Last updated on March 31, 2025

Mr. Krabs, Penny Pincher - Illustration by Gregg Schigiel

Mr. Krabs, Penny Pincher | Illustration by Gregg Schigiel

Buyers of the SpongeBob SquarePant's Secret Lair are starting to receive their purchases this week, finding a pleasant surprise when opening their bundles. Like all Secret Lairs, your purchases come with a bonus card โ€“ and this time around, some of the extra loot is quite valuable.

SpongeBob's Secret Lair went on sale last week, selling out in a matter of daysโ€ฆ

Source: Wizards of the Coast, Secret Lair

As buyers started opening their purchases (which started to arrive a couple of days ago for US buyers; in the Euro zone, delivery is expected for later in April), they found some rather cool extra goodies: SpongeBob-ified versions of Command Tower, Dismember, Counterspell, and a bonkers chase card: Smothering Tithe.

Random Loot

Smothering Tithe - Illustration by Aurore Folny

Smothering Tithe | Illustration by Aurore Folny

According to several reddit threads, the bonus card you get is random from between these four. SpongeBob has three different Secret Lairs:

  • Legends of Bikini Bottom
  • Lands Under the Sea
  • Internet Sensation

Some posters originally thought that each lair had a specific bonus card (for example, the Command Tower in the Lands lair), but it seems clear that the four bonus cards are distributed randomly across the three Lairs.

Command Tower

Screenshot of SpongeBob bonus card - Command Tower

Source: Reddit

An underwater pineapple is this drop's Command Tower. While this is one of the most-reprinted cards in MTG, the Secret Lair versions can fetch a pretty penny (Hatsune Mikuโ€˜s is close to $20), so you can probably consider yourself lucky if you find this one.

Dismember

Screenshot of SpongeBob bonus card - Dismember

Source: Reddit

Dismember is an interesting choice, as a black instant that sees quite a bit of play in Vintage, Legacy, and Modern. This card's art has received a rabidly positive reception among redditors, and the previous Secret Lair version fetches about $8.

Counterspell

Screenshot of SpongeBob bonus card - Meme Counterspell

Source: Reddit

This is the one bonus card that, by and large, players are not happy with.

The Internet Sensation Secret Lair, which has alternate art using well-known SpongeBob memes, already has a Counterspell with the exact same art. What's different in the bonus card is the text on the card, and it was exactly what players wanted.ย 

โ€œThat's malicious!โ€ notes u/12DollarsHighFive. โ€œPeople wanted this version specifically and they made it a bonus card.โ€

โ€œThey understood what everyone wanted the counterspell to look like but decided theyโ€™re going to make it a GAMBLE if you get it,โ€ notes u/Apprehensive_Debate3 in one of the most upvoted comments โ€œMy god, and you know this thing is gonna be like 10 times the price of the normal one.โ€

โ€œThey don't want to lose reprint equity by putting a $30 print in a $30 lair, but they want to turn the drops into a lottery to create future FOMO a la Fallout Mana Vault or Miku Snapcaster Mage,โ€ says u/easchner. โ€œIn the words of Mr. Krabs, โ€˜I like money.'โ€

Smothering Tithe

Screenshot of SpongeBob bonus card - Smothering Tithe 2

Source: Reddit

As was written three years ago (seriously!), Mr. Krabs features in the alternate art of one of the most popular Commander staples, and Bob's Lairs' chase card: Smothering Tithe.ย 

The Enchanted Tales anime version from Wilds of Eldraine costs well over $100, so there's no way of knowing how much Mr. Krabs will cost. Just to drive home how expensive this could end up being, there's an eBay listing with the current bid at $905!

When Will SpongeBob's Secret Lairs be Delivered?

Smothering Tithe | art by Daisuke Tatsuma

Smothering Tithe | Illustration by Daisuke Tatsuma

If you bought one of these, but haven't heard from WotC just yet, don't get anxious. Delivery started in the US last week, but the majority of posters on reddit mention they haven't got theirs yet, and expect to do so in the next few days.

In the Euro zone, deliveries are expected for later in the April. Best of luck pulling the bonus card you're looking for!

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