What's Good In Secretversary 2023?

20 Dec
by Matt Grzechnik

A Tale of Two Gods

Secretversary 2023 marks the celebration of another year of Secret Lair Series. Regardless of whether it’s been a good or moderate year, this occasion gives players another collection of drops featuring some adventurous new IPs and many recurring themes observed over the past two months.

Each purchase totaling the equivalent of $200 will then receive a bonus card: The Locust God. The normal version averages $3.40 with the cheapest copies available at $2.10. However, this new change of style is currently valued at $77 due to the limited number of copies available in the market.

Notably, The Scarab God underwent similar treatment last year, starting at $99, before rapidly descending to the $36 mark and gradually stabilizing to the current average of $18.

The Locust God

Long story short, avoid spending $200 or its equivalent if you don't have to. The alternative art will likely experience a substantial reduction in price in the coming months. 

Furthermore, anticipating the Winter/Secretversary drop in 2024 to be The Scorpion God is a strong bet. So those holding out for a -1/-1 flinging alt art may need to wait a little bit longer…

New-Wave Metal

In my view, the greatest justification for Secret Lairs is their ability to reintroduce old, yet relevant cards into new, easily accessible foil versions. This often involves providing the first foil printing of a card, but also revamping old foils that have no business having inflated prices, thus providing a more affordable alternative while changing the original art. 

Enter the Mycosynthwave Secret Lair, which provides us with two such cards: Mycosynth Golem and Mycosynth Lattice. The prices for their existing foils average $87 and $83, respectively. The reimagining of these cards offers a cost-effective alternative, with prices in the range of $53 for Mycosynth Golem and $36 for Mycosynth Lattice.

Mycosynth Golem, a noteworthy card primarily played in EDH rather than other constructed formats, has seen a surge in price due to its prolonged wait for a reprint. As Affinity is a rather powerful mechanic to include in any set, its future reprinting options may be largely limited. 

On the other hand, Mycosynth Lattice is quite popular, seeing a large amount of play in a variety of decks across Vintage and Legacy. The Secret Lair's reinterpretation offers a budget-friendly alternative for players seeking to incorporate it into their decks as a valuable sideboard piece.

Mycosynth Golem
Mycosynth Lattice

From Craft to Croft

The introduction of Lara Croft into the Universes Beyond series initially surprised me. The incorporation of cards in this context brings to mind a parable of the Dracula Series box toppers featured in Innistrad: Crimson Vow, comprising a thematic selection of cards that are easily recognizable and enjoyable for players.

This particular Secret Lair stands out with several notable cards, beginning with the eponymous Lara Croft, Tomb Raider. A unique card with a focus on recurring legendary artifacts and lands, it serves as an intriguing build-around for the EDH format.

While an in-universe reprint is currently absent, one would expect a rise in price from its existing average of $33 over time. In a worst-case scenario, the price trend may resemble that of Rick, Steadfast Leader, reaching an average of $55 in the months following its release.

Another noteworthy inclusion in this product is Totec's Spear - Shadowspear, a reprint of Shadowspear. Despite experiencing a decline from its all-time high, Shadowspear now averages $19 due to its box-topper inclusion in Commander: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. An additional reprint may contribute to further reduction over time. Given its play across several formats as well as archetypes, the demand for Shadowspear is not likely to stop without a superior replacement being printed.

Lara Croft, Tomb Raider
Totec's Spear - Shadowspear
Morgul-Knife

Best Gifts Are Universal

Typically there’s a standout card in all of the Secret Lair bundles that offers something that can't be beat. In this release, Through the Wormhole has blown me away in terms of offerings and potential. 

Given that EDH is by far the most popular format, this Secret Lair presents several advantages. It serves as a substantial upgrade for enthusiasts of the format while creating a versatile gift option, especially with the holidays around the corner. Boasting an array of playable cards that span from EDH to CEDH staples and some representation in Vintage through the inclusion of Sol Ring, this bundle caters to a broad spectrum of player preferences.

Speaking of Sol Ring, a card that’s seen over a dozen reprints, it typically hovers in the price range of $1 to $2 for the more readily available versions. The price range is also very consistent across previous iterations of Secret Lairs. Despite Sol Ring’s additional printings in various Commander products, the previous Secret Lair versions remain between $12 and $16. Similarly, Arcane Signet Secret Lairs range from $9 to $23, despite increasing popularity and several reprint cycles. Both cards observe an enduring demand regardless of the influx of additional printings.

Sol Ring (1494)
Arcane Signet (1492)
Command Tower

Happy Birthday, What's Next?

Secretversary 2023 may seem unassuming at first glance, but it presents two net positive options for players: Mycosynthwave and Through the Wormhole. Both offer great options for collectors, with the latter doubling as a fantastic gift or entry into alternative art products. 

As always, it's advisable to explore each product to identify anything particularly interesting for individual preferences. Echoing my note regarding the false scarcity of The Locust God, a similar situation applies to many of the singles featured in the Secret Lairs. Rarely will a player be interested in the entirety of the cards included; most enthusiasts are only seeking one or two singles as prices stabilize over time.

With 2024 on the horizon, there will, of course, be another plethora of Secret Lairs, Superdrops, and various other products for players to look forward to. Secretversary is merely a reminder that this system of selling cards directly to a player is here to stay.

Join me in the next installment of New Horizons as we uphold the Guildpact in Ravnica Remastered.

Further Reading:

Top 10 MTG Cards for Commander in 2023

Matt Grzechnik
Matt Grzechnik

Matt Grzechnik started playing Magic with the release of Dragon's Maze. Since then he has tried and experimented with all of the formats before discovering his love for EDH and Pauper. Piloting the same Jund deck for the last 10 years, he now tries to both understand and break Sealed as a format.


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