Secret Lair Drops: The Complete List and How They Work

Last updated on April 9, 2024

Keeper of the Secret Lair | Illustration by Brigitte Roka

You may have heard these two, seemingly simple, words floating around the web, in your local game store, or amongst your friends: Secret Lair. And you may have wondered, “What does that even mean?”

What are Secret Lairs in MTG?

Secret Lairs are limited edition bundles, usually three to seven Magic cards with a variety of themes. Wizards explains it like this:

Secret Lair is a Magic: The Gathering brand unlike anything in the history of the game. It's a love letter for Magic fans, with eye-popping designs and never-before-seen art styles.

Blake Rasmussen, WotC

What makes them exciting is that each bundle, or “drop,” can be announced at any time, or at the drop of a hat. Let’s talk about that.

How Secret Lairs Work

Once a Secret Lair becomes available, you’re able to purchase the drop for 24 hours only. After that, it’s gone forever. In the first announcement in September 2019, WotC let us know that the first Secret Lairs would become available less than three months later on December 2, 2019.

It’s important to note that in each 24-hour window, each Lair has an unlimited print run, meaning that everybody who wants one will be able to purchase one. However, there is a limit of 10 orders per person for each Lair. They’re truly meant to be bought for your personal use rather than be re-sold on the secondary market. Looking at some of the drops released so far, I can’t imagine not wanting most of them in my decks. You’ll be able to see what I mean in a little bit.

As of yet, there hasn’t been any talk of stopping the surprise drops. In fact, the literal quote from the first announcement said:

We don't know exactly how this whole thing is going to go, but we're excited. So, while we've been focused on making the launch a success, we're already working on plans for how this continues into 2020 and beyond.

Mark Heggen, WotC

So, you can expect the drops to continue for quite some time as far as WotC is concerned.

The next question is, of course: where can you get these coveted Secret Lairs? All of that is coming up right now.

Where to Buy Secret Lairs

Lair Delve | Illustration by Jason A. Engle

The Secret Lair drops are only available online, with the exception of the Ultimate Edition, which we’ll get to later on. Wizards has set up an official site for you to check out. You’re able to sign up for the newsletter on there as well, making sure you’re always in the know when a new drop becomes available.

As I’ve mentioned before, a drop is only on sale for 24 hours once it starts to sell. But what if you’ve missed a drop and still want one? Things get a little bit harder from there. You have to to go the secondary market.

Luckily, there are some options for you to find both complete drops and individual cards:

• TCGPlayer
• eBay
• Cardmarket
• Card Kingdom
• ChannelFireball
• Star City Games

Interestingly enough, they're available on Amazon, perhaps due to a ton of work from the licensing and sales teams.

More or less, what you see on eBay is what “the price” is for these now that they're out in the wild:

Don’t be surprised if the prices are higher on these sites than what you would’ve spent on the original drops. These are coveted cards and the fact that there’s limited availability makes them even more desirable, so the price goes up. So be prepared to pay a market price instead of the “MSRP.”

What’s in the Box?

Quest for Ancient Secrets | Illustration by Mike Bierek

The word on everybody’s lips is: Boxy. Or rather, what’s in them? What do you actually get when you buy a Secret Lair? Here’s a rundown of what you can typically expect in each box:

• The revealed cards for that particular drop
• An MTG Arena code for the cards from that drop
• An MTG Arena code for a sleeve-style from that drop
• An MTG Online code for either a sleeve or card-style or both

Then there are the alt-art planeswalkers from War of the Spark. For a number of Secret Lairs, there was a randomized glass-pane planeswalker included from the WAR set. There’s a chance that WotC will do that or a different promo again. But only Wizards knows when they’ll throw in an extra gift, so you’ll have to wait and see (and hope) when a new drop is announced.

“What’s in them,” you ask? We’ll get to that up next!

The Complete List of Secret Lairs

Here, you’ll find a complete list of all the various different Secret Lairs that have been released so far.

I’ve gathered all the info on what’s available on them right here, including the name of the drop, card numbers, release date, price, contents, and the official description. I’ve also collected the actual cards and some fun info about each Secret Lair plus the Ultimate Edition as our big finale.

First up though, the list of drops so far:

Secret Lairs: Cards and Art

Bitterblossom Dreams

“Faeries emerge from a field of flowers, elegant and breathtaking. You are not the first to be enchanted by their beauty—nor are you the last they usher to an early grave. This drop contains one Bitterblossom and four distinct Faerie Rogue tokens, all of which form an intoxicating panorama by artist Lena Richards.”

Did you know that this is the first art Lena Richards has done for MTG? The art is stunning and is reminiscent of the reprint of Vendilion Clique’s Faeries.

Eldraine Wonderland

“Snow falls softly on the enchanting plane of Eldraine. Blanketed in white, this world of tales and adventure feels just a little more magical than before. Inject a little Happily Ever After into your deck with these unique snow lands by Alayna Danner.”

Did you know artist Alayna Danner’s first art for MTG was printed in Hour of Devastation? She has done a lot of land-art, which is exquisite. No wonder Wizards asked her to do the Secret Layer art for these wonderful lands.

Restless in Peace

“The crows are calling, screeching a story of life taken and life returned. These are the tools of your opponents’ demise, and they have a tale to tell. Whether you’re looking to add a little flair to your deck or obtain a unique piece of Magic art, this drop illustrated by Dan Mumford is sure to add life to your collection.”

Did you know Dan Mumford has done a lot of album covers for artists? This Secret Lair is his first venture in MTG art, but his range is as massive as his art is awesome.

Seeing Visions

“Open your third eye with this stunning playset of alternate-art Serum Visions. From street art to abstract, each one of these cards is trippier than the last. Mind-bending artists Kristina Collantes, DXTR, Lauren YS, and Jaime A. Zuverza ensure every scry feels much deeper than 2.”

All 4 arts are not only significant different from each other, but also in terms of ‘classic’ mtg art. All the artists really tried to give this serum a different, almost psychedelic, vision. Pun intended.

<explosion sounds>

“King. Sniper. Soldier. Brawler. Baby. If you have a problem… if explosions will solve it… and if you can draw them… maybe you can cast… these guys. With brand new art by Mike Uziel, these five cards will be the perfect fit in your deck, on your wall, or scattered around the Smoldering Crater they leave behind.”

Did you know that Mike Uziel is also the artist for another card in another Secret Lair? Study the art and give it a guess. Secret Lair are also his first endeavor in MTG art.

Kaleidoscope Killers

“Update your deck with a throwback design, featuring these quinto-chromatic champions of Commander. For the Magic player whose favorite color is “All of the Above,” artist Justine Jones has created a full spectrum of gorgeous art, sure to make your friends’ jaws drop as their life drops to 0.”

Did you know that this Secret Lair speaks especially to Commander players? The featured cards are all well-liked 5-color generals for the format.

OMG KITTIES!

“Meow meow meow meow meow meow. Meow meow, meow meow meow meow meow. Meow meow Andrea Radeck, Erica Williams, Jakob Eirich, Allison Carl. Meow meow. Meeeow!”

Did you know that of the four artists only Andrea Radeck has done more art for MTG before? Both hers, Jakob Eirich, Erica Williams, and Allison Carl’s art form a cohesive whole for this kitty frenzy bundle of bonanza cuteness.

Year of the Rat

“Get ready to ring in the Year of the Rat! Known for being quick-witted and resourceful, the clever rat is the first of the zodiac cycle. We’re celebrating the 2020 Lunar New Year with eight reveling rodents, featuring art by JungSang, Fiona Hsieh, Kisung Koh, and Jenn Ravenna. These adorable vermin will infest your deck, your collection, and your heart.”

Did you know that this is the biggest Secret Lair in terms of volume as of the writing of this article? This is due to 5 copies of Rat Colony, for obvious reasons. The lair and MTGA sleeves were made in celebration of the Chinese Astrology Sign’s referral to 2020; the year of the rat.

Theros Stargazing, Volume I (Heliod)

“The light of Nyx shines bright in the Theros night sky, where each constellation tells a story. Still, no story is as important as that of the gods. This drop holds your favorite legendary creatures at their celestial best—a must have for any True Believer. Show your devotion to the sun, the harvest, and victory with beautiful alt-art constellation gods by Jason A. Engle.”

Did you know artist Jason A. Engle has been creating art for MTG since 2010? The first set where he was featured was in Worldwake, the second set of the Zendikar block.

Theros Stargazing, Volume II (Thassa)

“Each constellation tells a story that spans centuries, from the defeat of the titans to the threat of the Reveler. This drop holds your favorite legendary creatures at their celestial best—a must have for any True Believer. Express your devotion to the sea, the city, and the horizon with beautiful alt-art constellation gods by Jason A. Engle.“

These five Secret Lairs were released two weeks after Theros: Beyond Death came out and they are an ode to the Gods of Theros, featured in the previous Theros block back in 2013.

Theros Stargazing, Volume III (Erebos)

“Some gods hide in the shadows, hoping to keep their stories secret: countless struggles, manipulations, and intrigues. This drop holds your favorite legendary creatures at their celestial best—a must have for any True Believer. Prove your devotion to death, deception, and what lies beyond with beautiful alt-art constellation gods by Jason A. Engle.“

All Gods featured in each set all have the main color of the original God in common. Erebos’ companions all share the color black and the others all feature a different color that ties them together.

Theros Stargazing, Volume IV (Purphoros)

“While some stories go unrecorded, none go unseen. For when you call upon the gods, you make their legend your own. This drop holds your favorite legendary creatures at their celestial best—a must have for any True Believer. Declare your devotion to the forge, storms, and slaughter with beautiful alt-art constellation gods by Jason A. Engle.”

Did you know Purphoros, God of the Forge used to be one of the cheapest original Theros Gods? This was obviously before everyone discovered how bonkers this card is and it shot up to around $20, where it’s been ever since.

Theros Stargazing, Volume V (Nylea)

“To you, calling upon the gods is just a game. While some of them may agree, you are nonetheless creating history. This drop holds your favorite legendary creatures at their celestial best—a must have for any True Believer. Offer your devotion to the hunt, debauchery, and deadly poison with beautiful alt-art constellation gods by Jason A. Engle.”

Did you know Nylea is based after the Greek God Artemis? She was the real-life God of the Hunt in Greek mythology. The world of Theros draws a lot of inspiration from the ancient culture of Greece and its beliefs.

International Women's Day

“Wizards of the Coast is proud to celebrate International Women’s Day—honoring the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women around the world. We’ve selected a few of the most powerful and influential women from the history of Magic to receive new, borderless art by some of our finest illustrators: Mila Pesic, Livia Prima, Cynthia Sheppard, Anna Steinbauer, and Magali Villeneuve.”

Did you know this was the first Secret Lair to break the $39.99 high-point? It was with good reason, though. For each Lair sold, Wizards donated $25 to the World Association Of Girl Guides And Girl Scouts, in honor of International Woman’s Day. The International Women's Day sleeves can also be rolled up on MTGA.

Thalia – Beyond the Helvault

“Protector. Rebel. Heir. Throughout her illustrious career, Thalia’s fate has been intertwined with Innistrad’s. This drop highlights Thalia’s most pivotal events: destroying the Helvault, confronting the council, joining with the Geist of Saint Traft, and battling Brisela. To capture these moments, we called on Magali Villeneuve and Johannes Voss—the two artists who know Thalia best.”

Did you know Magali Villeneuve and Johannes Voss are the artists responsible for 3 of the 5 different MTG cards that feature either Thalia herself or her name? Both their styles and MTGA sleeves are outstanding and perfect to make Thalia, rightly, shine bright.

The Godzilla Lands

“The King of Monsters has arrived! Watch Godzilla stomp through five gorgeous landscapes. Keep an eye out for special appearances by fan-favorite monsters: Mothra, Rodan, and Hedorah! This drop includes five full art basic lands in Japanese with illustrations by Jonas De Ro, Lucas Graciano, Lars Grant-West, Jenn Ravenna, and Grzegorz Rutkowski.” The Godzilla Lands sleeves are available for MTGA.

Did you know these lands are not only an homage to Godzilla, King of Monsters, but to the entire Godzilla universe that started with the first Godzilla film back in 1954? Also, Godzilla is a metaphor for the danger of nuclear power and what can go wrong when such power is unleashed.

Summer Superdrop

“Introducing the first-ever (second, technically) Secret Lair Superdrop! This bundle is perfect for Secret Lair superfans who don’t want to miss a single card. Get all five summer drops in one place and add some Secret Lair style to your decks or collection. Since it’s so nice out, we’re feeling extra generous. Each Summer Superdrop Bundle comes with a randomly chosen Enemy Fetch Land! Robots, tattoos, lightning, birds, alternate-universe Planeswalkers… the only thing this summer celebration is missing is you!”

Did you know that when you buy the Summer Superdrop you get one randomized fetch land from the Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition drop as a bonus? If there was ever an incentive to buy all five drops in one go, this is it.

Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition

“Ultimate Edition is a collection of the five Zendikar enemy colored fetch lands last seen in Modern Masters 2017, featuring art from five of Magic's premier artists set in five popular Magic planes. The lands are packaged in a commemorative box that can be used for display. In contrast to the Drop Series, Ultimate Edition isn't sold through the webshop of Wizards of the Coast, doesn't have an availability window, and isn't printed to demand. Copies are limited — WPN stores were announced to typically receive no more than 10 copies of Ultimate Edition.”

Did you know that all these alt-arts were deliberately placed on a different plane from throughout magic’s history? See if you can guess which ones. Also, rumor has it that this won’t be the last time you’ll see the enemy fetches this year, how exciting is that!

April Fools

“Ultimate Edition is a collection of the five Zendikar enemy colored fetch lands last seen in Modern Masters 2017, featuring art from five of Magic's premier artists set in five popular Magic planes. The lands are packaged in a commemorative box that can be used for display. In contrast to the Drop Series, Ultimate Edition isn't sold through the webshop of Wizards of the Coast, doesn't have an availability window, and isn't printed to demand.[2] Copies are limited — WPN stores were announced to typically receive no more than 10 copies of Ultimate Edition.”

Did you know this was a pretty elaborate April fool’s joke on Wizard’s part? They actually commissioned the artists for this *fake* Secret Lair to create new art for the cards featured, only to be able to use them in the article and make the joke that much more believable. They are also allotted actual card numbers in the Secret Lair universe. So who knows? Maybe they’ll see print one day.

Prime Slime

“Sick of being early-game enemies or confined to cubes, these slimes are breaking the mold. Though you can see right through them, Wizard of Barge knows that their jiggly jelly bodies contain multitudes. Allow him to take you on an ooze cruise through FIVE different cards that explore the true nature of slimes. Just, like, bring a towel or wet naps or something.”

Every Dog Has Its Day

“Who’s a good drop?  Who’s a good drop? This is! We’re celebrating International Dog Day 2020 with this very obedient Secret Lair Drop  that features  the sweetest pups we could find. If you have a deck or collection looking for four-legged friends, these cute and cuddly cards and digital dog sleeves are looking for their forever home.  This drop contains four housebroken cards with extremely soft and fluffy art by AlbaBG, Jakob Eirich, Steve Prescott, and Rudy Siswanto.  Adopt this drop today!”

Happy Yargle Day!

“For our entire lives, we have celebrated Yargle Day every single September 3rd. This is well-known information and taught over and over again in schools, but here are a few Yargle Day reminders:

• If you hear footsteps on your roof, REMAIN CALM. Yargle can smell your fear.
• It doesn’t matter if you’re naughty or nice, Yargle’s gaping maw is large enough to accommodate both kinds of children at once.
• Save your milk and cookies for December. Consider tying a goat to a fence on the outskirts of your property, and maybe he’ll get full.
• Yargle never gets full.

It seems a single card in Dominaria was not enough to appease this beautiful, cruel spirit, so we have printed several popular cards with new art celebrating his glorious visage. We fondly remember the sacrifices artists who undertook this daunting challenge: Dmitry Burmak, Jehan Choo, Matt Dixon, Chuck Lukacs, and Franz Vohwinkel. May Yargle have mercy on their souls.”

Showcase: Zendikar Revisited

“Welcome back to Zendikar! We’re just as excited to be here as you are, so we wanted to do a little something special to celebrate. We picked five big-time Zendikar favorites to get a brand-new look using the Zendikar Rising Showcase art style and frame (and ZNR MTGA sleeves). Matteo Bassini, Anato Finnstark, Bastien Grivet, Daniel Lieske, and Dominik Mayer partied up to really exemplify the colorful travel poster look. Let’s get ready to landfall!”

Secret Lair x The Walking Dead

“We’ve partnered with AMC’s The Walking Dead to bring you one of the most exciting Secret Lair drops yet. It has five brand-new legends, each portraying one of our favorite TWD characters: Daryl, Glenn, Michonne, Negan, and Rick. These are unique cards you’ve never seen before, not reprints in any way, shape, or form. This drop also comes with five Zombie tokens, each an important walker from the show, and one Treasure token. We don’t plan on raising this drop back from the dead, so grab it now before we send it to rest.

Quick note: These are brand-new cards, not reprints or part of a main set. Therefore, they’re not legal in Standard, but they’re perfect for Commander!”

Extra Life 2020

“Wizards has been a proud partner of Extra Life since 2015. Thanks to your generosity last year, we’ve been able to donate over $1,000,000 in total to this important cause. This year, the sky’s the limit! We’re donating $30 from each purchase directly to Extra Life. 

What is Extra Life? 

Formed in 2008, Extra Life is an annual fundraising event where people from all sorts of gaming spaces come together to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. 100% of all donations go directly to the hospitals involved, and it’s a great way to give to those in need through the community you love.”

Secretversary 2020

“It’s Secret Lair’s 1st Secretversary! We’re celebrating with five exciting drops. Pick the foil or non-foil bundle that works best for you or snag individual drops that catch your eye. Cake is provided, providing you provide it yourself.”

Smitten Superdrop 2021

“The Smitten Superdrop has a lot of drops to love. If your passion for Secret Lair knows no bounds, look no further than the All-Our-Love Bundle. Inside you’ll find one of every drop in the Smitten Superdrop, in both foil and non–foil (where applicable). If you don’t want to miss a thing, you absolutely don’t want to miss this crush-worthy collection.”

Black Is Magic

“Black History Month celebrates Black history and honors the stories, culture, and achievements of Black people. The Black is Magic drop celebrates and supports different expressions of Black identity.”

Dr. Lair's Secretorium Superdrop

“Friends, this is what you’ve come to see: one of each of Dr. Lair’s finest exhibits. This bundle has it all. Each drop, in both foil and non-foil (when available) for you to keep. Such splendors, available for your own home and collection! Behold!”

All-Natural, Totally Refreshing Superdrop

“On days like today, we like to crack open a nice, cool Superdrop and watch the clouds roll by.  Chug a can of every single drop in the All-Natural, Totally Refreshing Superdrop—both foil and non-foil. This is for the Secret Lair superfan who’s looking for a bargain. Ahhhh, refreshing indeed!”

Out of Time Superdrop

“This superdrop has traveled from the far future, or maybe the distant past, to deliver a warning! It lost the sticky note with the warning written on it somewhere in the temporal vortex, so you should probably not worry about it and just check out the drops instead.”

October Superdrop

“Join the crew from Stranger Things in our most chilling superdrop yet! In this spooktacular release, you’ll find cards that are so STRANGE, so MIND-MELTING, it’s downright scary. So, please, watch your head as you enter… our lair… our Secret Lair. That is… if you dare.”

Extra Life 2021

“We are once again honored to continue our partnership with Extra Life for another year. Thanks to your kindness, we’ve been able to donate over $3,700,000 since 2015. Who knows how high we’ll reach this year! We’re donating 50% of each Extra Life 2021 purchase directly to Extra Life.

What is Extra Life?

Formed in 2008, Extra Life is an annual fundraising event where people from all sorts of gaming spaces come together to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. 100% of all donations go directly to Seattle Children’s Hospital in support of their Autism Center, and it’s a great way to give to those in need through the community you love.”

Secret Lair x MSCHF

“Magic set out to make some mischief, but MSCHF made some Magic instead. Known for their shocking, irreverent takes on popular culture, MSCHF is a Brooklyn-based art collective that spends most of its time making dope stuff.”

Secretversary Superdrop 2021

“Secret Lair is excited to announce a two-part collaboration with Arcane, the new television series based on League of Legends.  This first drop puts scenes from the TV show directly on iconic Magic cards. It features classic spells like Rhystic Study and Path to Exile reskinned with fan-favorite characters like Vi, Jinx, and Jayce (no, not that one). These cards are a must-have for any League of Legends or Magic fan in your life. Pick them up while you can!”

The Astrology Lands

“Celebrate your sign! Be it sun, moon, or rising, let the world know: you’re a Capricorn. Each drop contains five copies of an awesome astrological Swamp by Jeanne D’Angelo.”

Wizards announced Swamp & Island representing the Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces astrological sign in January 2022. Be on the lookout as there will be a new full-art basic land released every month, each one representing a new sign.

Preorders for the Capricorn land start on January 4 through April 29, 2022.

Preorders for the Aquarius land will start this February 2022.

Preorders for the Pisces land will start this March 2022.

Preorders for the Aries land will start this April 2022.

Preorders for the Taurus land will start this May 2022

Preorders for the Gemini land will start this June 2022

Preorders for the Cancer land will start this July 2022

Preorders for the Leo land will start this August 2022

Preorders for the Virgo land will start this September 2022

Preorders for the Scorpio land will start this November 2022

Preorders for the Sagittarius land will start this December 2022

February Superdrop 2022

“Here comes a new challenger! The legendary World Warriors of Street Fighter are ready to battle in Magic: The Gathering. Up the competition with cards for each of the eight playable characters featured in the original release of Street Fighter II. With these fighters in your deck or collection, Shadaloo doesn’t stand a chance.” The fighters can also cover your card backs on MTGA.

April Superdrop 2022

“Using their powerful forepaws, some bears are able to smack salmon straight out of the river. This is not entirely dissimilar to the way in which our artists knocked these Secret Lair drops out of the park. While we doubt that any of our wonderful artists possess strength and dexterity similar to that of a bear, let alone the hankering to send freshwater fish hurtling out of the tumbling rapids onto the waiting shore where they’ll be torn apart by ravenous jaws and fangs, this metaphor is apt considering our artists’ level of expertise and skill. They’re rad, is what we’re saying. We’re also saying that the Bundle Bundle contains one of each drop in the April Superdrop, in both foil and nonfoil where available. ”

Pride Across the Multiverse

Pride Across the Multiverse is a celebration of the LGBTQIA2+ community’s relentless creativity. The cards in this drop draw from many diverse experiences, and it is our hope that people find some part of their own unique selves reflected in these cards. 50% of each Pride Across the Multiverse purchase will be donated directly to the Trevor Project. Pride Across the Multiverse is also available as MTGA sleeves.

THE TREVOR PROJECT 

“The Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people. We believe LGBTQ young people deserve a welcoming, loving world. And we wake up every day dedicated to making that a reality.” 

June Superdrop 2022

Secret Lair Drop Series: Fortnite

The first drop contains seven exciting cards reskinned with Fortnite’s unique brand of multiplayer mayhem. Add spells like Supply Llama, Shrinking Storm, and Battle Bus to your deck or collection to guarantee a #1 Victory Royale—but don’t forget to thank the Bus Driver!

For the second drop, uncover every corner of the map with one of each basic land (including Island, of course) displaying some of Fortnite’s famous locales. The artwork on each piece captures the vibrant aesthetics of the Island so well, you’ll think you’ve just glided in yourself. Grab a copy for your deck or collection now—the storm is shrinking fast!

Let’s Talk About Secret Lairs

The question of why Wizards would be creating something like the Secret Lairs is fairly simple in my opinion. I believe that they do it for a few different reasons.

August Superdrop 2022

“Decades of tireless research in the lab has yielded an astonishing result: a bundle that can be bundled out of other bundles. We can’t believe it either, and yet here we stand with a bundle made solely out of two bundles. But maybe you’re saying to yourself, “this isn’t special, you’ve already done this for other Superdrops in the past,” and that’s only partially true—we’ve also JUST INVENTED TIME TRAVEL to forever alter the timestream. So if you’ve ever come across a bundled bundle in previous months, that’s IRREFUTABLE PROOF that our grand experiment was a resounding success! We only hope we haven’t stepped on any butterflies or bees or whatever in the process, but that’s impossible to know. Oh well! Back to our regular toil in the human beehive which is normal in our universe, the one where monster bees rule humanity.”

SECRET LAIR 30TH ANNIVERSARY COUNTDOWN KIT

“Just in time for the holidays, the Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit is a set of 30 boosters with stylized wrappers that mark their year, one for each Magic year. Inside you'll find a card printed from that year with a twist—it comes in a style true to the Secret Lair ethos.

We've brought back popular Secret Lair artists and designers to create a 30-year countdown experience to delight fans. These cards are not only some of the highlights of Magic, but also feature tournament-winning cards from each of those years. These aren't just nostalgic—they're also tried-and-true tournament winners (well, almost all of them) that you'll want to play, too.

While we won't reveal all 30 cards just yet, we're giving you a taste of what's inside. For the rest—well, it's like opening a birthday present. I wonder where we got that idea?”

“If you're the kind of person who likes to know what's in your present before opening it, you will be able to peek into the kit to see the other 23 cards over at MagicSecretLair.com beginning October 24.

The 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit is $149.99 and, unlike other Secret Lair drops, has a limited print run. The sale starts at MagicSecretLair.com November 1 at 9 a.m. PT and runs through November 4 at 9 a.m. PT—or until they're sold out.

As a bonus, each card has a 30% chance to be upgraded to a traditional foil. And as a bonus bonus, most regions should receive the 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit by December 1! What you use a countdown kit for in the month of December is up to you.”

October Superdrop 2022

“It’s actually great news that you’re considering the foil-free bundle for this stellar October Superdrop. See, we used quite a lot of the foil cards as heat-shielding panels to cover the Wizards of the Coast interstellar shuttle, which may not launch anyway depending on how much rocket fuel is “legal” to buy in the United States. Regardless, this bundle will net you the seven non-foil drops for October, including our exciting team-ups with Junji Ito and Yoji Shinkawa (MTGA sleeves), so this is one launch you don’t want to miss. On an unrelated note, anyone know where we can find some…schmocket schfuel? Blasty gas? Up-go juice? Never mind.”

Extra Life 2022

“This Secret Lair Drop is a part of the annual Extra Life fundraiser to benefit the Seattle Children’s Hospital that Wizards takes part in. A donation of 50% of all proceeds went towards the charity event. Like its predecessor, this drop has a theme of children's drawings of famous cards, together with professional interpretations of those children's drawings.” Extra Life 2022 looks great in foil!

Look at the Kitties

“Don’t miss out just because you can’t attend Magic Con: Philadelphia 2023 in person—bring the party to you! Festival in a Box nets you a mountain of the special merch and collector’s items you would find at the show. Each bundle is packed with an entire box of Mystery Booster Convention Edition, an exclusive foil LOOK AT THE KITTIES Secret Lair drop, Commander decks from Kaldheim and Zendikar Rising, a foil promo Arcane Signet, AND there’s one playmat, one deck box, and a set of 100 card sleeves! So join the celebration and enjoy these special event goodies from the comfort of your own home.”

Transformers Superdrop

“Demonstrate the heroism of the Autobots and the villainy of the Decepticons with six spell cards primed to roll out. Each gorgeously rendered piece captures an unforgettable moment from the saga, which will surely convert the heart of any dedicated fan into a Cybertronian Spark. Whether you’re collecting or powering up your deck, these spells have the precious Energon that bots crave. For Cybertron!”

December Superdrop 2022

Winter Superdrop 2023

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons Honor Among Thieves

“Six legendary adventurers have leapt down from the big screen to delve into the depths of Secret Lair! Now you can bring your own action-packed stories to life as you battle friends and foes with all-new cards featuring Edgin, Holga, Zenk, Simon, Doric, and Forge from Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves. And it won’t take a high perception check to notice the stunning art. “

Spring Superdrop 2023

Summer Superdrop 2023

Fall Superdrop 2023

Secret Lair x Extra Life 2023

Spookydrop 2023

Secretversary Superdrop 2023

Winter Superdrop 2023

Equinox x Fallout Superdrop

How Often Does Wizards of the Coast Release New Secret Lair Products?

There were about 20 Secret Lair releases in each recent 3-month season. If we take an average of 20 releases over 90 days we get one release every 4.5 days. You'll need to hear from Wizards on exactly when the next drop becomes available for pre-order. If you do like some of these, it’s best to sign up for the newsletter so you’ll never miss a drop of all that Secret Lair goodness.

Buying Secret Lairs on MTGA Only

Another option you might not have considered if you're an Arena player is that you can buy the cosmetics (card styles and sleeves) from these Secret Lair drops for MTGA separately from the physical product.

The way you can do this is via the online store at Gray Viking Games.

In fact, it looks like they have dozens of Secret Lair codes available.

All you have to do is search for your favorite drop, add to cart, complete your purchase, then you're instantly emailed a code so you can have the sweet styles on all your MTGA decks.

Are There Any In-game Codes or Digital Bonuses Included with Secret Lair Products?

Yes, some Secret Lair drops include an emailed code for the special card styles and sleeves.

Ultimate Edition vs “Normal” Secret Lairs

Delver of Secrets | Illustration by Nils Hamm

On March 13th, 2020, Wizards announced an “Ultimate Edition” Secret Lair drop. This was the first of its kind and is described as a “different line” that falls under the Secret Lair brand. Or, in their own words:

Ultimate Edition is something of a different product line under the Secret Lair umbrella with the same sensibility but a different distribution model.

Blake Rasmussen, WotC

The main difference between Secret Lairs and the Ultimate Edition is that this time it’s not available online (from Wotc). It’s only sold at your local game store. Wizards has made the product specifically to support the local game stores, which is definitely a good thing since so many products have been kept from hitting their shelves.

I’m sure many are happy to be able to get this product in their LGS. There is a snag for you as a buyer though: each store only gets a limited amount. So, like Secret Lairs, there aren’t many available. Follow the link if you want to find your nearest store to contact them about getting your hands on an Ultimate Edition.

For the love of the game

Altered and different versions of cards have always been a great way for players to pimp their decks and it will always be something that’s desired. This product speaks directly at what players want to put into their decks if they’ve got the chance. Not every Lair needs to be for you, but I can’t imagine that not a single one tickles your fancy from what has already been dropped. Even if it’s just a little bit.

Gives an outlet for ideas

The Lairs provide Wizards a platform where they can create a set of cards that aren’t able to be released in regular sets or other products. It gives them the room to experiment and give their players something that would otherwise be lost in the creative brains of Wizards HQ.

It brings in the monies

These products are a great way to sell something quickly and neatly. Limited products have been cherished for decades which has clearly been proven by the success of the Lairs.

The flipside to the Lairs is the way they’re distributed. It’s all through Wizard’s own channels and revenue is deposited directly into them. This causes tension between them and the local game stores that would love to bring these products to their customers so they, in turn, can profit from the income as well.

This, I believe, is the biggest downside of the Lairs, although I can understand where they’re coming from. By doing it this way they can guarantee that when you buy the product within the allotted time that you’ll pay the exact price it is meant to go for and don’t have to worry about mark-ups or third-party inflation. There is a bit of flexibility in that you have afterpay options. This is something that you’ll undoubtedly see with the Ultimate Edition fetch lands. The MSRP should be around $165… Yeah… Not likely.

Time to Speculate

Rakshasa's Secret | Illustration by Magali Villeneuve

What else can you expect from the Secret Lairs? Is there anything you’d like to see? Feel free to drop a comment of your ideas and desires!

Personally, I think it’s hard to guess since they’re so out there and all over the place. But they do seem to do something around holidays and new sets, so my guesses would be:

• Thanksgiving-themed Secret Lair
• Commander-specific Secret Lair
• Halloween-themed Secret Lair

There are no guarantees, but I’d like to see a couple of Lairs related to some of these themes. Halloween especially could be fantastic, there are so many amazing cards that could fit in there. All Hallow's Eve? Chains of Mephistopheles? Turn into a Pumpkin? I could go for any of those.

Wizards has made a habit of announcing interesting products at big events. Based on the multitude of products in Secret Lair releases you can expect they'll be dropping plenty more in the coming months.

Is MTG Secret Lair Worth It?

Salvager of Secrets | Illustration by Lars Grant-West

The “normal” Secret Lairs are definitely worth investing in. Especially if you’ve got one or several decks that can play the cards in a Lair and you’ve got an affinity with the cards. If you’re concerned with the value, these cards will only keep rising in price as time goes on, so there’s no worry there. Besides, it is mostly about owning some cool cards with amazing art. If you appreciated any of the 30th anniversary promos, you'll probably love collecting Secret Lairs.

The Ultimate Edition I’m not so fond of. This has nothing to do with the LGS, which should get some great products to sell. It mostly has to do with Wizards not giving any MSRP anymore, which leaves the field wide open for pumping the prices. Which is what’s been happening.

Yes, it happened before, but with an MSRP you can at the very least set a guideline that most stores will abide by. Now it’s just a mess in my opinion. So, if you LOVE the art and just can’t get them out of your head, yes, buy them. Otherwise, go and get some original ones. They’re cheaper combined than this product is on its own.

Wrap Up That Lair

Secret Base | Illustration by Matt Gaser

With that, we’ve come to the end. May our time together today have been instructional as well as a fun read that brought something you didn’t know to the equation that is MTG. Let’s hope that Wizards keeps giving us these fantastic little Lairs to play with and collect.

As always, feel free to head on over to our blog if you want to read more. If you like our content and want to show your support, you can head on over to our Patreon as well. We greatly appreciate your support and thank you for it.

That’s all for now. Stay safe, stay healthy, and I’ll see you in the next one!

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