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Cruel Ultimatum

Cruel Ultimatum

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Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas

#69 · EN · Rare · 2011-09-02

Browse all 7 printings ↓

Cruel Ultimatum

{U}{U}{B}{B}{B}{R}{R}

Sorcery

Target opponent sacrifices a creature of their choice, discards three cards, then loses 5 life. You return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, draw three cards, then gain 5 life.

Artist: Ralph Horsley

Color identity: B, R, U

Reference prices

Reference prices by finish and currency
FinishUSDEUR
Nonfoil$0.39€0.35

MTGO: 0.02 tix

Data snapshot 2026-10-22. Not live offers.

Use in a combo · Use in a deck

Editions & versions

7 printings across 7 editions. Choose a printing to view its artwork and details.

Reference prices · Data snapshot 2026-10-22. Prices vary by seller and condition; — means no quote.

Combos using this card

Fun Ultimatum

Recurring Cruel

Ultimatum over again

Format legality
Standardnot legal
Futurenot legal
Historiclegal
Timelesslegal
Gladiatorlegal
Pioneernot legal
Modernlegal
Legacylegal
Paupernot legal
Vintagelegal
Pennylegal
Commanderlegal
Oathbreakerlegal
Standardbrawlnot legal
Brawllegal
Competitivebrawllegal
Alchemynot legal
Paupercommandernot legal
Duellegal
Oldschoolnot legal
Premodernnot legal
Predhlegal
Tlrnot legal
Rulings

2024-04-12 If the target opponent is an illegal target as Cruel Ultimatum tries to resolve, it won't resolve and none of its effects will happen. (I'm not going to list them all here because it would just be disappointing to hear all of the things you won't get to do.)

2017-03-14 All of the actions for Cruel Ultimatum are performed sequentially, in the order listed. Earlier actions may affect how you perform later actions. For example, if the opponent sacrifices a creature that they control but you own, it will end up in your graveyard. When Cruel Ultimatum lets you return a creature card from your graveyard to your hand, you can choose that one.

2017-03-14 Cruel Ultimatum's only target is an opponent. You don't choose which creature card in your graveyard you'll return to your hand until Cruel Ultimatum resolves.

2017-03-14 If, as Cruel Ultimatum begins to resolve, your opponent's life total is 5 or less and you have two or fewer cards in your library, the game will result in a draw. Your opponent's life total will drop to 0 or less, but Cruel Ultimatum must finish resolving completely before state-based actions are performed. You'll then be forced to draw three cards and fail to draw one. When state-based actions are finally performed, you and your opponent will both lose the game at the same time, which means the game is a draw.

Current Oracle text is shown for every printing.


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