---
name: "Illicit Auction"
mana_cost: "{3}{R}{R}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: ["R"]
color_identity: ["R"]
keywords: []
set: "MIR"
set_name: "Mirage"
collector_number: "183"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Scott Kirschner"
oracle_id: "dea8c725-455e-4668-877a-df388fe22255"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/illicit-auction-mir"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "not_legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "not_legal"
---

# Illicit Auction
- **Mana Cost:** `{3}{R}{R}` (CMC: 5)
- **Type:** Sorcery

## Oracle Text
Each player may bid life for control of target creature. You start the bidding with a bid of 0. In turn order, each player may top the high bid. The bidding ends if the high bid stands. The high bidder loses life equal to the high bid and gains control of the creature. (This effect lasts indefinitely.)

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Mages' Contest](/printing/mages-contest-plst.md) — Instant
2. [Pain's Reward](/printing/pains-reward-sok.md) — Sorcery
3. [Life at Stake](/printing/life-at-stake-unk.md) — Instant
4. [Exit Through the Grift Shop](/printing/exit-through-the-grift-shop-unf.md) — Sorcery
5. [Thieves' Auction](/printing/thieves-auction-plst.md) — Sorcery
6. [Witch Hunt](/printing/witch-hunt-c13.md) — Enchantment

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Mirage (MIR) #183
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Scott Kirschner
- **Total Printings:** 16 across all historical editions

## Format Legalities
Commander: `legal` | Standard: `not_legal` | Modern: `not_legal` | Pioneer: `not_legal` | Legacy: `legal` | Vintage: `legal` | Pauper: `not_legal` | Penny: `not_legal`