---
name: "Pain's Reward"
mana_cost: "{2}{B}"
cmc: 3
type_line: "Sorcery"
colors: ["B"]
color_identity: ["B"]
keywords: []
set: "SOK"
set_name: "Saviors of Kamigawa"
collector_number: "85"
rarity: "rare"
artist: "Matt Cavotta"
oracle_id: "4608c663-e088-40ca-a915-b6e39253eb98"
canonical_url: "https://avascry.com/printing/pains-reward-sok"
legalities:
  commander: "legal"
  standard: "not_legal"
  modern: "legal"
  pioneer: "not_legal"
  legacy: "legal"
  vintage: "legal"
  pauper: "not_legal"
  penny: "legal"
---

# Pain's Reward
- **Mana Cost:** `{2}{B}` (CMC: 3)
- **Type:** Sorcery

## Oracle Text
Each player may bid life. You start the bidding with a bid of any number. 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 draws four cards.

## Top 4096-Dim Neural Synergies
1. [Illicit Auction](/printing/illicit-auction-6ed.md) — Sorcery
2. [Mages' Contest](/printing/mages-contest-plst.md) — Instant
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. [Painful Bond](/printing/painful-bond-yneo.md) — Instant
6. [Cruel Bargain](/printing/cruel-bargain-vma.md) — Sorcery

## Printing Details
- **Set:** Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK) #85
- **Rarity:** Rare
- **Artist:** Matt Cavotta
- **Total Printings:** 8 across all historical editions

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