Does Pithing Needle stop the effects of Doubling Season or Beastmaster Ascension?
Asked by Smeage 10 years ago
Thinking about putting 2 Pithing Needle in my sideboard to stop my friends Saproling deck. If I'm reading the card right, it should stop cards like these from activating. Thanks for the help!
For the record, Doubling season has a replacement ability (If..., Then..., ) - it modifies how something enters the battlefield. Beastmaster ascension has a triggered ability (starts with "if", "whenever" or "at"). Pithing needle stops only the abilities similar to those in the above answer
June 12, 2014 8:51 a.m.
Not answering the questions since it already has, but while I don't know what colours you use, may I suggest AEther Snap as a card to really hurt your friend's token/counters strategy.
June 12, 2014 10:04 a.m.
So mana abilities like Boros Guildmage could still be activated even if I played Pithing Needle and named that card? Basically, it would stop abilities that only need to tap to activate effect, like Avacyn's Pilgrim for example?
June 12, 2014 4:43 p.m.
Absinthman says... Accepted answer #5
@Smeage: No, that is not correct. Mana abilities are not those which cost mana, but those which produce it while also fulfilling a few other requirements. See this rule to learn about what mana abilities are:
605. Mana Abilities
605.1. Some activated abilities and some triggered abilities are mana abilities, which are subject to special rules. Only abilities that meet either of the following two sets of criteria are mana abilities, regardless of what other effects they may generate or what timing restrictions (such as "Activate this ability only any time you could cast an instant") they may have.
605.1a An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets three criteria: it doesnt have a target, it could put mana into a players mana pool when it resolves, and its not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")
605.1b A triggered ability without a target that triggers from activating a mana ability and could put mana into a players mana pool when it resolves is a mana ability.
Absinthman says... #1
No it doesn't. Pithing Needle only restricts the use of activated abilities. Activated abilities are those which are written the format of [cost]: [effect] (like Boros Guildmage or Jace, Architect of Thought for instance).
June 12, 2014 7:43 a.m.