Cruel Bargain
Portal 86 • rare
- Set
- Portal
- Collector number
- 86
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- black mana black mana black mana
- Type
- Sorcery
- Colors
- Black
- Artist
- Adrian Smith
- Market price
- $6.22
What it does
Draw four cards. You lose half your life, rounded up.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- ModernNot legal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlNot legal
- HistoricNot legal
- TimelessNot legal
- Penny DreadfulLegal
- OathbreakerLegal
Portions of the materials used are property of Wizards of the Coast. ©Wizards of the Coast LLC. Card text via Scryfall. Not approved or endorsed by Wizards. As of the last catalogue refresh.
Where to find one
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Where it came from
Cruel Bargain was released in 1997 as part of the Portal expansion for Magic: The Gathering. This set was designed specifically as an introductory product to simplify the game's mechanics for new players, stripping away complexity like phases and instant-speed gameplay. The card itself exemplifies the 'Black' color philosophy of the game, which emphasizes gaining power at the cost of one's own life points.
The artwork for the card was created by artist Heather Hudson, who was a prolific contributor to the game during the mid-to-late 1990s. Her design leans into the gothic and visceral aesthetic prevalent in the early years of the game. While the Portal set was initially met with mixed reactions from veteran players due to its simplified rules, cards like Cruel Bargain have since become appreciated for their efficient design and nostalgic visual style.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Cruel Bargain
Cruel Bargain is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Portal 86 • rare. Catalog data is sourced from Scryfall. No public cards collectors track this one yet — adding yours would make you the first on collecto.rs.
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Where does the Cruel Bargain catalog entry come from?
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