Can i disable Thoughtseize with Pithing Needle?
Asked by Fellanor 9 years ago
As simple as that. I wanna know if casting an instant or sorcery such as Thoughtseize can be count as the activated ability
MindAblaze says... #2
Nope.
An activated ability exists on a permanent (most of the time, there are exceptions like Cycling) and is usually written;
Cost: Effect
Elvish Mystic , Nissa, Worldwaker and Grindclock are all examples of cards that have activated abilities.
September 17, 2014 6:25 p.m.
Though bear in mind as well, that Pithing Needle wouldn't work on the activated ability of Elvish Mystic because it is a mana ability.
September 17, 2014 6:27 p.m.
Nigeltastic says... Accepted answer #4
The short answer is no.
The long answer is more useful though I think. An activated ability is, and will always be, an ability on a card, and will be written as:
(cost) : (effect)
There is a colon in the middle of all activated abilities.
Some examples would be:
-- : Scry 1 (Sigiled Starfish )
-- : Regenerate Lotleth Troll
-- Discard a creature card : Put a +1/+1 counter on Lotleth Troll
Instants, Sorceries, and other spells are NEVER activated abilities, though sometimes they have activated abilities on them (such as Lightning Storm ).
September 17, 2014 6:28 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #5
You've already answered your own question by differentiating between spells and activated abilities.
Devonin says... #1
No, activated abilities are abilities which are written as
cost : effect
Casting a spell is never an activated ability.
September 17, 2014 6:25 p.m.