d). If you can't choose the required number of legal targets, the ability is removed from the stack and won't resolve (C.R. 603.3d).
They fight happens as part of the resolution of the ability. There is one ability "you may have Somberwald Stag fight target creature you don't control", when this ability resolves, you choose whether to fight, and then the fight happens, there is no time for either player to respond in between. Players cannot respond while abilities are happening
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"If you knew anything about the lore you'd see that they were clearly hinting that the madness on Innistrad was caused by Uncle Istvan wearing Urza's Power Armor ... tainted with Phrexyian Oil"
Graham from Loading Ready Run
They fight happens as part of the resolution of the ability. There is one ability "you may have Somberwald Stag fight target creature you don't control", when this ability resolves, you choose whether to fight, and then the fight happens, there is no time for either player to respond in between. Players cannot respond while abilities are happening
In the release notes, Wizards said the following about this cards ability - "You choose the target of the triggered ability as it goes on the stack, but you choose whether or not to fight as that ability resolves"
This seems to mean that if I choose a target, and the opponent responds by pumping the creature, I can simply choose not to fight. That seems clear. What is not clear though is if the fighting happens as part of the resolution of the ability, meaning if I decide I want to fight, my opponent cannot respond by pumping the creature. If so, this makes this card a lot better!
Edit - release notes here - http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/eldritch-moon-release-notes-2016-07-08
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588
Graham from Loading Ready Run
That makes this so much safer!
375 unpowered cube - https://cubecobra.com/cube/list/601ac624832cdf1039947588