Cruel Ultimatum
From the Vault: Twenty 17 • mythic
- Set
- From the Vault: Twenty
- Collector number
- 17
- Rarity
- Mythic
- Mana cost
- blue mana blue mana black mana black mana black mana red mana red mana
- Type
- Sorcery
- Colors
- Black · Red · Blue
- Artist
- Todd Lockwood
- Finish
- Foil
What it does
Target opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice, discards three cards, then loses 5 life. You return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, draw three cards, then gain 5 life.
There is always a greater power.
Where you can play it
- StandardNot legal
- PioneerNot legal
- 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.
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Where it came from
Cruel Ultimatum was originally printed in the 2008 Shards of Alara set, designed as a powerful, high-mana sorcery that exemplifies the Grixis color identity through a devastating swing in life, resources, and board presence. Its narrative intent represents the philosophy of the Grixis shard, which prioritizes ambition and selfishness above all else, forcing an opponent to suffer a comprehensive loss while the caster reaps the rewards.
The From the Vault: Twenty version was released in 2013 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Magic: The Gathering. This specific iteration features exclusive foil treatment and the set’s distinct expansion symbol. Todd Lockwood’s iconic illustration, which depicts a looming, ominous figure orchestrating a dark ritual, was retained to maintain the visual gravity that helped establish the card as a staple of control decks during its initial competitive lifespan.
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About Cruel Ultimatum
Cruel Ultimatum is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. From the Vault: Twenty 17 • mythic. 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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