Why is Tolarian Kraken worded this way?
Waiting until after the cost is paid to choose the target is the big difference here.
If the ability used &quot;if you do&quot;, like on Throwing Knife, then an opponent who wanted to &quot;save&quot; their creature from the ability would have to do so before they even know if you are going to pay for it. That gives the ability the unintentional power of forcing your opponent to react to the possibility of paying the cost, without actually paying any cost. With the &quot;when you do&quot; wording, the opponent can react to your choice to pay the cost, making it more like an activated ability.