Is it a secret? No, not really.
What are Secret Lairs in MTG? For newer fans of the game, this could be a bit of a mystery. After all, Magic: The Gathering currently has more products out each year than ever before, including ones that aren’t even native to Magic, like the upcoming Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY and Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man sets. So, it’s a fair question to wonder what any given product is.
Everything You Need to Know About MTG’s Secret Lair Drop Series
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So, to ensure you have the best possible grasp of it all, we’ll explain everything you need to know about Secret Lairs in Magic: The Gathering. We’ll explain what they are, use some recent examples, and then talk about the format legality of these special collections.
What are Secret Lairs in MTG?
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Secret Lairs are unique collections of cards that stick to a particular theme. These themes vary wildly, so it can be tricky to predict what’s coming next. For example, some of the most recent ones have included Deadpool, SpongeBob, and a special 20 Ways to Win Commander Precon. Most Secret Lairs sell incredibly well and are available to buy for a limited period, with some people buying them to sell on specific cards, but many others just want to own cool cards.
Outside of often including important reprints, these collections can also include new artworks and even entirely new cards, as seen with Deadpool, Trading Card and the Marvel ones we’ve had in the last few months. These cards are meant to be printed into Magic as in-universe versions called Universes Within, which is now rebranded to Through the Omenpaths with Magic: The Gathering | Marvel’s Spider-Man’s release. So, while it can be frustrating not to have access to these immediately, these may eventually come to the fold in a more cohesively.
The content and the prices of these collections vary wildly. Sometimes, you’ll be getting four copies of a card with unique artwork or it’s a handful of brand-new cards, and other times, you can even buy an entire Commander Precon. It’s always worth properly looking into what you’ll get if you’re contemplating putting money into a Secret Lair because the contents can wildly vary.
What is the Format Legality of Secret Lairs in MTG?
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Set legality can be tricky to wrap your head around, but with Secret Lairs, it’s even more complex. Any card printed in one of these is legal in the format that a normal version of that card would be legal in. If it’s a mechanically new card, then the card will only be legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage, unless stated otherwise. So, take the Secret Lair printing of Thassa’s Oracle, which would still adhere to the Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Commander, and Vintage legality as the first printing of the card would.
We’re confident that most people who get these collections will be doing so for Commander, so it’s generally very safe to assume you can play it in that format. It’s always good to check the legality of any given card before you hit purchase because buying a card and not being able to use it is not a good feeling at all.