Brain in a Jar
SOIShadows over Innistrad/#252/2016Rare
MV 2
Current paper retail
Card Kingdom$0.49
Cardmarket€0.21
ManaPool$0.15
TCGplayer$0.21
Buylist (dealers pay)
Card Kingdom$0.03
MTGO (Cardhoarder)
retail$0.02 tix
Paper retail history (USD)
3 providers
Latest $0.49High $0.49Low $0.49▲ 0.0%
Market and collecting
Market overview
$0.21TCGplayer, USD, retail, nonfoil
Latest observation: 2026-11-10
7d▲ 0.0%30d▼ 16.0%90d▼ 30.0%
90d high
$0.30
90d low
$0.21
Paper printings priced
2
Currently 1st
Cheapest paper printing
$0.21
Shadows over Innistrad
- Down 16.0% over the last 30 days on TCGplayer.
- Currently 30% below its 90 day high of $0.30.
- This is the cheapest paper printing of the card currently priced (2 priced in total).
- Foil copies of this printing carry a 995% premium over nonfoil.
Find this printing on eBayView on TCGplayerAffiliate. MTGPrices may earn from qualifying eBay and TCGplayer purchases.
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Play
Compare printings (2 priced)
Gameplay and rules
Artifact
, : Put a charge counter on this artifact, then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on this artifact from your hand without paying its mana cost.
, , Remove X charge counters from this artifact: Scry X.
Keywords
Scry
Card capabilities
Artifact
Derived deterministically from card types, Oracle text and keywords. Not a strategic evaluation.
Format legality
Primary formats
Eternal formats
Rulings (4)
wotc8 Apr 2016
When resolving the first ability of Brain in a Jar, the newly-placed charge counter will be counted when determining what spells you may cast. No player may take any action between you placing the counter and choosing which spell to cast.
wotc8 Apr 2016
If Brain in a Jar leaves the battlefield before its first ability resolves, use the number of counters on it at the moment it left to determine what spell you may cast. That number won’t change because you can’t put a new counter on Brain in a Jar.
wotc8 Apr 2016
If the card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X.
wotc8 Apr 2016
If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs, such as awaken costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Lightning Axe, you must pay those to cast the card.
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Ranked by shared capabilities, colour identity, mana value and type. Never by strategic judgement.
About this card
Brain in a Jar
Brain in a Jar is an Artifact, with mana cost {2} (mana value 2). Printed 2 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: $0.21 (down 16.0% over 30 days).
Frequently asked
Brain in a Jar FAQ
How much is Brain in a Jar worth?
The current TCGplayer USD retail price for Brain in a Jar is $0.21. It is down 16.0% over the last 30 days. Over 90 days it has ranged from $0.21 to $0.30.
What is the cheapest printing of Brain in a Jar?
The cheapest currently priced paper printing is from Shadows over Innistrad at $0.21 on TCGplayer.
What is the most expensive printing of Brain in a Jar?
The most expensive currently priced paper printing is from Shadows over Innistrad Promos at $1.31 on TCGplayer.
How many printings of Brain in a Jar are there?
Brain in a Jar has been printed 2 times in English paper sets that MTGPrices tracks.
What set was Brain in a Jar first printed in?
The earliest English paper printing that MTGPrices tracks is from SOI #252, released 2016-04-08.
Is there a foil version of Brain in a Jar?
Yes. On this printing, foil copies trade at $2.30 versus $0.21 for nonfoil, which is 995% more expensive on TCGplayer.
Is Brain in a Jar legal in Commander?
Yes, Brain in a Jar is currently legal in Commander per Scryfall's legality feed.
Is Brain in a Jar legal in Modern?
Yes, Brain in a Jar is currently legal in Modern per Scryfall's legality feed.