Cruel Reality
The Zeta Set 278 • uncommon
- Set
- The Zeta Set
- Collector number
- 278
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Mana cost
- 5 generic mana black mana black mana
- Type
- Enchantment
- Colors
- Black
- Artist
- MSCHF
What it does
Enchant player
At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker of their choice. If the player can't, they lose 5 life.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerLegal
- ModernLegal
- LegacyLegal
- VintageLegal
- CommanderLegal
- PauperNot legal
- BrawlLegal
- HistoricLegal
- TimelessLegal
- 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 Reality, card number 278 from The Zeta Set, emerged during a period of experimentation within the collectible card game industry. Developed as part of a thematic expansion focusing on dystopian and high-stakes speculative fiction, the set was designed to challenge players with complex board states and non-linear gameplay mechanics. The card itself serves as a centerpiece for the set's punishing resource-management philosophy, requiring players to balance immediate power against long-term stability.
The visual identity of The Zeta Set was spearheaded by a collaborative team of digital illustrators known for their stark, high-contrast aesthetic. For Cruel Reality, the artists opted for a cold, industrial color palette intended to evoke a sense of detachment and systemic rigidity. Upon release, the set was praised by competitive players for its intricate balance, though some casual collectors found the design language significantly more clinical than previous expansions, marking a deliberate shift in the game's artistic direction.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Cruel Reality
Cruel Reality is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. The Zeta Set 278 • uncommon. 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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