Brain in a Jar
~$0.25 low · ~$2.36 high
Colorless. Artifact
Shadows over Innistrad #252 · Illustrated by Daniel Ljunggren
Shadows over Innistrad #252 · Illustrated by Daniel LjunggrenWhat is Brain in a Jar worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
, 
: 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.
, , Remove X charge counters from this artifact: Scry X.
Format legality
All 2 printings of Brain in a Jar
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Shadows over Innistrad Promos psoi #252s· 2016Promorare· Cardmarket €1.08 foil | rare | No non-foil printing | $1.36 | €1.08 foil | |
 Shadows over Innistrad soi #252· 2016rare· Cardmarket €0.18 · €0.33 foil | rare | $0.25 | $2.36 | €0.18€0.33 foil |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Brain in a Jar
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Card details
- First printed
- 2016
- Printings
- 2
- Mana value
- 2
- EDHREC rank
- #18,930 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Keywords
- Scry
- Artist
- Daniel Ljunggren
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Shadows over Innistrad card (#252).
252 · SOI · R · EN
- 252Collector number: this card's place in the set list. Main-set cards print it over the set's card count.
- SOISet code for Shadows over Innistrad
- RRare
- ENPrinted in English
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Rulings (4)
2016-04-08
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.
2016-04-08
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.
2016-04-08
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.
2016-04-08
If the card has
in its mana cost, you must choose 0 as the value of X.
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