Cruel Reality
SLZThe Zeta Set/#157/2026UncommonFull artReprint
Colour IDMV 7
Current paper retail
No paper retail prices.
Market and collecting
Market overview
$2.87TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▼ 4.0%30d▼ 0.7%90d▲ 3.2%
90d high
$3.15
90d low
$2.41
Paper printings priced
2
Currently 1st
Cheapest paper printing
$2.64
Amonkhet
- Down 0.7% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 9% below its 90 day high of $3.15.
- This is the cheapest paper printing of the card currently priced (2 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing are trading 8% below nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
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Gameplay and rules
Enchantment — Aura Curse
Enchant player
At the beginning of enchanted player's upkeep, that player sacrifices a creature or planeswalker of their choice. If the player can't, they lose 5 life.
Keywords
Enchant
Card capabilities
Enchantment
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Rulings (3)
wotc19 Jan 2018
There are many important moments in the story, but the most crucial—called “story spotlights”—are shown on cards. These cards have the Planeswalker symbol in their text box; this symbol has no effect on gameplay. You can read more about these events in the official Magic fiction at http://www.mtgstory.com.
wotc18 Apr 2017
The enchanted player can’t choose to lose 5 life if they have a creature or planeswalker that can be sacrificed.
wotc18 Apr 2017
The enchanted player chooses a permanent to sacrifice from among the creatures and planeswalkers that player controls. You don’t choose which type of permanent the player has to sacrifice.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
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About this card
Cruel Reality
Cruel Reality is an Enchantment — Aura Curse, with mana cost {5}{B}{B} (mana value 7). Printed 5 times across MTG sets.
Format legality: Commander: legal, Modern: legal, Standard: not_legal, Pioneer: legal, Legacy: legal, Pauper: not_legal.
Current headline price on TCGplayer: $2.87 (down 0.7% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Cruel Reality FAQ
How much is Cruel Reality worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Cruel Reality is $2.87. It is down 0.7% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $2.41 to $3.15.
What is the cheapest printing of Cruel Reality?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from Amonkhet at $2.64 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Cruel Reality?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Amonkhet Promos at $7.50 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Cruel Reality are there?
Cruel Reality has been printed 5 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Cruel Reality first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from AKH #84, released 2017-04-28.
What is the newest printing of Cruel Reality?
The most recent English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from SLZ #157, released 2026-09-02.
Is there a foil version of Cruel Reality?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $2.64 versus $2.87 for nonfoil, which is 8% less expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Cruel Reality legal in Commander?
Yes, Cruel Reality is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.