---
name: "Painful Quandary"
mana_cost: "{3}{B}{B}"
cmc: 5
type_line: "Enchantment"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "SOM"
set_name: "Scars of Mirrodin"
collector_number: "73"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Whit Brachna"
oracle_id: "c37051cc-6683-4dbb-b5ff-5c3a5bdab1df"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/painful-quandary-som"
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.

> *「一語語れば、一語忘らる。 一つ思えば、記憶が腐る。」 ――モリオックの詠唱*

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Oppression](/printing/oppression-sld.md) — Enchantment
2. [Remorseless Punishment](/printing/remorseless-punishment-plst.md) — Sorcery
3. [Liliana's Caress](/printing/lilianas-caress-m11.md) — Enchantment
4. [Megrim](/printing/megrim-9ed.md) — Enchantment
5. [Urborg Syphon-Mage](/printing/urborg-syphon-mage-tsp.md) — Creature — Human Spellshaper
6. [Raiders' Wake](/printing/raiders-wake-plst.md) — Enchantment

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Scars of Mirrodin (SOM) #73
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Whit Brachna
- **Total Printings:** 33 across all historical editions

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