Cruel Ultimatum
Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 82 • rare
- Set
- Archenemy: Nicol Bolas
- Collector number
- 82
- Rarity
- Rare
- 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
- Market price
- $0.50
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.
Where to find one
Search for Cruel Ultimatum on the marketplaces collectors use.
Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.
Where it came from
Cruel Ultimatum was originally introduced in the 2008 set Shards of Alara, representing the signature spell of the dragon planeswalker Nicol Bolas. This specific printing comes from the 2017 Archenemy: Nicol Bolas box set, which was designed to facilitate a specialized multiplayer format where one player takes on the role of the villain against a team of three others.
The card’s artwork, illustrated by Kev Walker, captures the essence of Grixis—a shard defined by black, blue, and red mana—through a depiction of overwhelming, destructive arcane power. Within the context of the Archenemy release, the card served as a centerpiece to emphasize the overwhelming threat posed by Bolas, and it remains a quintessential example of high-impact, late-game spells within the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.
About Cruel Ultimatum
Cruel Ultimatum is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Archenemy: Nicol Bolas 82 • 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.
How many collectors track Cruel Ultimatum on collecto.rs?
Cruel Ultimatum doesn't have any public collectors on collecto.rs yet. Sign up to add it and become the first.
Can I track my own copy of Cruel Ultimatum?
Yes. collecto.rs is free — sign up to log your card, upload photos, record condition, edition, and acquisition cost, and connect with other magic: the gathering collectors. Your collection stays private by default.
Where does the Cruel Ultimatum catalog entry come from?
The catalog entry for Cruel Ultimatum is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.
Is collecto.rs cards tracking free?
Yes. Tracking your cards is free — no paid tier required to catalog items, upload photos, or share your collection.
Track every card you own
Free. Fun. Collection photos, notes, organization, value tracking, friends — all in one place.
Sign up free
