I have a hidden Tornado Warrior and a Steel Paws on a battlefield. My opponent attacks that battlefield and passes priority. I play the Tornado Warrior from Hidden as response, targeting Steel Paws as my empower target and pass priority. My opponent plays gust on the Tornado Warrior in response. Does the Steel Paws still get empowered?

Wrong answer

No — Steel Paws does not get empowered. While a triggered ability already on the Chain resolves independently of whether its source is still on the board, all its referents (see CR 359.3.f.) will be checked again when executing the instruction. Since "here" is a referent, when the trigger resolves "here" is no longer the battlefield where combat is ongoing and the trigger mistargets. Exactly as described and exemplified in rule CR 359.3.f.2.: Information referenced in an instruction in this way will be checked on execution of the instruction. Examples: A player moves Yasuo, Remorseful to an occupied enemy battlefield and initiates combat there. In reaction to the Yasuo, Remorseful attack trigger, their opponent plays Fight or Flight from hidden targeting Yasuo, moving him back to base. When the attack trigger resolves, “here” is no longer the battlefield where combat is ongoing and the attack trigger mistargets.