There is always a greater power.
Cruel Ultimatum - Archenemy: Nicol Bolas (#82) - Illustrated by Todd Lockwood - Magic: The Gathering Card

Cruel Ultimatum

Card Rules and Details

Card Type: Sorcery

Mana Cost: {U}{U}{B}{B}{B}{R}{R}

Oracle Rules Text: 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.

Flavor Text: There is always a greater power.

Set: Archenemy: Nicol Bolas (#82), Rarity: Rare, Artist: Todd Lockwood

Sorcery Black Red Blue Rare
$0.55
Regular
€0.31
Euro
Prices as of Sep 02, 2026. Market values fluctuate; double-check current pricing before purchasing.
Historical Printings & Sets (1)
1 Languages
en English Viewing Here
1 Printing
Thumbnail Set Name Code Rarity Artist Released
Cruel Ultimatum - Archenemy: Nicol Bolas MTG card scan Cruel Ultimatum Archenemy: Nicol Bolas Viewing E01 Rare Todd Lockwood 2017-06-16

Official Rulings (4)

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.
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.)

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