Cruel Ultimatum MTG Card


Offers unrivaled card advantage, resource disparity, and game-changing impacts, setting its caster ahead. Demanding specific mana and being a late-game spell, it challenges deck construction and strategy. Ultimatum cards vary in effect, but Cruel Ultimatum uniquely disrupts opponents’ hands and board.
Card setsReleased in 7 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost7
RarityRare
TypeSorcery

Text of card

Target opponent sacrifices a creature, 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.

There is always a greater power.


Cards like Cruel Ultimatum

Cruel Ultimatum stands out as one of the most impactful spells in the realm of MTG. In the same family of Command spells, we see Titanic Ultimatum, another game-changer that can turn the tide of a match. While Cruel Ultimatum focuses on player-targeted effects like discarding cards, sacrificing creatures, and a shift in life totals, Titanic Ultimatum gears towards a formidable board presence, providing creatures with boosts and overcoming blockers with ease.

Diverging slightly in purpose, Clarion Ultimatum allows players to assert dominance by selecting a range of permanents to clone. Though it doesn’t interact directly with a player’s hand or life, the potential to flood the battlefield presents a different kind of threat. Meanwhile, Violent Ultimatum offers removal flexibility, enabling strategists to take out key pieces on the opposition’s field. However, none express the sheer card disadvantage imposed upon an opponent as effectively as Cruel Ultimatum.

Ultimately, while each Ultimatum card harbors its unique brand of devastation, the targeted cruelty of Cruel Ultimatum ensures its place as a potent weapon in the arsenal of MTG control decks, adept at dismantling an opponent’s resources both on the board and in hand.

Titanic Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Clarion Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Violent Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Titanic Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Clarion Ultimatum - MTG Card versions
Violent Ultimatum - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Cruel Ultimatum. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
Omni-TellOmni-Tell LegacyOmni-TellLegacy Preliminary 2024-03-13 (1)
Grixis ControlGrixis Control LegacyMO78#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Playing Cruel Ultimatum is akin to opening a treasure trove for its caster. Upon resolution, the sheer volume of card advantage generated can often tip the scales irreversibly. The player not only retrieves a creature from the graveyard to rejuvenate their board presence but also compels their opponent into a precarious situation, losing a creature, cards from their hand, and precious life points.

Resource Acceleration: While Cruel Ultimatum doesn’t directly accelerate resources like a ramp spell would, the implications of its effects can set the caster significantly ahead. By forcing the opponent to discard cards, and losing a key creature, the opponent’s resources are effectively depleted. This creates a resource disparity that often accelerates the caster towards victory as they capitalize on a weakened adversary.

Instant Speed: Although the spell operates at sorcery speed, its vast, game-altering consequences mimic the impact of having an instant-speed threat. The anticipation of Cruel Ultimatum shapes the game, prompting opponents to overcommit or play defensively, altering the landscape even before the spell is cast — a psychological acceleration of strategic resources.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Wielding the power of Cruel Ultimatum comes with a steep price, one of which is a forced discard of cards from your opponent. Although this can disrupt your opponent’s strategy, it becomes less effective if they have an empty hand or strategies to benefit from discarding.

Specific Mana Cost: The complex mana cost of Cruel Ultimatum, which requires a combination of blue, black, and red mana, makes it challenging to seamlessly integrate into a multicolored deck. Players often need to tailor their land base or mana-fixing tools exclusively around accommodating this card, possibly at the detriment of the deck’s overall consistency.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Commanding a total of seven mana to cast, this sorcery demands a significant investment, making it a late-game play. Many alternatives can provide impact sooner, giving opponents less time to prepare or counteract. Its high cost requires a deck to be built with ramp or stall tactics in mind, which might not always align with the desired strategy of certain deck archetypes.


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How to beat

Cruel Ultimatum is a powerful spell in the MTG multiverse that can turn the tide of a game with its multi-faceted effects. This card asks for a significant investment in both red, blue, and black mana, which gives opponents a window of opportunity to disrupt your strategy. Victory against Cruel Ultimatum relies on strategic foresight and timely countermoves.

One reliable tactic is to maintain a hand with counter spells ready to deploy. Cards like Negate or Dispel are perfect to keep in your arsenal, ready to thwart Ultimatum’s casting. Alternatively, proactive players could focus on hand disruption, using thoughtseizes or exile cards to eliminate Cruel Ultimatum before it has the chance to be cast. Planeswalkers that can redirect or duplicate spells also present as potential wildcards in outmaneuvering this intimidating play.

When facing off against this commanding spell, keeping your battlefield and hand fortified with versatile responses will be your bulwark. Remember, anticipation and adaptability are key – always stay one step ahead of your adversary’s maneuvers to reign supreme in the match.


BurnMana Recommendations

Dive deeper into the complexities of MTG’s vast universe by understanding the strengths and weaknesses of cards like Cruel Ultimatum. Its ability to alter the tide of the game with its multi-pronged effect is an art worth mastering. Tailor your strategy to incorporate this formidable card and use our insights to optimize your deck’s synergy and resilience. As the nuances of gameplay unfold, being prepared for what lies ahead is crucial. For a more profound understanding and to enhance your deck-building skills, continue your journey with us. Learn more about turning the tables in your favor with every shuffle, draw, and play.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Cruel Ultimatum MTG card by a specific set like Shards of Alara and Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol Bolas, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Cruel Ultimatum and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Cruel Ultimatum Magic the Gathering card was released in 7 different sets between 2008-10-03 and 2024-04-19. Illustrated by 3 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12008-10-03Shards of AlaraALA 1642003NormalBlackRalph Horsley
22011-09-02Duel Decks: Ajani vs. Nicol BolasDDH 692003NormalBlackRalph Horsley
32013-08-23From the Vault: TwentyV13 172003NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
42013-11-01Commander 2013C13 1822003NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
52017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1582015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
62017-06-16Archenemy: Nicol BolasE01 822015NormalBlackTodd Lockwood
72024-04-19Breaking NewsOTP 402015NormalBorderlessMichal Ivan

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Cruel Ultimatum has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Cruel Ultimatum card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
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.