Pithing Needle vs Uril, the Miststalker
Asked by Sir_HC 9 years ago
If Pithing Needle names Uril, the Miststalker it does not lose its hexproof or +2/+2 ability, correct? Also, if he is equipped with, say, Dragon Mantle , Uril can no longer use the activated ability provided by Dragon Mantle , correct?
GreatSword says... #2
Pithing Needle prevents activated abilities of the chosen card from being activated. An activated ability is one with a cost, like every ability in Deathrite Shaman . Choosing Uril, the Miststalker would usually be a poor choice for the needle, because Uril has no activated abilities innately.
In the situation you describe however, it would prevent Uril from activating the ability granted to himby Dragon Mantle . He still of course would have his static Hexproof and +2/+2 abilities.
July 18, 2014 12:59 p.m.
Rhadamanthus says... #3
That's right. Of all the abilities involved here, only the one granted by Dragon Mantle is an activated ability, because it's the only one written as "Cost : Effect" (and none of them are mana abilities, because none of them produce mana).
Sam_I_am says... Accepted answer #1
You are correct,
Pithing Needle only stops activated abilities. You can tell that it's an activated ability because of the colon.
Dragon Mantle specifically says
_enchanted creature has "[insert ability here]"_which means that it's Uril's ability, not the mantle's. Note this this doesn't work with a card which doesn't have that same "enchanted creature has..." template such as Blessing . In that case, you have to name Blessing .July 18, 2014 12:58 p.m.