Painful Quandary
The Brothers' War (BRO) #331 · Rare · Enchantment
Mana cost: {3}{B}{B}
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.
Illustrated by David Palumbo · Released November 18, 2022
Prices
- Nonfoil: $4.48 USD · €2.05 EUR
- Foil: $6.73 USD · €3.33 EUR
Nonfoil price since August 29, 2026: up $0.78 USD (21.1%) to $4.48 USD; low $3.70 USD, high $4.49 USD.
Printings
- Magic Online Promos #105716 (PRM) · Rare · 2025
- Foundations #179 (FDN) · Rare · 2024 · $1.94 USD
- Foundations Promos #179s (PFDN) · Rare · 2024 · $2.13 USD foil
- The Brothers' War #111 (BRO) · Rare · 2022 · $1.55 USD
- The Brothers' War #331 (this printing) · Rare · 2022 · $4.48 USD
- The Brothers' War Promos #111p (PBRO) · Rare · 2022 · $2.70 USD
- The Brothers' War Promos #111s (PBRO) · Rare · 2022 · $3.05 USD foil
- Scars of Mirrodin #73 (SOM) · Rare · 2010 · $2.65 USD
Legality
- Standard: Legal
- Alchemy: Legal
- Pioneer: Legal
- Historic: Legal
- Modern: Legal
- Brawl: Legal
- Legacy: Legal
- Timeless: Legal
- Vintage: Legal
- Pauper: Not legal
- Commander: Legal
- Penny: Legal
- Oathbreaker: Legal
- Duel: Legal
Rulings
- 2011-01-01 · wotc — Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Painful Quandary's ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. It will resolve before the spell does.
- 2022-10-14 · wotc — Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Painful Quandary's ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. It will resolve before the spell does.
Played in these commander decks
- Malfegor · in 46% of 46 decks
- Valgavoth, Harrower of Souls · in 42% of 50 decks
- Liesa, Shroud of Dusk · in 23% of 48 decks
- Nicol Bolas, the Ravager // Nicol Bolas, the Arisen · in 16% of 49 decks
- Y'shtola, Night's Blessed · in 12% of 49 decks
- Aminatou, Veil Piercer · in 12% of 49 decks
- Nekusar, the Mindrazer · in 10% of 50 decks
- Queen Marchesa · in 6% of 50 decks