Needle Drop MTG Card


Needle Drop - Lorwyn
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeInstant
Released2007-10-12
Set symbol
Set nameLorwyn
Set codeLRW
Number186
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Staples

Key Takeaways

  1. Needle Drop grants card advantage and fits into damage-dealing strategies, boosting deck momentum.
  2. Flexibility is a perk; instant speed allows real-time responses and strategic plays.
  3. Conditions and mana specificity limit use, prompting strategic inclusion in matching deck archetypes.

Text of card

Needle Drop deals 1 damage to target creature or player that was dealt damage this turn. Draw a card.

"First it was plovers and mulldrifters. Now it's knitting needles the size of javelins." —Calydd, kithkin farmer


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Needle Drop is a prime example of a card that provides valuable card advantage. It draws you a card upon successfully dealing damage to an opponent, ensuring you don’t lose momentum and potentially putting you ahead in the game.

Resource Acceleration: While Needle Drop itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, it does synergize with decks that focus on spell casting speed. It complements strategies aimed at rapidly dealing damage and casting multiple spells per turn, indirectly contributing to resource acceleration.

Instant Speed: The ability to cast Needle Drop at instant speed offers flexibility in gameplay, allowing you to react in real-time to your opponent’s actions. This can keep your opponent guessing and allow you to maximize the potential of your turn structure without telegraphing your plays ahead of time.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Needle Drop requires a player to have dealt damage to an opponent that turn to cast it, a condition that can be prohibitive if you’re unable to meet it in a given turn.

Specific Mana Cost: It carries a cost that includes red mana, which makes it a specialized card suited primarily for red or multicolored decks, potentially limiting its versatility.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost is low, it can be considered high given that the effect is only to deal one damage and draw a card, especially when there are other options that may deal more damage or provide additional benefits for the same or less mana investment.


Reasons to Include Needle Drop in Your Collection

Versatility: Needle Drop offers unique gameplay options, fitting into decks that capitalize on dealing damage to opponents. It’s particularly effective in decks that can utilize even a single point of damage to draw a card, amplifying their card advantage.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combination with other cards that trigger off of damage dealt. In a deck designed around ‘ping’ mechanics or spellslinger strategies, Needle Drop helps to maintain momentum and card flow.

Meta-Relevance: Given that aggressive burn strategies remain a staple in various formats, Needle Drop maintains relevance. It works well in fast-paced environments where dealing damage and maintaining card advantage can quickly turn the tides in your favor.


How to beat

Needle Drop is a unique card in the Magic: The Gathering universe known for its specific trigger condition and the advantage of card draw it provides. To successfully navigate against an opponent using Needle Drop, understanding its mechanics is crucial. The card can only be cast if an opponent was dealt damage this turn, which primarily aligns with red burn strategies that aim to inflict damage rapidly.

Counteracting Needle Drop effectively involves minimizing opportunities for your opponent to deal damage to you. This can be done by deploying creatures with high toughness to absorb hits, using life gain spells to maintain your health, or employing counterspells for direct damage spells. Keep in mind that preventing that initial damage is key, as it stops the chain reaction of damage and card draw that Needle Drop seeks to perpetuate. Additionally, cards that offer hexproof to your life total, like Leyline of Sanctity, can invalidate Needle Drop’s condition, rendering it a dead card in your opponent’s hand.

Ultimately, your goal against Needle Drop is to disrupt the burn strategy’s momentum. By focusing on defense and proactive life management, you can effectively nullify the threat posed by this card and maintain control over the game state.


BurnMana Recommendations

As an MTG enthusiast looking to fuse strategy with the exhilarating rush of burn decks, Needle Drop presents a multifaceted tool that offers both damage and card draw for one mana. Embracing cards that provide card advantage while fulfilling your strategy can be a game-changer. We encourage you to explore the nuances of Needle Drop, integrating it into decks where its unique conditions can be turned into consistent benefits. Deepen your understanding of the burn archetype and discover how Needle Drop can help carve a path to victory. Ready for more insights to enhance your deck’s firepower? Dive deeper with us and harness the full potential of your MTG gameplay.


Cards like Needle Drop

Needle Drop is an intriguing piece among red spells in Magic: The Gathering that rewards players for dealing damage. It’s akin to cards like Shock, which offers straightforward 2 damage to any target but doesn’t come with card draw. Needle Drop requires a creature or player to have already taken damage before it can be played, adding both damage and card draw for just one mana. This additional card draw can offer a significant strategic edge.

Considering Lightning Bolt, a staple in many red decks, while it provides more damage at three points for a single mana, it lacks the cycling ability that Needle Drop provides. Another comparable card is Lava Spike, which also costs one mana and deals three damage to a player, but once again, forgoes the card draw. The synergy between dealing damage and drawing a card is a unique feature that sets Needle Drop apart in deck building strategies.

Ultimately, assessing the merits of Needle Drop in comparison to its peers highlights its dual capacity to maintain card advantage while nudging the opponent’s life total downward, making it a valuable component in decks that capitalize on burning opponents out.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Lava Spike - MTG Card versions
Shock - Stronghold (STH)
Lightning Bolt - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Lava Spike - Champions of Kamigawa (CHK)

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

False Orders - MTG Card versions
Chaoslace - MTG Card versions
Red Elemental Blast - MTG Card versions
Tunnel - MTG Card versions
Artifact Blast - MTG Card versions
Lightning Bolt - MTG Card versions
Active Volcano - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Panic - MTG Card versions
Vertigo - MTG Card versions
Telim'Tor's Edict - MTG Card versions
Hearth Charm - MTG Card versions
Pyroblast - MTG Card versions
Fighting Chance - MTG Card versions
Shower of Sparks - MTG Card versions
Heat Ray - MTG Card versions
Overload - MTG Card versions
Engulfing Flames - MTG Card versions
Sonic Seizure - MTG Card versions
March of Reckless Joy - MTG Card versions
False Orders - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Chaoslace - Fourth Edition (4ED)
Red Elemental Blast - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Tunnel - Summer Magic / Edgar (SUM)
Artifact Blast - Antiquities (ATQ)
Lightning Bolt - 30th Anniversary Edition (30A)
Active Volcano - Masters Edition III (ME3)
Shock - Arena Beginner Set (ANB)
Panic - Ice Age (ICE)
Vertigo - Ice Age (ICE)
Telim'Tor's Edict - Mirage (MIR)
Hearth Charm - Visions (VIS)
Pyroblast - Magic Online Theme Decks (TD0)
Fighting Chance - Exodus (EXO)
Shower of Sparks - Duel Decks: Heroes vs. Monsters (DDL)
Heat Ray - Battle Royale Box Set (BRB)
Overload - Invasion (INV)
Engulfing Flames - Odyssey (ODY)
Sonic Seizure - Torment (TOR)
March of Reckless Joy - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty (NEO)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Needle Drop MTG card by a specific set like Lorwyn, 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 Needle Drop and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Needle Drop has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

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