Pithing Needle (M10 #217)
Pithing Needle is a rare printing from Magic 2010 (M10 #217), a Artifact. Illustrated by Pete Venters.
Card text
As this artifact enters, choose a card name.
Activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can't be activated unless they're mana abilities.
It disables with pinpoint accuracy.
Details
| Mana cost | {1} |
|---|---|
| Type | Artifact |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Set | Magic 2010 (M10) |
| Collector number | 217 |
| Artist | Pete Venters |
| Released | 2009-07-17 |
Current price
As of 2026-10-19, Scryfall listed this printing at non-foil $0.55, foil $5.43 (USD). Prices change constantly, so check the live price before buying.
Buy Pithing Needle on TCGplayer
Legality
| Standard | Not legal |
|---|---|
| Future Standard | Not legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Pauper | Not legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Penny Dreadful | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Standard Brawl | Not legal |
| Brawl | Banned |
| Competitive Brawl | Legal |
| Alchemy | Not legal |
| Pauper Commander | Not legal |
| Duel Commander | Legal |
| Old School | Not legal |
| Premodern | Not legal |
| PrEDH | Legal |
| TLR | Legal |
Keep exploring
Search the MTGBrew card database for more cards, or build a deck with the AI Deck Builder.
Rulings
- June 1, 2005 — 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.
- June 1, 2005 — 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.
- June 1, 2005 — 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.
- October 1, 2009 — Once Pithing Needle has left the battlefield, activated abilities of sources with the chosen name can be activated again.
- October 1, 2012 — Activated abilities include a colon and are written in the form "[cost]: [effect]." Triggered abilities and static abilities of the named card work normally.