First printed in Zendikar (2009)
Instant — Trap
If an opponent gained life this turn, you may pay 
rather than pay this spell's mana cost.
Target player loses 5 life and you gain 5 life.
The traps around the vampire city of Malakir hint at the thirst of its inhabitants.
- Illustrated by
- Daarken
Legality
- Legal in
- Modern, Legacy, Vintage, Penny Dreadful, Commander, Duel Commander, PreDH, Oathbreaker
- Not legal in
- Standard, Pioneer, Pauper, Future Standard, Historic, Timeless, Alchemy, Premodern, Old School 93/94, Gladiator, Pauper Commander, Tiny Leaders, Brawl, Standard Brawl, Competitive Brawl
Rulings (4)
- You may ignore a Trap's alternative cost condition and simply cast it for its normal mana cost. This is true even if its alternative cost condition has been met.
- Needlebite Trap's alternative cost condition checks only whether life was gained. It doesn't care whether life was also lost. For example, if an opponent gained 4 life and lost 6 life during the turn, that player will have a lower life total than they started the turn with — but you can still cast Needlebite Trap by paying .
- Casting a Trap by paying its alternative cost doesn't change its mana cost or mana value. The only difference is the cost you actually pay.
- Effects that increase or reduce the cost to cast a Trap will apply to whichever cost you chose to pay.
Prices
Paper price: €0.12 / $0.22 , the cheapest non-foil print (Cardmarket and TCGplayer through MTGJSON, 2 Nov 2026).
MTGO price: 0.003 TIX, the cheapest non-foil print (average sell price on GoatBots, 2 Nov 2026).