Painful Quandary
FDNFoundations/#179/2024RareReprint
Colour IDMV 5
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$2.99
Cardmarket€1.03
ManaPool$1.04
TCGplayer$1.58
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$1.35
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.02 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $2.99High $2.99Low $1.99▲ 30.6%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$1.58TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▼ 5.4%30d▼ 6.5%90d▲ 1.9%
90d high
$2.30
90d low
$1.40
Paper printings priced
7
Currently 2nd
Cheapest paper printing
$1.33
The Brothers' War
- Down 6.5% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 31% below its 90 day high of $2.30.
- This printing is the 2nd cheapest paper printing currently priced (7 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 27% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
Collect
Play
Compare printings (7 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Enchantment
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.
Card capabilities
DiscardEnchantment
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Rulings (2)
wotc14 Oct 2022
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Painful Quandary's ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. It will resolve before the spell does.
wotc1 Jan 2011
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, Painful Quandary's ability triggers and goes on the stack on top of it. It will resolve before the spell does.
Similar cardsOpen Card Finder →
Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentOverlapping colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentSame colour identity
Shares Discard, EnchantmentMV 4 vs 5
About this card
Painful Quandary
Painful Quandary is an Enchantment, with mana cost {3}{B}{B} (mana value 5). Printed 7 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: legal, Pioneer: legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $1.58 (down 6.5% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Painful Quandary FAQ
How much is Painful Quandary worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Painful Quandary is $1.58. It is down 6.5% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $1.40 to $2.30.
What is the cheapest printing of Painful Quandary?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from The Brothers' War at $1.33 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Painful Quandary?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from The Brothers' War at $4.98 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Painful Quandary are there?
Painful Quandary has been printed 7 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Painful Quandary first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from SOM #73, released 2010-10-01.
What is the newest printing of Painful Quandary?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from FDN #179, released 2024-11-15.
Is there a foil version of Painful Quandary?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $2.00 versus $1.58 for nonfoil, which is 27% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Painful Quandary legal in Commander?
Yes, Painful Quandary is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.