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Painful Quandary
Price history
Painful Quandary price history chart, default range 3 months. currently $1.63.
Painful Quandary Price Summary
Painful Quandary's current headline price is $1.63.
Painful Quandary Printings & Prices
Painful Quandary has 7 tracked printings across 5 sets, in nonfoil and foil finishes, including prerelease, promo pack and extended art treatments.
All finishes
Sell Painful Quandary: Buylist Offers
| Buyer | Printing | Finish | Cash offer | Retail | Spread |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Card Kingdom | SOM #73 | Foil | — | — | — |
| CoolStuffInc | SOM #73 | Foil | — | — | — |
| CoolStuffInc | BRO #331 | Foil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | BRO #331 | Foil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | PFDN #179s | Foil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | PBRO #111s | Foil | — | — | — |
| CoolStuffInc | BRO #331 | Nonfoil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | PBRO #111p | Nonfoil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | BRO #331 | Nonfoil | — | — | — |
| Card Kingdom | FDN #179 | Nonfoil | — | — | — |
Painful Quandary Rules Text & Legality
View on Scryfall ↗Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.
Painful Quandary is legal in Standard, Pioneer, Modern, Legacy and Commander, and not legal in Pauper.
Painful Quandary Rulings
- Jan 1, 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.
Reprints & Reprint Risk
Painful Quandary has been reprinted 12 times. The Foundations reprint cut the price 75% in 30 days.
| Set | Date | Rarity | Treatment | Price before | Day 1 | 30 days | 90 days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FDN #179 | 2024-11-15 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — | — |
| PFDN #179s | 2024-11-15 | Rare | Prerelease | — | — | — | — |
| FDN #179 | 2024-11-15 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — | — |
| BRO #331 | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Extended Art | — | — | — | — |
| BRO #331 | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Extended Art | — | — | — | — |
| PBRO #111s | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Prerelease | — | — | — | — |
| BRO #111 | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — | — |
| BRO #111 | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Standard | — | — | — | — |
| PBRO #111p | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Promo Pack | — | — | — | — |
| PBRO #111p | 2022-11-18 | Rare | Promo Pack | — | — | — | — |
PFDN #179s 
BRO #331 
PBRO #111s Showing the 10 most recent of 12 printings.
Painful Quandary in Commander
Painful Quandary is the #1,185 most-played card on EDHREC.
Painful Quandary FAQ
How much is Painful Quandary worth?
Painful Quandary is worth about $1.63 for its cheapest playable printing as of Sep 23, 2026.
Is Painful Quandary legal in Commander?
Yes — Painful Quandary is legal in Commander. It is also legal in Standard, Pioneer, Modern and Legacy.
Has Painful Quandary been reprinted?
Yes — Painful Quandary has been reprinted 12 times, with 7 printings tracked on The Index.
Why is Painful Quandary cheap?
Painful Quandary trades at about $1.63 — 12 reprints keep supply plentiful.