According to flavor text, looks like the Needle is Rakdos tool. That may explain why the new Blood Witch Exava has no activated ability.
Posted By:
zipec
(6/18/2013 5:10:49 AM)
This is the ONLY reliable answer in current Standard to Aetherling as far as I know, assuming he already hits play and the opponent has untapped with lots (read: usually 2 is lots, 4 is absolutely enough) of blue mana open. This is very impressive for a one-mana card.
Also note that the only other reliable answers to Aetherling in general are Slaughter Games and counterspells, but the latter will only work after Cavern of Souls rotates this October. Counterflux will be probably the best counterspell option because of its own uncounterability. In other words, the list of cards that can handle Aetherling is already extremely short, and if he resolves with mana open, you're left with two options: Needle, or race him. (or die, obviously, so I guess three options.)
Posted By:
sweetgab
(6/25/2013 12:06:20 PM)
Lethal Vapors.
Posted By:
LordRandomness
(7/29/2013 4:16:37 PM)
Oh my god, I just "got" the flavor text. Imagine R&D is saying it after the Caw-Blade decks left Standard...
Posted By:
Nucleon
(8/15/2013 1:38:57 PM)
@knight3607: your brother is full of s***, since land abilities count as mana abilities.
Posted By:
Arachnos
(10/18/2013 1:56:19 PM)
You'll eat nailth and pith needleth.
Posted By:
DeckMechanic
(1/18/2014 1:04:20 PM)
A one mana cost solution to any single card's activated ability. Planeswalkers and certain lands beware.
Posted By:
kidhawk91
(2/5/2014 8:06:53 AM)
This would kinda of shut down snapcaster mage. not directly the snapcaster, but if you know what spell he's going to "flashback" you can name that spell. Flashback is an activated ability, and can now no longer be used.
you simply need to know which bothersome spell he will try to flashback, and name it. Might be easier to play Dryad militant or any other kind of grave hate instead, but could technically still work
Posted By:
Sorxores
(3/26/2014 3:18:25 PM)
Sorxores, flashback is a static ability, not an activated one.
Posted By:
Bortian
(4/10/2014 3:26:08 AM)
Other than lobotomizing Planeswalkers and AEtherling, here are some other things in Standard to consider stopping with this card:
- Creatures with Monstrous abilities
- Equipment
- Firebreathing
- Regeneration
- Drawbacks of cards like Soul Ransom
- Man-lands or lands enchanted by Underworld Connections (doesn't stop them from tapping for mana, but stops everything else)
- Anything equipped with Illusionist's Bracers, just to be mean. XD
Posted By:
Agent_Gold
(5/6/2014 4:01:06 PM)