The foil rare sorcery Brilliant Ultimatum (#159) from Magic: The Gathering's 2008 Shards of Alara expansion, featuring unique gameplay mechanics.
Brilliant Ultimatum
2008 • Magic: The Gathering • Shards of Alara
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Market & Price History
| Condition | Value | Source | Trend | Price Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
$8.18 | Guide Estimate | +6.1% | ||
- $8.18
- Source
- Guide Estimate
- Trend
- +6.1%
- Price Details
30-day Price History
Raw / Ungraded
TCGplayer Market (reference) · Guide Estimate evidence · captured Sep 25, 2026
Description
Brilliant Ultimatum stands as a significant sorcery card within the Shards of Alara expansion, released by Wizards of the Coast in 2008. As card number 159 in the set, this foil rare represents a pivotal moment in Magic: The Gathering history, showcasing the complex multicolored mana requirements that defined the Alara block. The card demands seven mana, specifically requiring white, blue, and black symbols, making it a high-investment play that requires strategic deck construction. The gameplay of Brilliant Ultimatum offers a unique interactive experience for players. By exiling the top five cards of your library and allowing an opponent to split them into two piles, the card introduces a layer of psychological strategy absent in many other sorceries. Players can then access lands and spells from one pile, casting them without paying their mana costs. This mechanic creates high-stakes moments where the outcome depends heavily on the opponent's decision-making, making every copy of this card a potential game-changer in competitive play. For collectors, the foil treatment of Brilliant Ultimatum adds distinct visual appeal. The shimmering finish highlights the card's rarity and makes it a desirable addition to any Shards of Alara collection. Whether you are building a competitive deck or completing a set, this card offers both mechanical depth and aesthetic value. The combination of its complex mana cost, interactive rules text, and foil finish makes Brilliant Ultimatum a standout piece in the Magic: The Gathering trading card game landscape.
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Card Details
The catalog profile below summarizes the card identity, featured subject, and notable collectible traits.
Catalog Profile
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Featured Subject
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Featured
Brilliant Ultimatum
Game
Magic: The Gathering
TCG Attributes
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Rare
Anthony Francisco
Card Stock
English
Foil
{W}{W}{U}{U}{U}{B}{B}
Sorcery
B, U, W
Card Text
Abilities, attacks, oracle text, and flavor text printed on the card.
Exile the top five cards of your library. An opponent separates those cards into two piles. You may play lands and cast spells from one of those piles. If you cast a spell this way, you cast it without paying its mana cost.
Revealing the truth only deepened Tezzeret's curiosity for the secrets still buried.






