Magic: The Gathering’s next batch of expensive but pretty Secret Lair cards is on its way with the Winter Superdrop 2024. So far, four different card treatments have been revealed, and we’ve broken the available cards down by price below, to show you exactly how they rank in terms of value for money.
Be ready for a scramble. As Wizards of the Coast announced earlier this year, MTG Secret Lairs are no longer print-to-order. That means when this lot go up for sale on Monday, February 5, they’ll only be available in limited numbers, and once they’re sold out, that’s it.
We’ve already seen that this can have frustrating consequences, with the extremely popular Raining Cats and Dogs MTG Commander deck selling out within hours, then going up on the secondary market for more than double the price.
So far, only four Secret Lairs have been revealed (and one is still missing some cards), but unless this is a radical departure we would expect between four and six more card sets to show up before the drop is available to buy. Assuming regular pricing, these collections will each cost $29.99, and $39.99 for the foil versions.
First up we have Hard Boiled Thrillers, which – tied in loosely with MTG Murders at Karlov Manor – reimagines popular MTG cards as crime or detective paperbacks. As well as a really cool theme, this so far seems like one of the best value drops of the bunch, with two cards over the $5 mark and two more surpassing $10 (all prices taken from MTG Goldfish).
Hard Boiled Thrillers
- Obeka, Brute Chronologist – $0.50
- Dire Undercurrents – $11
- Black Market – $5.10
- Reconnaissance – $12
- Jace Wielder of Mysteries – $6.43
The next four cards are directly linked to the latest MTG set, as they feature creatures not from Ravnica in the Karlov Manor showcase style that looks like a detective’s dossier. In terms of card value, there’s really only Vilis worth mentioning. The other three cards are pretty unspectacular.
Showcase: Murders at Karlov Manor
- Gonti, Lord of Luxury – $0.25
- Vilis, Broker of Blood – $8.30
- Grenzo, Dungeon Warden – $0.50
- Anowon, The Ruin Thief – $1.00
Prismatic Nightmares is a Lair with a lovely colorful paint style. The value for money is rather mediocre, however, with just a couple of medium-priced cards, and three cheapies.
Prismatic Nightmares
- Simian Spirit Guide – $1.16
- Prince of Thralls – $8.82
- Arcane Denial – $3
- Rain of Filth – $5.50
- Nightscape Familiar – $0.56
This final lair hasn’t been fully revealed, so we can’t be sure of its theme. It looks like it’s colorful animals, but both cards are also notable for their combo potential in the MTG Commander format. Either way, we hope there’s something a bit pricier in the drop, or this one is going to be a real let down.
The Beauty of the Beasts
- Felidar Guardian – $1.80
- Peregrine Drake – $0.25
Of course, it may not matter so much how valuable the cards in Secret Lair drops are. Now that they’re only available in limited supply, this could have dramatic consequences on their price on the secondary market. Only time will tell for sure.
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Source: Wargamer
