Playing A three person game of commander and I play martial law. One of my opponents played pithing needle against it which renders all of its activated abilities useless.But Martial law’s ability uses no mana, it just say’s detain target creature a opponent controls. Would pithing needle still work?
Martial Law has no activated abilities; it has a single triggered ability. Also worth noting that an activated ability, or the identification of one, has nothing to do with whether it costs mana (triggered abilities can cost mana too). It is based on the way the ability is formatted (see below). Also, to make sure there is no confusion, a "mana ability" (something Needle does not stop) is an ability that produces mana not one that costs mana. Needle can therefore shut down Scavenging Ooze but not Llanowar Elves.
112.3b. Activated abilities have a cost and an effect. They are written as "[Cost]: [Effect.] [Activation instructions (if any).]" A player may activate such an ability whenever they have priority. Doing so puts it on the stack, where it remains until it's countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack. See rule 602, "Activating Activated Abilities."
112.3c. Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as "[Trigger condition], [effect]," and include (and usually begin with) the word "when," "whenever," or "at." Whenever the trigger event occurs, the ability is put on the stack the next time a player would receive priority and stays there until it's countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack. See rule 603, "Handling Triggered Abilities."
605.1a. An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets all of the following criteria: it doesn't have a target, it could add mana to a player's mana pool when it resolves, and it's not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")
Martial Law
Martial Law has a triggered ability, not an activated ability, so it's not affected by pithing needle.
Pithing Needle
Martial Law
Martial Law has no activated abilities; it has a single triggered ability. Also worth noting that an activated ability, or the identification of one, has nothing to do with whether it costs mana (triggered abilities can cost mana too). It is based on the way the ability is formatted (see below). Also, to make sure there is no confusion, a "mana ability" (something Needle does not stop) is an ability that produces mana not one that costs mana. Needle can therefore shut down Scavenging Ooze but not Llanowar Elves.
112.3c. Triggered abilities have a trigger condition and an effect. They are written as "[Trigger condition], [effect]," and include (and usually begin with) the word "when," "whenever," or "at." Whenever the trigger event occurs, the ability is put on the stack the next time a player would receive priority and stays there until it's countered, it resolves, or it otherwise leaves the stack. See rule 603, "Handling Triggered Abilities."
605.1a. An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets all of the following criteria: it doesn't have a target, it could add mana to a player's mana pool when it resolves, and it's not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")
My Helpdesk
[Pr] Marath | [Pr] Lovisa | Jodah | Saskia | Najeela | Yisan | Lord Windgrace | Atraxa | Meren | Gisa and Geralf