When Overzealous Fan's 'When I defend, you may kill me to move an attacking unit to its base' ability triggers, can the defending player wait to decide whether to use it after seeing the attacking player's reactions?
Ruling: When Overzealous Fan's Defend ability triggers, it goes on the chain immediately. The defending player must choose the target (which attacking unit to potentially return) when placing it on the chain, but the decision of whether to actually kill the Fan and execute the effect is made upon resolution, not when the ability is placed on the chain.
Sequence:
- Attacking unit moves into the battlefield
- Overzealous Fan's Defend ability triggers and goes on the chain
- Defending player must select which attacking unit would be targeted
- Either player can respond with reactions/spells on top of this ability
- When both players pass priority, the ability resolves
- At resolution, the defending player decides whether to kill Overzealous Fan and return the targeted unit
- Once declined, the ability is gone and cannot be used again that showdown
Nuances:
- The defending player can respond to their own triggered ability (e.g., playing En Garde) before it resolves
- The target must be chosen when the ability goes on the chain, but the 'may kill me' choice happens at resolution
- This works identically to Vayne's ability
- A Defend trigger only triggers once per showdown when a unit gets the Defender designation