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Brain in a Jar

{2}

Artifact

SOIShadows over Innistrad#252rare
Foil
Border
black
Security stamp
oval
Frame
2015
Pull rate
about 1 per booster–1 in 2015
Illustrator
Daniel Ljunggren
Found in
Shadows over Innistrad MTGO Redemption · Shadows over Innistrad MTGO Redemption Foil · 2 more
Printings3
CommanderLegalModernLegalStandardNot legal
Format legality
AlchemyNot legal
BrawlLegal
CommanderLegal
Competitive BrawlLegal
DuelLegal
Future StandardNot legal
GladiatorLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
Old SchoolNot legal
PauperNot legal
Pauper CommanderNot legal
PennyLegal
PioneerLegal
PreDHNot legal
PremodernNot legal
StandardNot legal
Standard BrawlNot legal
TimelessLegal
Tiny LeadersLegal
VintageLegal
{1}, {T}: Put a charge counter on this artifact, then you may cast an instant or sorcery spell with mana value equal to the number of charge counters on this artifact from your hand without paying its mana cost. {3}, {T}, Remove X charge counters from this artifact: Scry X.

Plays as: Scry

Market · per finishspark updated 2h ago · prices as of 2026-07-12
Nonfoil+3.1%
$0.33
$0.09 low$0.00 gap
Foil-12.0%
$1.61
$0.20 low$0.04 gap
Cheapest playable copy$1.59· across 3 printings

Rulings

4 · latest Apr 8, 2016 · one tap opens all
  • WotCApr 8, 2016

    If Brain in a Jar leaves the battlefield before its first ability resolves, use the number of counters on it at the moment it left to determine what spell you may cast. That number won’t change because you can’t put a new counter on Brain in a Jar.

  • WotCApr 8, 2016

    If the card has {X} in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X.

  • WotCApr 8, 2016

    If you cast a card “without paying its mana cost,” you can’t choose to cast it for any alternative costs, such as awaken costs. You can, however, pay additional costs, such as kicker costs. If the card has any mandatory additional costs, such as that of Lightning Axe, you must pay those to cast the card.

  • WotCApr 8, 2016

    When resolving the first ability of Brain in a Jar, the newly-placed charge counter will be counted when determining what spells you may cast. No player may take any action between you placing the counter and choosing which spell to cast.