Pithing needle

[Blazingblevins]

Does {pithing needle} stop aetherling. If not what does?

[Vileo]

As long as it doesn't get countered, needle hits the Aetherling. They can flip it in response, but when it comes back it's just a 4/5.

[Blazingblevins]

But doesn't Aetherling have mana abilities?

[Pleeb]

It has abilities that cost mana to activate, but it doesn't have mana abilities.

605.1a: An activated ability is a mana ability if it meets three criteria: it doesn't have a target, it could put mana into a player's mana pool when it resolves, and it's not a loyalty ability. (See rule 606, "Loyalty Abilities.")