Bargain in MTG: Rules, FAQ, and Best Cards

Chris Reay September 3, 2024 Collecting, MTG Cards, MTG Rules

Last updated on September 3, 2024

Farsight Ritual | Illustration by Randy Gallegos

Wilds of Eldraine brought a selection of new mechanics along with it, including bargain as the “it’s just kicker” mechanic of the set. It makes a lot of spells quite a bit better for (potentially) just a small added cost.

But how good is it, which cards does it appear on, and how does it work? I’ll be answering all your questions and more as I break down this simple addition to Magic.

Let’s take a bit of a deep dive on bargain and find out!

Table of Contents show

How Does Bargain Work?

Back for Seconds | Illustration by Julia Metzger

Bargain allows you to sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token for an improved effect. For example, Torch the Tower deals 2 damage to a creature without bargain. However, if you pay the bargain cost, it instead deals 3 damage to that creature and you get to scry 1, too!

The History of Bargain in MTG

Bargain is a mechanic introduced in 2023 with Wilds of Eldraine. It resembles a number of other mechanics from the past, most notably kicker (because everything is kicker!). It fits super well with the mechanics of the set, which includes role tokens, enchantment tokens that you can sacrifice to bargain! It's not evergreen as of right now, but it feels like it could show up again sometime.

Is Bargain a Triggered Ability?

Bargain isn’t a triggered ability, it's an additional cost you can pay to cast a spell. It's possible that paying the bargain cost can create a trigger (Agatha's Champion), but it's not a trigger itself.

Is Bargain an Activated Ability?

No, bargain isn’t an activated ability. It can’t be countered by spells like Stifle.

Is Bargain an Additional Cost?

Bargain is an additional cost for casting your spells. You pay the optional bargain cost at the same time you spend mana to cast a spell, and if it’s countered the cost is still paid.

Bargain vs. Kicker

Bargain can be argued to be a version of kicker, but really it just says how good of a mechanic kicker is. The difference is that bargain has a specific cost (sacrifice an artifact, enchantment, or token) whereas kicker has a variable cost. It makes sense for it to be its own thing, if only for flavor reasons.

Can You Pay for Bargain on a Free Spell?

If you cast a spell with bargain for free (like with Omniscience) you can still pay the bargain cost. Of course, this bargain cost won’t be free, but at least you can choose to use it.

Does the Token Also Need to Be an Artifact or Enchantment?

No, the token you sacrifice to bargain doesn’t need to be an artifact or enchantment. Just non-token permanents need to be an artifact or enchantment.

Can You Bargain a Spell Multiple Times?

No, bargain can only be paid once. Maybe one day they’ll introduce a “multibargain” mechanic!

What if You Copy a Bargained Spell?

If you copy a spell that you’ve bargained, you get the effect of bargain without paying that cost again. The copy will be treated as if the additional cost was paid.

Does Bargain Still Trigger if You Don’t Pay the Cost?

No, if you don’t pay the cost, you don’t get the benefit of bargain!

Gallery and List of Bargain Cards

Bargain was also used on two Alchemy cards: Talion's Throneguard and Dunbarrow Revivalist.

Best Bargain Cards

There aren’t too many cards with bargain printed currently, and there are only two at mythic and two at rare with the release of Wilds of Eldraine.

However, one card stands out above all others, and that’s Beseech the Mirror. This tutor has seen a healthy amount of play in Eternal formats, where it's an effective storm enabler or finds a crucial combo piece.

This is like a super tutor for cards of mana value 4 or less. In Standard, it’s another playset of Sheoldred, the Apocalypse that can also be any other 4 mana value or less card in your deck in a pinch.

Wrap Up

Ice Out | Illustration by Olivier Bernard

Bargain may be the latest in a long line of kicker clones, but it has some pretty great flavor considerations, which I’m down for. It gives a reason for an additional cost to be paid and mechanically works with the rest of the set.

Overall the mechanic didn't have too much of a splash in Constructed, but what do you think? Would you like to see bargain make a return down the line? Come discuss the mechanic in the official Draftsim Discord!

Let me know below what you enjoy from these cards, and I’ll see you next time!

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Chris Reay

Chris is a passionate drafter who loves limited formats both online and (particularly) in person. He started his YouTube Channel, Pass Left Drafts MTG as a lockdown project and still loves putting out content for Magic players of all varieties.