Painful Quandary
Foundations Promos 179s • rare
- Set
- Foundations Promos
- Collector number
- 179s
- Rarity
- Rare
- Mana cost
- 3 generic mana black mana black mana
- Type
- Enchantment
- Colors
- Black
- Artist
- David Palumbo
- Finish
- Foil
What it does
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.
In Mishra's desperation to destroy his brother, he allowed Gix to destroy him instead.
Where you can play it
- StandardLegal
- 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.
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Where it came from
Painful Quandary was originally introduced to the Magic: The Gathering trading card game in the 2010 set Scars of Mirrodin. Designed as an enchantment, it forces opponents to discard a card whenever they cast a spell, unless they pay a life tax. This mechanical choice was intended to punish spell-heavy decks, fitting the set’s overarching theme of Phyrexian corruption and the slow, inevitable drain of resources favored by black-aligned cards.
The Foundations Promos version, marked as collector number 179s, features updated framing and art direction consistent with contemporary design standards. Like other cards in the Foundations initiative, this release aimed to provide essential, long-term tools for players, ensuring that iconic effects remain accessible in modern formats. The card has been well-regarded by collectors and players alike for its ability to dictate the pace of a match, standing as a staple in Commander and other multiplayer formats.
Written by Pi, the helpful collecto.rs AI
Who's collecting this
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About Painful Quandary
Painful Quandary is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. Foundations Promos 179s • 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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