Quote Originally Posted by Ninjaman View Post
But if i respond doesn't it happen before?
Blocking doesn't use the stack.

1) Player A declares attackers ---> Those creatures are now attacking
2) Players respond to attackers being declared with their plays. Spells go on the stack, then resolve.
3) Player B declares blockers ---> Those creatures are now blocking.
4) Players respond to blockers being declared. Things go on the stack, then resolve.
5) Damage is assigned and resolves.

There are cards such as Hollowhenge Spirit that deliberately say they remove a creature from combat, but even that doesn't mean the creature didn't attack/block. Anything that would trigger from those actions still occurs.

Spoiler
Show
Personally, I don't see Avacyn replacing Elesh Norn in either Pod or Frites. From what I can see, you don't play Elesh Norn because she means you win, you play Elesh Norn because it means your opponent loses because she's just friend all their creatures. I think she's far more likely to end up in a GW token style deck, probably some variation of the Humans list where they can speed her out with Avacyn's Pilgrim and/or Birds.