Magic: The Gathering

Painful Quandary

The Brothers' War 111 • rare

Set: The Brothers' War
Collector number: 111
Rarity: Rare
Mana cost: 3 generic mana black mana black mana
Type: Enchantment
Colors: Black
Artist: David Palumbo
Market price: $2.26

Add this to your collection →Buy this card on eBay

0collectors have this

0cards catalogued

$2.26est. via TCGplayer

Market

What it's worth

$2.26market price via TCGplayer · Aug 7, 2026$1.22 – $2.50 over the tracked period

$2.26Aug 7, 2026

Estimate for a typical copy of Painful Quandary; condition, printing, and grading move the real number.

Lore

Why it matters

Painful Quandary is a staple enchantment in Magic: The Gathering that forces opponents to choose between discarding a card or losing significant life whenever they cast a spell. While originally debuting in Scars of Mirrodin, this version features evocative artwork by David Palumbo and serves as a powerful deterrent in multiplayer formats by punishing resource-heavy playstyles.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Card face

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.

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.

Buy

Where to find one

Search for Painful Quandary on the marketplaces collectors actually use.

Listings from external marketplaces. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases.

Provenance

Where it came from

Painful Quandary was introduced in the 2022 expansion set The Brothers' War, a Magic: The Gathering release that revisited the seminal lore of the franchise's early history. The card serves as a mechanical reprint of an enchantment originally debuted in the Scars of Mirrodin set, designed to punish opponents for casting spells by forcing them to choose between discarding cards or losing life. Its inclusion in The Brothers' War reflects the set's focus on high-impact artifacts and oppressive game states consistent with the mechanical identity of black-aligned decks.

The artwork for this version was commissioned from David Palumbo, a noted fantasy illustrator known for his atmospheric and visceral style. Palumbo’s interpretation emphasizes the psychological toll of the enchantment, using dark, brooding imagery to mirror the card's function of forcing difficult choices upon the player. Upon its release, the card was received as a staple for Commander format players looking to control the tempo of a game through resource denial.

Generated by Pi, the collecto.rs collecting companion

Other printings

Every version of this card

The same card, printed again — different sets, treatments, and prices.

Collectors

Who's collecting this

Real cards collectors on collecto.rs who have this in their public collection.

Nobody public has added this card yet — be the first.

About

About Painful Quandary

Painful Quandary is a card in the Magic: The Gathering catalog on collecto.rs. The Brothers' War 111 • 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 Painful Quandary on collecto.rs?

Painful Quandary 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 Painful Quandary?

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 Painful Quandary catalog entry come from?

The catalog entry for Painful Quandary is sourced from Scryfall. Catalog-level facts stay consistent across every collector; your own data (condition, edition, acquisition notes) is yours.