Pithing Needle Interactions

[Sage]

I know that Pithing Needle stops cards like Vial, Shackles, and sacrificial abilities. But, what else can it stop? (cycling, etc?)

[heroicraptor]

It stops activated abilities (abilities written [Cost]:[Effect]).

[quicksilver]

If the oracle wording uses a colon (":") it can stop the ability from being played, otherwise it can't.

[Sage]

So it stops anything with a cost:effect? Some sorceries (Abandon Hope) have an : in the text but they have been oracaled to read without the : so this can be confusing. I guess I always thought that Needle only effected stuff in play, not stuff like cycling cards still in someone's hand. I guess I was also looking to know all types of cards that it effects... Like, does it effect dredge? I take it that it doesn't because there isn't a : in the wording? A list of typical examples would be very much appreciated.

[quicksilver]

It does not require the card to be in play it can be anywhere. It does stop cycling (cycling has a colon). It does not stop dredge (dredge does not have a colon). It does not effect Abandon Hope because the oracle wording does not have a colon.

[Infinitium]

Technically speaking it doesn't stop mana abilities either; so you can't name stuff like Simian Spirit Guide and expect it to actually do something.

[StoicAngel]

The biggest thing I use it for is shutting down fetch lands.

[snorlaxcom]

I know that Pithing Needle stops cards like Vial, Shackles, and sacrificial abilities. But, what else can it stop? (cycling, etc?)

Also note it doesn't stop flipping morphs or playing them face down. So saying Exalted Angel or Willbender will be pretty useless. Naming a Jitte with Needle will stop all the activated abilites, but if equipped, the counters may still accumulate.

[Pinder]

Also note it doesn't stop flipping morphs or playing them face down.

Along the same lines, Flashback is not an activated ability, so it can't be Needled.