Pithing Needle MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 17 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityRare
TypeArtifact

Key Takeaways

  1. The Needle turns potent cards into duds, providing an indirect way to gain card advantage.
  2. Allows deployment early in the game, fitting smoothly into most mana curves and strategies.
  3. Can be cast at instant speed, offering flexibility and surprise utility in matches.

Text of card

As Pithing Needle comes into play, name a card. Activated abilities of the named card can't be played unless they're mana abilities.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pithing Needle’s ability to shut down key cards can indirectly lead to card advantage. By negating your opponent’s card abilities, you effectively render some of their cards less useful or entirely useless without having to remove them from the board.

Resource Acceleration: Although Pithing Needle itself doesn’t accelerate resources, its low cost allows for it to be played early while still developing your board or holding up mana for other plays.

Instant Speed: Pithing Needle can be played at instant speed thanks to its artifact nature, letting you respond swiftly to any threats or wait until you have more information about your opponent’s strategy before choosing the card name.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: For Pithing Needle, the discard aspect is less about a literal card discard, but more about opportunity cost. Deploying Pithing Needle means foregoing another spell or holding mana for responses, which could impact your hand and board presence negatively if not timed correctly.

Specific Mana Cost: Pithing Needle is single-costed, demanding one generic mana, which seems flexible. However, decks that aim to optimize mana usage every turn may find it less than ideal when competing with more dynamic turn one plays, especially when the card to be named isn’t immediately threatening.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While one mana may seem minimal, in formats like Vintage or Legacy, even one mana can be a large investment. Given the high-paced nature of such formats, this cost may not be the most efficient spend, especially if the player is unable to target a critical card due to the precision required when naming a card with Pithing Needle.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Pithing Needle offers a level of flexibility that makes it a must-have in any collection. As a one-cost artifact, it can slot into nearly any deck, enabling players to proactively respond to a wide array of threats simply by naming any non-mana card.

Combo Potential: This card shines when used to dismantle an opponent’s key strategies, whether it’s preventing activations of powerful planeswalkers or disabling crucial combo pieces, making it a tactical addition to decks aiming to disrupt the opponent’s game plan.

Meta-Relevance: In environments where activated abilities on cards are a linchpin of popular decks, having Pithing Needle in your arsenal gives you an edge. It’s an effective tool against many high-powered cards and therefore remains relevant in various MTG formats such as Commander, Modern, and Legacy.


How to beat

Pithing Needle stands out in MTG as a versatile and powerful artifact card that can disrupt the abilities of many cards your opponents rely on. It has the unique ability to shut down any non-mana activated abilities of a named card as long as Pithing Needle remains on the battlefield. To effectively counter this card, strategies often involve removing it from play or using alternative abilities or strategies not impacted by its effect.

Naturalize or Disenchant are excellent choices for directly removing Pithing Needle from the game. Consider running these in your sideboard if Pithing Needle is prevalent in your meta. Additionally, bouncing it back to the owner’s hand with cards like Brazen Borrower grants a reprieve and sometimes a strategic advantage. Forcing your opponent to make plays without relying on their afflicted cards’ abilities requires a flexible game plan and often reverting to the inherent strength of your deck’s creatures or spells.

Despite its potential for significant disruption, with the right preparation and a diverse set of answers, Pithing Needle becomes less of a game-ending threat and more of a puzzle to solve within the vast and complex world of MTG.


BurnMana Recommendations

Enhancing your MTG experience is about understanding the intricacies of cards like Pithing Needle and incorporating them into your gameplay with finesse. Whether you’re disrupting combo decks in Legacy or navigating a meta in Commander, Pithing Needle’s potential to turn the tide is unrivaled. Considering its ability to target a myriad of cards, it’s an intelligent addition to any collection. However, remember that every card choice is a new adventure in strategy. Curious about optimizing your deck or mastering the art of the perfect shutdown? Join us to explore deeper tactics and ensure your MTG journey is as thrilling as it is rewarding.


Cards like Pithing Needle

Pithing Needle has established itself as a staple for strategic gameplay with the ability to neutralize problematic abilities of cards across the battlefield. Its nearest rivals include the versatile Sorcerous Spyglass, which expands upon Pithing Needle’s functionality by allowing the controller a peek into an opponent’s hand before choosing which card to silence. This added information can be crucial, offering greater precision in disrupting opponents’ plans.

Phyrexian Revoker is another card that shares a kindred ability with Pithing Needle. The Revoker can similarly name a nonland card to prevent its activated abilities from being used, but as a creature, it can also present an offensive or defensive presence on the battlefield. Unlike Pithing Needle, however, the Revoker’s influence is limited to nonmana abilities, giving Pithing Needle an edge in versatility.

Assessing these alternatives, Pithing Needle remains highly valued for its cost-effectiveness and nonrestrictive application. It’s an essential tool that can be utilized in a broad array of situations, proving its mettle in both casual and competitive formats of Magic: The Gathering. This adaptability makes it a card worthy of consideration in any deck aiming to disrupt opponents’ tactics.

Sorcerous Spyglass - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Revoker - MTG Card versions
Sorcerous Spyglass - Ixalan Promos (PXLN)
Phyrexian Revoker - Mirrodin Besieged (MBS)

Cards similar to Pithing Needle by color, type and mana cost

Glasses of Urza - MTG Card versions
Wooden Sphere - MTG Card versions
Sol Ring - MTG Card versions
Iron Star - MTG Card versions
Black Vise - MTG Card versions
Urza's Chalice - MTG Card versions
Ivory Cup - MTG Card versions
Brass Man - MTG Card versions
Mana Vault - MTG Card versions
Soul Net - MTG Card versions
The Rack - MTG Card versions
Helm of Chatzuk - MTG Card versions
Obelisk of Undoing - MTG Card versions
Feldon's Cane - MTG Card versions
Throne of Bone - MTG Card versions
Meekstone - MTG Card versions
Thran Foundry - MTG Card versions
Cursed Scroll - MTG Card versions
Candelabra of Tawnos - MTG Card versions
Phyrexian Dreadnought - MTG Card versions
Glasses of Urza - Fifth Edition (5ED)
Wooden Sphere - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Sol Ring - The Brothers' War Commander (BRC)
Iron Star - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Black Vise - Revised Edition (3ED)
Urza's Chalice - Masters Edition (ME1)
Ivory Cup - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Brass Man - Foreign Black Border (FBB)
Mana Vault - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Soul Net - Fifth Edition (5ED)
The Rack - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Helm of Chatzuk - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Obelisk of Undoing - Rinascimento (RIN)
Feldon's Cane - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
Throne of Bone - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Meekstone - World Championship Decks 2000 (WC00)
Thran Foundry - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Cursed Scroll - World Championship Decks 1999 (WC99)
Candelabra of Tawnos - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Phyrexian Dreadnought - Magic Online Promos (PRM)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Pithing Needle MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Magic Online Promos, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Pithing Needle and other MTG cards:

Continue exploring other sealed products in Amazon
See Magic products

Printings

The Pithing Needle Magic the Gathering card was released in 12 different sets between 2005-06-03 and 2024-01-12. Illustrated by 6 different artists.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 940842015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
22002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 1023352015normalblackRon Spencer
32005-06-03Saviors of KamigawaSOK 1582003normalblackPete Venters
42007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3382003normalblackPete Venters
52009-07-17Magic 2010M10 2172003normalblackPete Venters
62012-10-05Return to RavnicaRTR 2312003normalblackAnthony Palumbo
72016-09-30Kaladesh InventionsMPS 442015normalblackJoseph Meehan
82019-12-02Secret Lair DropSLD 442015normalblackJoshua Howard
92021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 3782015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
102021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 257p2015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
112021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight HuntMID 2572015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
122021-09-24Innistrad: Midnight Hunt PromosPMID 257s2015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
132022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 2572015normalblackOvidio Cartagena
142022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3122015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
152022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 3972015normalborderlessRon Spencer
162022-07-08Double Masters 20222X2 5642015normalblackAnthony Palumbo
172024-01-12Ravnica RemasteredRVR 4631997normalblackAnthony Palumbo

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Pithing Needle has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlBanned
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
PredhLegal
BrawlBanned
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Pithing Needle card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2005-06-01 If you name a card that has both a mana ability and another activated ability, the mana ability can be activated but the other ability can't be activated.
2005-06-01 Pithing Needle affects cards regardless of what zone they're in. This includes cards in hand, cards in the graveyard, and exiled cards. For example, a player can't cycle Eternal Dragon or return an Eternal Dragon from their graveyard to hand if Pithing Needle naming Eternal Dragon is on the battlefield.
2005-06-01 You can name any card, even if that card doesn't normally have an activated ability. You can't name a token unless that token has the same name as a card.
2009-10-01 Once Pithing Needle has left the battlefield, activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can be activated again.
2012-10-01 Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form "
-ost:
-ffect]." Triggered abilities and static abilities of the named card work normally.

Recent MTG decks

Continue exploring other format decks
More decks