---
name: "Painful Quandary"
mana_cost: "{3}{B}{B}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Enchantment"
colors: []
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "PFDN"
set_name: "Foundations Promos"
collector_number: "179s"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "David Palumbo"
oracle_id: "c37051cc-6683-4dbb-b5ff-5c3a5bdab1df"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/painful-quandary-pfdn"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Painful Quandary
- **Mana Cost:** `{3}{B}{B}` (CMC: 5)
- **Type:** Enchantment

## Oracle Text
Whenever an opponent casts a spell, that player loses 5 life unless they discard a card.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Oppression](/printing/oppression-7ed.md) — Enchantment
2. [Remorseless Punishment](/printing/remorseless-punishment-ogw.md) — Sorcery
3. [Liliana's Caress](/printing/lilianas-caress-m11.md) — Enchantment
4. [Urborg Syphon-Mage](/printing/urborg-syphon-mage-dmr.md) — Creature — Human Spellshaper
5. [Megrim](/printing/megrim-m10.md) — Enchantment
6. [Curse of Wizardry](/printing/curse-of-wizardry-roe.md) — Enchantment

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Foundations Promos (PFDN) #179s
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** David Palumbo
- **Total Printings:** 8 across all historical editions

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

## Official Rulings
- *(2022-10-14)* 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.