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Brain in a Jar Shadows over Innistrad MTG card

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Brain in a Jar

ARTIFACT Rare
Shadows over Innistrad SOI #252 EDHREC #18,863
$0.25
-3.9% 7 days

Price history

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Brain in a Jar price history chart, default range 3 months. currently $0.25.

View buying optionsMana Pool · Nonfoil

Brain in a Jar Price Summary

Brain in a Jar's current headline price is $0.25.

Brain in a Jar Printings & Prices

2 printings

Brain in a Jar has 2 tracked printings across 2 sets, in nonfoil and foil finishes, including prerelease treatments.

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Sell Brain in a Jar: Buylist Offers

6 offers
Buyer Printing Finish Cash offer Retail Spread
Card Kingdom PSOI #252s Foil
CoolStuffInc SOI #252 Foil
starcitygames SOI #252 Foil
Card Kingdom SOI #252 Foil
starcitygames SOI #252 Nonfoil
Card Kingdom SOI #252 Nonfoil

Brain in a Jar Rules Text & Legality

View on Scryfall ↗

Artifact — mana cost {2}

{1}, {T}: 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.

{3}, {T}, Remove X charge counters from this artifact: Scry X.

Brain in a Jar is legal in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Standard and Pauper.

standard
Not legal
pauper
Not legal

Brain in a Jar Rulings

4 most recent
  • Apr 8, 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.
  • Apr 8, 2016 If the card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X.
  • Apr 8, 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.
  • Apr 8, 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.

Reprints & Reprint Risk

3 printings

Brain in a Jar has been reprinted 3 times.

Set Date Rarity Treatment
SOI #252 2016-04-08 Rare Standard
SOI #252 2016-04-08 Rare Standard
PSOI #252s 2016-04-08 Rare Prerelease

Brain in a Jar in Commander

Brain in a Jar is the #18,863 most-played card on EDHREC, down 339 places over the last 30 days.

Brain in a Jar FAQ

How much is Brain in a Jar worth?

Brain in a Jar is worth about $0.25 for its cheapest playable printing as of Sep 24, 2026.

Is Brain in a Jar legal in Commander?

Yes — Brain in a Jar is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Pioneer, Modern and Legacy.

Has Brain in a Jar been reprinted?

Yes — Brain in a Jar has been reprinted 3 times, with 2 printings tracked on The Index.

Why is Brain in a Jar cheap?

Brain in a Jar trades at about $0.25 — 3 reprints keep supply plentiful, and Commander demand is modest (#18,863 on EDHREC).