<p>Unfortunately yes. 
Upon resolution of the enter the battlefield trigger it checks for a valid target and if there is one you have to choose it.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-18T18:02:12.623Z
Care to reference the official rules? I would really like to know for sure.
Shade
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-18T18:01:44.480Z
2016-10-18T18:01:44.480Z
Nikolay Dimitrov
<p>Yes you must destroy your own artifact if it is the only one on the battlefield. If it were optional it would have the word 'may' in the ability like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAcid%20Web%20Spider%5d">Acid Web Spider</a>.</p>
<p>When an ability triggers and it has a legal target it will always be put on the stack and a legal target chosen. Then when the ability resolves if it has a 'may' in it you can choose not to have its effect occur otherwise it does.</p>
<blockquote>
<p><strong>603.2.</strong> Whenever a game event or game state matches a triggered ability’s trigger event, that ability automatically triggers. The ability doesn’t do anything at this point.</p>
<p><strong>603.3.</strong> Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object that’s not a card the next time a player would receive priority.</p>
<p><strong>603.5.</strong> Some triggered abilities’ effects are optional (they contain “may,” as in “At the beginning of your upkeep, you may draw a card”). These abilities go on the stack when they trigger, regardless of whether their controller intends to exercise the ability’s option or not. <strong>The choice is made when the ability resolves.</strong></p>
</blockquote>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-18T18:40:54.643Z
Thanks for the reply. It kind of made sense to be so, but I couldn't easily find a reference online...
Shade
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T08:56:42.927Z
You bolded "The choice is made when the ability resolves", but Viridian Shaman targets, so the choice is made when the ability is placed on the stack (after it triggers, not when it resolves).
ikegami
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-18T18:07:19.400Z
2016-10-18T18:07:19.400Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
diego
<p>Say that I cast a <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bViridian%20Shaman%5d">Viridian Shaman</a> and there is only one artifact on the battlefield - <strong>my</strong> <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSol%20Ring%5d">Sol Ring</a>. Must I destroy my own artifact due to Viridian Shaman's trigger?</p>

<magic-the-gathering>
When resolving "destroy X when Y enters the battlefield", must I choose a target if the only available one is my own?
Shade
# When resolving "destroy X when Y enters the battlefield", must I choose a target if the only available one is my own?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-10-18)

Say that I cast a [Viridian Shaman](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bViridian%20Shaman%5d) and there is only one artifact on the battlefield - **my** [Sol Ring](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bSol%20Ring%5d). Must I destroy my own artifact due to Viridian Shaman's trigger?

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering


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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-10-18. Score: 8 | Accepted answer

Yes you must destroy your own artifact if it is the only one on the battlefield. If it were optional it would have the word 'may' in the ability like [Acid Web Spider](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAcid%20Web%20Spider%5d).

When an ability triggers and it has a legal target it will always be put on the stack and a legal target chosen. Then when the ability resolves if it has a 'may' in it you can choose not to have its effect occur otherwise it does.

> **603.2.** Whenever a game event or game state matches a triggered ability’s trigger event, that ability automatically triggers. The ability doesn’t do anything at this point.
>
> **603.3.** Once an ability has triggered, its controller puts it on the stack as an object that’s not a card the next time a player would receive priority.
>
> **603.5.** Some triggered abilities’ effects are optional (they contain “may,” as in “At the beginning of your upkeep, you may draw a card”). These abilities go on the stack when they trigger, regardless of whether their controller intends to exercise the ability’s option or not. **The choice is made when the ability resolves.**

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for the reply. It kind of made sense to be so, but I couldn't easily find a reference online...  
> **username_3**: You bolded "The choice is made when the ability resolves", but Viridian Shaman targets, so the choice is made when the ability is placed on the stack (after it triggers, not when it resolves).  

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### Answer by username_1 on 2016-10-18. Score: 2

Unfortunately yes.
Upon resolution of the enter the battlefield trigger it checks for a valid target and if there is one you have to choose it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Care to reference the official rules? I would really like to know for sure.  

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