For effects that check which player put counters on the entering creature, the player chosen to pay tribute puts those counters on it, not the creature’s controller.
Pharagax Giant
The choice of whether to pay tribute is made as the creature with tribute is entering the battlefield. At that point, it’s too late to respond to the creature spell. For example, in a multiplayer game, opponents won’t know whether tribute will be paid or which opponent will be chosen to pay tribute or not when deciding whether to counter the creature spell.
If the triggered ability has a target, that target will not be known while the creature spell with tribute is on the stack.
Magic: The Gathering · ™ & © Wizards of the Coast · Illus. Ryan Pancoast
Card data via Scryfall. Rarix is fan-made; not endorsed by the rights holders.
