Yup, this feels about right. Fallout Secret Lair v2 was on January 26. Then there was a surprise drop on February 2, the Prints Charming drop with the variety of pricing models. And for the third Monday in a row, there will be a new Secret Lair drop coming. This is a superdrop, with seven different drops making it up and sadly there’s a basic lands drop, but we’ll get to that in a moment. 

We’ve got seven sets of cards to review, and let’s discuss their popularity, price, and what we can compare them to.

For each Lair, I’ll list the cards, the EDHREC numbers, and the prices of special versions. EDHREC isn’t perfect data, as there’s a big weight towards cards in precons, but it’s the main source we have to work with. 

We also need to stipulate that the nonfoils are $30 and the foils are $40, plus tax depending on your area, and free shipping at $99+. There is a bundle discount I’ll talk about at the end. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Strahd’s Descent

Strefan, Maurer Progenitor (6200 EDHREC decks as commander, 9k more as card, EA $3)

Bloodletter of Aclazotz (138k decks, Borderless foil $35)

End the Festivities (64k decks, Double Feature foil $7)

Voldaren Estate (55k decks, SLD foil $3, Double Feature foil $13)

This is one of Wizards’ favorite Secret Lair setups: One very good card and three pretty mid cards. In this case, it’s the Bloodletter and that’s a card that was more expensive but trended downwards over time. This was a very popular card when Demons were the thing to do in Standard, and I imagine that’s the main reason prices have slipped over time. If this Lair doesn’t sell out fast, there will be a chance at very good deals for Bloodletter when Dump Week hits, but I think this is a pretty safe pickup. The other three cards might spike eventually but they are just fun accessories. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Whispers in Candlekeep

Counterspell (1.6 million decks, too many specials to list)

Dragonborn Champion (36k decks, EA $10)

Klauth, Unrivaled Ancient (2k as Commander, 55k as card, EA $30)

Miirym, Sentinel Wyrm (25k as Commander, #18 over last 2 years, plus 65k as card, Showcase foil $7)

Now this is a Secret Lair. Mirrym is one of blessed few Dragons who can make a case for being the Commander over The Ur-Dragon (though according to EDHREC, it’s not really close, around 2x as many decks as Miirym) and Klauth is one of the biggest swings you can do. There are many games where I’ve laid Klauth down, attacked for 10+ damage, and played out some big Dragons. The Champion is pretty impressive, but really defines ‘win more’, since if you’re smashing for 5, do you really need more cards? And then randomly we have a Counterspell, which is in all the decks with all the versions. Great Lair, I’ll be maxing this out.

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Shadows Over Baldur’s Gate

Grim Hireling (137k decks, EA $20)

Wild-Magic Sorcerer (81k decks, EA $13)

Xorn (135k decks, Ampersand foil $30, SLD $14)

Prosper, Tome-Bound (12k as Commander, 41k as card, EA $18)

Another favorite theme for SLs is ‘popular Commander plus some strong helpers’ and this is perfectly Prosper. The Tiefling has been one of the biggest movers of prices when he first came out, and this is three decent cards to add. Exile is getting to be more and more popular as a resource zone, and the two Treasure-themed cards are always solid picks.

This is the first foil printing for the Hireling and the Sorcerer, so that makes the shiny Lairs that much more desirable. Excellent value all around, and I want as many of these as I can get. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Black Lights & Dark Dungeons

Seasoned Dungeoneer (29k decks, EA $8)

Displacer Kitten (199k decks, FEA $33)

Tortured Existence (79k decks, Stronghold $4)

Sefris of the Hidden Ways (10k as Commander, EA $5)

See above, as this is all about the Kitten, one of the most absurd value engines ever printed. The combos for the kitty are all over the place, the sort of thing you can stumble into accidentally, especially when stuff like Mox Opal/Amber is involved. Much like the Bloodlord above, I’m interested in the single card and the rest are hopefully going to have their time in the sun. Taking the Initiative is popular sometimes in Legacy, but it is not really a Commander thing that gets done. I will buy some of these, but I’ll really be looking for the Kittens on Dump Week. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Gale’s Ambition

Gale, Waterdeep Prodigy (5k as Commander, 41k as card, foils are bulk)

Arcane Denial (787k decks, SLD foil $14, FEA $11)

Archmage’s Charm (71k decks, Retro foil $4)

Brainstorm (716k decks, JPN Mystical foil $25, Borderless foils $4-$15)

Personal Tutor (60k decks, Etched foil $14, Borderless foil $4)

I must admit, this feels like a trap. None of these have a combination or popularity and scarce premium version. Brainstorm and Arcane Denial have more than one special version already, so it’s unlikely that price will go wild. The other three cards just don’t have a case for their usefulness. This doesn’t feel like Astarion or Karlach, both in value or in how horny the art is.

I’m planning on a bundle or two, but that’s as far as I’m going to go here. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Shadowheart’s Devotion

Shadowheart, Dark Justicar (3k as Commander, 21k as card, foils are bulk)

Beseech the Queen (36k decks, FTV foil $4)

Black Market (166k decks, SLD foil $16)

Victimize (491k decks, SPG foil $45)

Ancient Bronze Dragon (49k decks, Borderless foil $35)

Victimize is the big value card here, I was surprised that this Dragon was so cheap, both in its regular form and its Borderless foil. Then again, I have an Ur-Dragon deck and this particular scaly overlord doesn’t make the cut. Beseech is an interesting card if you believe that eventually hybrid mana changes its Commander rules, and that would make this tutor something that could go in every deck. Would 6 generic mana to tutor be worth it? I imagine most decks would decline that option. 

Still, the sweet versions of Victimize and the Dragon should carry this drop, but I’m not planning to buy more than the bundle copies I get. 

Secret Lair x Dungeons & Dragons®: Lands of the Forgotten Realms

I gotta admit, these lands are as good as it gets. I love the clear frame, the name on the bottom, the gold embossing. The art is phenomenal, I don’t know if it’s from a game or what, but this is the first time in a while that we’ve gotten fantasy theme full art lands. These aren’t Spongebob, or medieval cities, or raised foils with Venom, but just big-time fantasy art done in the perfect style. I’m happy with my bundle copies, but I have a sneaking suspicion that I’m supposed to be stocking up on these. If it’s $40 for 10 foils, then anytime the lands are over $4 you’re ahead, depending on taxes, fees, and shipping. 

There’s no new promo, but apparently the Silver Shroud Costume is still in stock. So every $149 you spend gets you another copy of that. Currently there’s only a handful of presale copies at $30 on TCGPlayer, so those prices ought to fall. 

The Bundle pricing has been revealed, and it’s stingy as can be. All the foils as a bundle gets you $10 off, and the same for all the non-foils. If you get one of everything, it adds up to $25 off. That’s almost the value of a nonfoil set, and while it’s not nothing, it’s also not very much.

I’m not deep on the lore around Gale or Shadowheart, but I’m assured by multiple people I trust that these are big-deal characters, on a level with Astarion and Karlach. Those Lairs really make me hesitate on passing over the Gale and Shadowheart Lairs, which is why I’m fine with some bundles and then just a couple extras. If the FOMO feels real, it might be super real and will itself into an early sellout.

I plan to get a couple max bundles and then add on some more of the foils of the first four on this list. If I had to focus on just one or two, it would be the Dragons and then the Shadows over Baldur’s Gate. The Lairs with a single focus card are worth it at retail, but there should be some decent deals available at Dump Week.

Cliff (@WordOfCommander at Twitter and BlueSky) has been writing for MTGPrice since 2013, and is an eager Commander player, Draft enthusiast, and Cube fanatic. A high school science teacher by day, he’s also the co-host of the MTG Fast Finance podcast. If you’re ever at an event and you see a giant flashing ‘CUBE DRAFT’ sign, go over, say hi, and be ready to draft.

We got a lot of previews for Marvel Super Heroes this week, and of note is that we’re getting four Commander decks, each one coming in regular and Collector flavors. 

The decks have themes as printed on the box, and while we don’t know any of the contained cards, we made good money off of Elementals and -1/-1 counters as themes, so let’s see what we can figure out ahead of time. That way when the decklists are revealed, we are ready to dive in.

Fantastic Four: Noncreature Spells and Protection Fields

This is going to be hard to figure out in terms of specs, because there’s so many good noncreature spells to cast. The four of them are good, and any can be the focus. I think Mister Fantastic is the strongest, because we love drawing cards and there are a LOT of triggered abilities worth copying twice. He can even target his own ability, if you’d like to draw three cards.

I’m interested in the Human Torch, too, but you’ve got to cast a noncreature spell and then cast him, which is a lot of your mana used up and blessed little for protection. 

It might be that the best route is mana rocks, but we’ll see what this set of commanders leads to. 

Wakanda Forever: Power Up With Artifacts, Reign as the Monarch

T’Challa is clearly telling you to play artifacts and keep playing them, and let’s go over a few things that look possible:

Peregrin Took wants to add some food to your Vibranium. Queen Allenal of Ruadach means that your Vibranium can get you token Soldiers too. Stridehangar Automaton on the field delivers bonus Thopters if that’s more your speed.

The packaging also mentions being the monarch, which is a space that’s been lightly explored, so if it’s only half the theme, we’ll see what kinds of reprints we’ll get for white and green cards. Courts of Garenbring and Ardenvale seem likely to get reprinted, but there’s pretty limited space so they won’t all get a new hit. 

I admit that when I saw the packaging (and before we knew that there would be Collector decks) I ran out and bought stacks of FEA Archon of Coronation and the Scrolls foil Champions of Minas Tirith. Looking back, I wish I’d waited just a little bit longer, because if they are reprinted, these purchases won’t go up much. I feel more confident about the Champions, because LOTR reprints are few and far between, but these might languish forever, depending on the quality of the Monarch-themed commander that comes in the deck. 

Avengers Assemble: Grow your ranks, Equipment and Counters

First of all, you’ve got to look at the heroes in these three colors. Hero is a creature type that hasn’t been used, not since Benalish Hero was errata’d into being a Human Soldier instead of its printed type of Hero. The only other Hero that predates the Spider-Man set is the Unhinged Legend himself, Fraction Jackson. I’m all for memes, and cheap memes at that, but I have trouble imagining that it would be worth the effort of buying these up. 

Changelings would be fun here, and everything that adds bonus counters is on the table. I expect that this is a glorious place to reprint basic copies of Panharmonicon or Roaming Throne for extra triggers, and I’ve lost count of the sweet Equipment bonuses present in RW. My favorites for the Equipment-heavy decks would easily be the ‘affinity for Equipment’ cards Goldwardens’ Gambit and Nahiri, Forged in Fire, but we’ll have to see what Equipment enablers are about to get released.

Doom Prevails: Connive for power, drain life

I want to thank the ProTrader Discord for confirming some of my ideas and giving me others. If you’re not a ProTrader, you’re missing out on some glorious card combos.

Doctor Doom rewards you for discarding lands, either for conniving or for any reason, so my favorite pick here is easily Tectonic Reformation. If you can start chaining the lands into more lands, this combo is immediately reduced to ‘R: Each opponent loses 2 life’ and that is some big game.Trade Routes can do something similar. Decaying Time Loop is also glorious, because you can get a trigger from the retrace and a trigger from the lands you chuck. Land’s Edge is pretty hilarious, giving everyone the ability to Shock players, but only yours comes with bonus life loss for them. Molten Vortex and Seismic Assault do the same thing. Battle of Kaldheim too, but that needs you to attack the Battle for four damage, and I’m not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze there. 

Glint-Horn Buccaneer should see a bump, as we love playing effects that are redundant with Commanders. This also includes Hazoret the Fervent

I have to point out that this is a deck where Mind Over Matter plus some form of “tap: draw a card” means you’ll win, and if you want a backup, Trickster Mage does nearly the same thing.Trade Routes can do something similar. I also like Surly Badgersaur as an engine piece, giving you a Treasure every time you chuck a land. Waste Not and Bone Miser are likely includes in the deck, but if they somehow leave those out, buy them immediately.

All of the Grixis lands with cycling are likely good here too, but there are some awesome cards that ask you to discard cards as part of the cost. Favorites include Dreamscape Artist, Diplomatic Escort, Jaya Ballard, Psychic Frog, Skirge Familiar to add mana, Stronghold Biologist and Machinist to counter creature/noncreature spells, but my two all-stars would be Chamber of Manipulation and Overtaker, turning your land cards into creature-stealing effects for fun and profit.

Cliff (@WordOfCommander at Twitter and BlueSky) has been writing for MTGPrice since 2013, and is an eager Commander player, Draft enthusiast, and Cube fanatic. A high school science teacher by day, he’s also the co-host of the MTG Fast Finance podcast. If you’re ever at an event and you see a giant flashing ‘CUBE DRAFT’ sign, go over, say hi, and be ready to draft.

Now I know we haven’t gotten all of the Lorwyn Eclipsed legendary creatures yet, but the ones we’ve gotten are very good at different things. I always have trouble picking the one that will blow up, so I’m going with a ‘two for all’ mentality. 

If you end up building these Commander decks, I hope these picks work out, both in gameplay and financially. 

Abigale, Eloquent First-Year

Yargle, Glutton of Urborg (Secret Lair foil) – Abigale wants max power/toughness and minimum drawback, and the memeing of Yargle is real. Damn shame you can’t play Multani and Yargle in an Abigale decks, but that’s how it is.

Hunted Bonebrute (FEA) – There’s a lot of cards in the EDHREC file for this Commander that come with a drawback, like Phyrexian Soulgorger or Nyxathid, but I don’t want to lose out on anything like that. Instead I’d rather lay the Dog down, give away two tokens, then play Abigale and smash for 6 lifelink and flying

Ashling, Rekindled // Ashling, Rimebound

Archmage Emeritus (Surge Foil) – There is an FEA version, but I like the supply on this better if people start buying copies. 

Longshot, Rebel Bowman (foil) – Gotta love the big array of spellslinger accessories, but I’m going with the new one who both makes it cheaper and deals damage. Avatar Jumpstart is going to be impressively pricey for some time to come.

Bre of Clam Stoutarm 

Ken, Burning Brawler (foil) – I love the Street Fighter cards, but Ken needs help. Bre gives that help, and they give so so many free things to do together!

Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant (Surge Borderless) – One of the cheapest Surge Borderless characters, it won’t take much demand to start pushing his price.

Brigid, Clachan’s Heart // Brigid, Doun’s Mind

Caretaker’s Talent (foil) – There’s a lot to be said for an enchantment that gives you a card every time you cast your commander, and in addition, you get the other bonuses of the other levels. 

Divine Visitation (Anime Foil) – You’ll be playing a deck where you’re maxing out the token production, and Divine Visitation is one of the most unfair things you can do.

Doran, Besieged by Time

Felothar, the Steadfast (FEA) – There’s a lot of cards that give both the ‘damage equal to toughness’ and ‘defender doesn’t matter’ but this one also has an awesome sacrifice ability too.

Sapling of Colfenor (regular) – The only foils are $50, so I can’t recommend buying in on those, but the Sapling kicks a lot of butt.

Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn // Isilu, Carrier of Twilight

Abandoned Air Temple (foil) – Adding the plus counters just nullifies the Persist counters, giving you inevitability.

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed (borderless foil) – If your creatures have both persist and undying, they can die over and over again, Interestingly, they switch off coming back with plus counters or minutes counters, but it’s all infinite. Enjoy.

Grub, Storied Matriarch // Grub, Notorious Auntie

Ultimate Green Goblin (FEA) – New, big, undercosted, and can be brought back. What’s not to love?

Wort, Boggart Auntie (regular) – No reprints since original Lorwyn, and if you’re recurring Goblins, she wants to help.

High Perfect Morcant – I wrote about Jund -1/-1 counters, and a lot of those got the reprint. Gonna stick with Maha, Its Feathers Night and Yawgmoth, Thran Physician for this gal.

Kirol, Attentive First-Year

Animal Pakal, Thousandth Moon (showcase foil) – This is everything you want to do together.

Aurelia, the Law Above (Ravnica frame foil) – There’s a lot of sweet choices here, and you even get to pick which of her triggers to copy!

Lluwen, Imperfect Naturalist

Out of the Tombs (surge foil) – 40K cards can do some wild things, and if you want to maximize your self-mill, this is the way.

Ripples of Undeath (FEA) – It’s getting pricey, but it’s an amazing enabler for what you’re doing in this deck, giving you choices of what to get back. 

Maralen, Fae Ascendant

Sylvan Offering (Secret Lair foil) – We’re going to get a lot of ‘make X Elves’ going on, and this is a cheap sweet version. Make some friends!

Galadrim Ambush (Scrolls foil) – I picked this on a recent MTG Fast Finance cast, and this does a great job of making you Elves and fogging other people.

Rhys, the Evermore

Summon: Yojimbo (Anime Foil) – Rhys is busted good with Sagas, resetting them and letting you use abilities. Yojimbo is one of the best for this. 

Patched Plaything (foil) – This isn’t busted good, but it’s combo-riffic, allowing you to hit hard and early.

Sanar, Innovative First-Year

Charred Foyer // Warped Space (showcase foil) – You’re going to do a lot of exiling, why not get some free mana for that?

Nalfeshnee (EA) – No foils to be had, but this is an awesome card if you’re exiling things.

Sygg, Wanderwine Wisdom // Sygg, Wanderbrine Shield

Augury Adept (pack foil) – Giving this a sort of unblockable is pretty amazing, gain some life and draw some cards!

Brago, King Eternal (SLD foil) – One of the best things to make unblockable, you can gain all sorts of value.

Tam, Mindful First-Year

Scuttlemutt (M19 foil) – Does what you need it to do with your commander, giving hexproof all over.

Tidal Visionary (pack foil) – Won’t you enjoy changing the colors even more?

Trystan, Callous Cultivator // Trystan, Penitent Culler

Defiled Crypt // Cadaver Lab (pack foil) – Gotta get a benefit for all the exiling you’re doing!

Amzu, Swarm’s Leader (regular) – No special versions to be had, but there are a lot of fun accessories for doing this exiling and this makes big flyers.

Cliff (@WordOfCommander at Twitter and BlueSky) has been writing for MTGPrice since 2013, and is an eager Commander player, Draft enthusiast, and Cube fanatic. A high school science teacher by day, he’s also the co-host of the MTG Fast Finance podcast. If you’re ever at an event and you see a giant flashing ‘CUBE DRAFT’ sign, go over, say hi, and be ready to draft.