Pithing Needle and Lion's Eye Diamond
Asked by aeonstoremyliver 9 years ago
I've not encountered the situation IRL, thus posing the question here, as LED is an odd card when it comes to rulings. Can Pithing Needle name Lion's Eye Diamond as a legal target?
Epochalyptik says... #2
In general, mana abilities are any abilities that
- don't target anything,
- aren't loyalty abilities, and
- add mana to a player's mana pool when they resolve.
If the mana ability is a triggered ability, it must also trigger only from other mana abilities.
January 7, 2015 11:16 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #3
So 'naming' and 'targeting' are two separate things? Interesting.
I checked the Mothership and was still a bit confused by the errata, mayhap by the amusing text lol. I did figure as much that I couldn't shut down LED with yon Needle, but thought I would ask. Thanks man.
Dude, why aren't you a judge yet?
January 7, 2015 11:23 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #4
A spell or ability only targets something if it uses the word "target." Choosing or naming something is not the same as targeting that thing.
I never bothered taking the judge tests. I'm not even certified as a rules advisor.
January 7, 2015 11:34 p.m.
aeonstoremyliver says... #5
Naming gets around Hexproof/Shroud then. Good to know in certain circumstances.
You'd certainly qualify as a RA, if not a level 1 Judge. I get that time is of the essence and a resource, however implore you to at least get a RA.
Epochalyptik says... Accepted answer #1
Well, Pithing Needle's abilities don't target anything.
You can name Lion's Eye Diamond (or any other card) with Pithing Needle's ability. Whether you actually accomplish anything by doing so is another story.
Lion's Eye Diamond's ability is indeed a mana ability. Although it has a very unusual timing restriction for a mana ability, but it is still a mana ability.
Always check Gatherer. From Lion's Eye Diamond's page:
10/4/2004: The ability is a mana ability, so it is activated and resolves as a mana ability, but it can only be activated at times when you can cast an instant. Yes, this is a bit weird.
January 7, 2015 11:15 p.m.