Against the field it fights KoTR, Ravager, Elspeth etc...there must be a reason that it is not showing up on lists. Am I just better off running chalice of the void since in my case the problem are more so the 1 drops?
It's probably because it's too narrow in the current meta. With eternal sideboarding you want sideboard cards to handle the top few strategies present in your meta, while being as versatile as possible against the other strategies.
Pithing needle is and interesting one in Legacy because it's pretty wide because there are a lot of game winning activated abilities in that format.
In modern there aren't so many. Sure it seems like it's pretty good as a sideboard card against elves, but you're not going to run it out there and name Archdruid blind are you? Same thing with Fauna Shaman. Against Martyr I don't think you really want to run it out blind against any of those targets, because you might just blank yourself.
The best argument seems to be that you can use it to turn off KOTR, Ravager, Plating and Elspeth, because you know that if those cards land and get going you are losing that game, but it seems like most decks have other ways to deal with those threats that are more efficient than needle. For example, I'd rather have an O-Ring for any of those things.
In legacy there are several decks that you're just happy to run needle out blind, knowing exactly what to name (mind you, there aren't many pithing needles in current legacy because those decks have dropped to tier 2+ now). When you can point to 3 different tier 1 modern decks and you can say you'd prefer pithing needle to removal and you'd be confident playing it turn 1 naming blind, then we'll talk.
I rarely see a board state where I'd want the Needle. Barring some craziness like Isochron Scepter or something, most of the time a solid piece of removal does what you want, and better.
It is a decent card, but it just doesn't do enough especially since the format is in overdrive with zoos foot on the gas petal. I don't know that I would run 1 in an artifact based control, although those style decks are viable without chrome mox, seat of the synod, and (maybe) sword of the meek.
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needle is either meta specific or used as an anti-hate card to protect your graveyard dependent combo against problem permanents like tormods crypt, relic of progenitus, etc. It has SOME use against zoo, splinter, and D&T, but not really backbreaking. If that's all you are affected by, then run something else.
needle is either meta specific or used as an anti-hate card to protect your graveyard dependent combo against problem permanents like tormods crypt, relic of progenitus, etc. It has SOME use against zoo, splinter, and D&T, but not really backbreaking. If that's all you are affected by, then run something else.
If artifact based control was good it would see some play. I miss using trinket mages and thirst and all that sort of good stuff.
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Needle is one of my favorite cards in Legacy and there's a few main things I use it on:
Qasali Pridemage- to protect my non-Needle permanents (most of which aren't Modern legal)
Equipment- With Stoneforge banned, F&F sees less play, and Cranial is also banned here
Planeswalkers- Jace also seems to be banned, though other walkers will probably be Needle's best use in Modern
Short of that, shutting off Graveyard hate cards is the only thing that springs to mind- though that's been said.
In Modern, I personally run a Necrotic Ooze deck. An early Needle (on Fauna) can slow me down but you'll need Needles on two other cards to shut me down completely- and that really just stops me from doing infinite things. I can still just attack.
Needle is one of my favorite cards in Legacy and there's a few main things I use it on:
Qasali Pridemage- to protect my non-Needle permanents (most of which aren't Modern legal)
Equipment- With Stoneforge banned, F&F sees less play, and Cranial is also banned here
Planeswalkers- Jace also seems to be banned, though other walkers will probably be Needle's best use in Modern
Short of that, shutting off Graveyard hate cards is the only thing that springs to mind- though that's been said.
In Modern, I personally run a Necrotic Ooze deck. An early Needle (on Fauna) can slow me down but you'll need Needles on two other cards to shut me down completely- and that really just stops me from doing infinite things. I can still just attack.
cranial plating is not banned.....
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In life all we can do is try to make things better. Sitting lost in old ways and fearing change only makes us outdated and ignorant.
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Albert Einstein
Millions of innocent men, women and children, since the introduction of Christianity, have been burnt, tortured, fined and imprisoned; yet we have not advanced one inch towards uniformity.
How good is/can this card be in modern?
I have not seen many, if any list run it, however it seems to stop a wide variety threats.
On a personal level, I have trouble with elves and the MartyrProc deck with my 4 Color Cruel Control deck.
Needle stops:
heritage druid
elvish archdruid
fauna shaman
martyr of sands
weathered wayfarer
proclamation of rebirth (forecast)
Against the field it fights KoTR, Ravager, Elspeth etc...there must be a reason that it is not showing up on lists. Am I just better off running chalice of the void since in my case the problem are more so the 1 drops?
Pithing needle is and interesting one in Legacy because it's pretty wide because there are a lot of game winning activated abilities in that format.
In modern there aren't so many. Sure it seems like it's pretty good as a sideboard card against elves, but you're not going to run it out there and name Archdruid blind are you? Same thing with Fauna Shaman. Against Martyr I don't think you really want to run it out blind against any of those targets, because you might just blank yourself.
The best argument seems to be that you can use it to turn off KOTR, Ravager, Plating and Elspeth, because you know that if those cards land and get going you are losing that game, but it seems like most decks have other ways to deal with those threats that are more efficient than needle. For example, I'd rather have an O-Ring for any of those things.
In legacy there are several decks that you're just happy to run needle out blind, knowing exactly what to name (mind you, there aren't many pithing needles in current legacy because those decks have dropped to tier 2+ now). When you can point to 3 different tier 1 modern decks and you can say you'd prefer pithing needle to removal and you'd be confident playing it turn 1 naming blind, then we'll talk.
KotR
manland activations
splinter twin/kiki jiki
It is a decent card, but it just doesn't do enough especially since the format is in overdrive with zoos foot on the gas petal. I don't know that I would run 1 in an artifact based control, although those style decks are viable without chrome mox, seat of the synod, and (maybe) sword of the meek.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
Needle doesn't stop mana abilities, so it does nothing to those cards.
http://officeofstrategicinfluence.com/spam/ <---- kills spam, fyi.
If artifact based control was good it would see some play. I miss using trinket mages and thirst and all that sort of good stuff.
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson
Also, if you really want to stop mana abilities you can use Phyrexian Revoker instead, though it is more fragile.
Reprint Opt for Modern!!
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PLAY MORE ROUGE DECKS!
Strangely enough, and I think you know this, it's used in eggs. Fits perfectly, stops the few narrow cards that hose us pretty convincingly.
But the meta at large? i don't see it being widespread, sure.
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Qasali Pridemage- to protect my non-Needle permanents (most of which aren't Modern legal)
Equipment- With Stoneforge banned, F&F sees less play, and Cranial is also banned here
Planeswalkers- Jace also seems to be banned, though other walkers will probably be Needle's best use in Modern
Short of that, shutting off Graveyard hate cards is the only thing that springs to mind- though that's been said.
In Modern, I personally run a Necrotic Ooze deck. An early Needle (on Fauna) can slow me down but you'll need Needles on two other cards to shut me down completely- and that really just stops me from doing infinite things. I can still just attack.
L1 Judge
cranial plating is not banned.....
Albert Einstein
Thomas Jefferson