Cost of Brilliance

Secrets of Strixhaven #77

Type: Sorcery

Mana cost: {2}{B}

Card text: Target player draws two cards and loses 2 life. Put a +1/+1 counter on up to one target creature.

Rarity: common

Artist: Darren Tan

""There will be moments when you are exhausted, with nothing left to give. Remember them when you finally succeed." —Embrose, dean of shadow"

Released: April 24, 2026

Prices

$0.15 USD · $0.24 USD (Foil) · €0.11 EUR

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Format Legality

Format	Legality
Standard	✓ Legal
Pioneer	✓ Legal
Modern	✓ Legal
Legacy	✓ Legal
Commander	✓ Legal
Vintage	✓ Legal
Pauper	✓ Legal
Oathbreaker	✓ Legal

Draft & Sealed Synergies

Best cards to pair with Cost of Brilliance in Secrets of Strixhaven limited

common

Adventurous Eater // Have a Bite

Creature — Human Warlock // Sorcery

Have a Bite puts +1/+1 counters and gains life, stacking with Cost of Brilliance's counter placement for incremental advantage.

Melancholic Poet

Creature — Elf Bard

Drains life whenever you cast instants/sorceries targeting creatures, combining with Cost of Brilliance's life loss for a life swing.

Efflorescence

Instant

Puts two +1/+1 counters on creatures and has Infusion for lifegain, creating a strong counter/lifegain synergy package with Cost of Brilliance.

uncommon

Graduation Day

Enchantment

Puts +1/+1 counters on creatures whenever you cast instants/sorceries targeting creatures, multiplying the counter placement from Cost of Brilliance.

mythic

Decorum Dissertation

Sorcery — Lesson

Draws cards and drains life with Paradigm for repeatable value, stacking with Cost of Brilliance's drain effect for a powerful life loss engine.

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