How does multiple Pithing Needles work?
Asked by 5D_Phantom 9 years ago
Let's say that you cast Pithing Needle and name Codex Shredder. A turn later you cast a second Pithing Needle and name Soulmender. Then your opponent casts Repeal on one of your Pithing Needles. Since the static effect of Pithing Needle reads, "Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities." does that mean that both named sources are still pithed by Pithing Needle or does the opponent get to choose which card becomes unpithed? Thanks in advance for the clarification.
Rhadamanthus says... #2
The way that Pithing Needle's second ability refers to the first makes them "linked abilities". Each Needle's second ability is only linked to that particular Needle's first ability. Each Needle only stops the specific card named for it, not the cards named for others.
TheHroth says... Accepted answer #1
Rules questions should be asked in the Q&A section.
Whenever a card names itself, it is referring to that physical card only. Each Pithing Needle is a separate object on the battlefield, each naming a separate card. The Pithing Needle naming Codex Shredder does not affect Soulmender, and vice versa. If one of the Pithing Needles is removed from the battlefield, its effect will cease to exist and the respective cards abilities will be able to be activated again.
TL;DR Each Pithing Needle works independently of the other.
February 23, 2016 5:35 p.m. Edited.