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[[File:Secret Lair.png|right|thumb|250px]]
[[File:Secret Lair.png|right|thumb|250px]]
'''''Secret Lair''''' is a “sub-brand” of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' that groups existing [[card]]s into small collectible pseudo-[[sets]] called "drops", with strange themes and wild [[alternate art|new art styles]].<ref name="Reveal">{{WebRef|url=https://ca.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/magic-the-gathering-reveals-new-secret-lair-drop-series-with-wild-art|title=Magic: The Gathering Reveals New Secret Lair Drop Series With Wild Art|author=Tom Marks|date=November 25, 2019|publisher=Ca.ign.com}}</ref><ref name="Revealing">{{DailyRef|feature/revealing-secret-lair-2019-11-25|Revealing Secret Lair|[[Mark Heggen]]|November 25, 2019}}</ref> The name was inspired by the un-card <c>R&D’s Secret Lair</c>.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/691982017336918016|title=Did the card “R&D’s Secret Lair” have any inspiration in the naming of the product “Secret Lair”?|August 7, 2022}}</ref>
'''''Secret Lair''''' is a “sub-brand” of ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' that groups existing [[card]]s into small collectible pseudo-[[sets]] called "drops", with strange themes and wild [[alternate art|new art styles]].<ref name="Reveal">{{WebRef|url=https://ca.ign.com/articles/2019/11/25/magic-the-gathering-reveals-new-secret-lair-drop-series-with-wild-art|title=Magic: The Gathering Reveals New Secret Lair Drop Series With Wild Art|author=Tom Marks|date=November 25, 2019|publisher=Ca.ign.com}}</ref><ref name="Revealing">{{DailyRef|feature/revealing-secret-lair-2019-11-25|Revealing Secret Lair|[[Mark Heggen]]|November 25, 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804201752/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/feature/revealing-secret-lair-2019-11-25|archivedate=August 4, 2022}}</ref> The name was inspired by the un-card <c>R&D’s Secret Lair</c>.<ref>{{EzTumblr|https://markrosewater.tumblr.com/post/691982017336918016|title=Did the card “R&D’s Secret Lair” have any inspiration in the naming of the product “Secret Lair”?|August 7, 2022}}</ref>
{{TOCright}}
{{TOCright}}
==Description==
==Description==
The ''Secret Lair'' Series is Wizard of the Coast's first full foray into selling single [[reprint]]s directly to players.
The ''Secret Lair'' Series is Wizard of the Coast's first full foray into selling single [[reprint]]s directly to players.
Line 18: Line 19:
Even though the reaction among the fans was very negative, the Walking Dead was the best-selling drop, luring buyers from outside of the ''Magic'' world. This prompted the company to keep on experimenting in this realm<ref name="2021 sneak peek>{{WebRef|url=https://www.twitch.tv/videos/824651149|title=Weekly MTG: Secret Lair 2021 Sneak Peak|date=December 3, 2020|publisher=Magicthegather.com}}</ref> and creating the [[Universes Beyond]] product line. The [[2019]] Secret Lair team was awarded a [[Heroes of the Realm]] card: <c>Keeper of the Secret Lair</c>.
Even though the reaction among the fans was very negative, the Walking Dead was the best-selling drop, luring buyers from outside of the ''Magic'' world. This prompted the company to keep on experimenting in this realm<ref name="2021 sneak peek>{{WebRef|url=https://www.twitch.tv/videos/824651149|title=Weekly MTG: Secret Lair 2021 Sneak Peak|date=December 3, 2020|publisher=Magicthegather.com}}</ref> and creating the [[Universes Beyond]] product line. The [[2019]] Secret Lair team was awarded a [[Heroes of the Realm]] card: <c>Keeper of the Secret Lair</c>.


===Drop Series===
==Drop Series==
{{Main|Secret Lair/Drop Series}}
{{Main|Secret Lair/Drop Series}}
All cards in the print-to-demand ''Secret Lair Drop Series'' have a [[rare]] or [[mythic rare]] shooting star [[expansion symbol]]. The tokens have a common expansion symbol. The ''Secret Lair Drop Series'' are in English only.
All cards in the ''Secret Lair Drop Series'' have a [[rare]] or [[mythic rare]] shooting star [[expansion symbol]]. The tokens have a common expansion symbol. The ''Secret Lair Drop Series'' are in English only.


Each "[[drop]]" usually contains between three and seven cards and/or [[token]]s in a customized [[card box|collector box]], costing either $29.99, $39.99, or $49.99 depending on the drop – some of which use premium [[foil]] cards as well. Additionally, the "drops" can contain digital product redemption codes for MTG Arena or MTG Online for various online products to be used on their respective platform. The drops are only available for purchase from the [[Wizards of the Coast]] webshop [https://secretlair.wizards.com/us secretlair.wizards.com]. In the first year, each drop usually only lasted for 24 hours (though there were some exceptions). "[[Superdrop]]s" were introduced as multi-day sales that include multiple different drops that can be purchased individually or as part of a bundle.<ref name="Ultimate"/> Additional information on the contents of each Secret Lair Drop can be found on the webshop [https://secretlair.wizards.com/us secretlair.wizards.com]. In the second year, Wizards of the Coast focused more on superdrops, with solitary drops still possible for special occasions.<ref name="2021 sneak peek/>
Each "[[drop]]" usually contains between three and seven cards and/or [[token]]s in a customized [[card box|collector box]], costing either $29.99, $39.99, or $49.99 depending on the drop – some of which use premium [[foil]] cards as well. Additionally, the "drops" can contain digital product redemption codes for ''[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]]'' or ''[[Magic Online]]'' for various online products to be used on their respective platform. The drops are only available for purchase from the [[Wizards of the Coast]] webshop [https://secretlair.wizards.com/us secretlair.wizards.com]. In the first year, each drop usually only lasted for 24 hours (though there were some exceptions). "[[Superdrop]]s" were introduced as multi-day sales that include multiple different drops that can be purchased individually or as part of a bundle.<ref name="Ultimate">{{DailyRef|news/making-fetch-happen-secret-lair-ultimate-edition-2020-03-13|Making Fetch Happen—Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|March 13, 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126173519/https://magic.wizards.com/en/news/announcements/making-fetch-happen-secret-lair-ultimate-edition-2020-03-13|archivedate=November 26, 2023}}</ref> Additional information on the contents of each Secret Lair Drop can be found on the webshop [https://secretlair.wizards.com/us secretlair.wizards.com]. In the second year, Wizards of the Coast focused more on superdrops, with solitary drops still possible for special occasions.<ref name="2021 sneak peek/>


===Original cards===
===Distribution===
While originally featuring reprint cards, a few Secret Lair Drops instead introduced brand new cards created just for the drop, starting with ''[[The Walking Dead]]'' drop and continuing with other [[Universes Beyond]] releases. These cards are legal in [[Eternal (format)|eternal formats.]] In June 2021, it was announced that for upcoming [[Universes Beyond]] Secret Lairs, Wizards of the Coast plans to create and print in-canon versions of mechanically unique Universes Beyond cards, about six months after release. The new versions will be set in ''Magic'' 's [[Multiverse]]<ref name="June 2021">{{DailyRef|news/secret-lair-universes-beyond-update-2021-06-07|''Secret Lair Universes Beyond'' Update|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 7, 2021}}</ref> and will be available on [[The List]]. The [[non-canon card]]s and the [[canon]] cards are considered equivalent game pieces, meaning you can only play four copies (or one copy) of either the ''Magic'' version or ''Universes Beyond'' version in your deck.
Wizards of the Coast used a print-to-demand model of distribution for Secret Lair Drops from their introduction in 2020 until 2023. Each order was printed after the purchase was made and then distributed to buyers. This model allowed for an unlimited number of people to buy the drop within the sale period and receive it at the cost of having to wait a period of time between printing and shipping. In 2024, Wizards switched to a limited-print-run model, where Secret Lair Drops were printed in set numbers before the drop was put up for sale. <ref>{{DailyRef|announcements/speeding-up-secret-lair-shipping|Speeding Up Secret Lair Shipping|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|January 2, 2024}}</ref> This method allowed Wizards to ship the drops as soon as buyers made a purchase but at the cost of only having limited stock that could run out before the end of the sale period.


===Packaging===
===Packaging===
Originally, each drop was packaged in a black box. Starting with the ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: All-Natural, Totally Refreshing Superdrop|All-Natural Superdrop]]'', the packaging for all Secret Lair drops was reduced to less than half the original volume, being made from all-recyclable paper (except the plastic card wraps), and containing 91% less plastic by volume. The ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: April Superdrop 2022|April 2022 Superdrop]]'' introduced even smaller envelope packaging for regular, using less material and is lighter in weight, thereby creating less waste and making distribution more sustainable.<ref>{{DailyRef|news/statement-sustainability-and-secret-lair-drop-packaging-2022-05-06|Statement on Sustainability and Secret Lair Drop Packaging|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May 6, 2022}}</ref> Going forward, the slim black box packaging will be restricted to most cobranded Secret Lair drops (e.g., ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Street Fighter|Street Fighter]]''), and most philanthropic drops (e.g., ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Extra Life 2021|Extra Life 2021]]'').
Originally, each drop was packaged in a black box. Starting with the ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: All-Natural, Totally Refreshing Superdrop|All-Natural Superdrop]]'', the packaging for all Secret Lair drops was reduced to less than half the original volume, being made from all-recyclable paper (except the plastic card wraps), and containing 91% less plastic by volume. The ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: April Superdrop 2022|April 2022 Superdrop]]'' introduced even smaller envelope packaging for regular, using less material and is lighter in weight, thereby creating less waste and making distribution more sustainable.<ref>{{DailyRef|news/statement-sustainability-and-secret-lair-drop-packaging-2022-05-06|Statement on Sustainability and Secret Lair Drop Packaging|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May 6, 2022|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20221014083208/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/statement-sustainability-and-secret-lair-drop-packaging-2022-05-06|archivedate=October 14, 2022}}</ref> Going forward, the slim black box packaging will be restricted to most cobranded Secret Lair drops (e.g., ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Street Fighter|Street Fighter]]''), and most philanthropic drops (e.g., ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Extra Life 2021|Extra Life 2021]]'').


===Mechanically unique cards===
While originally featuring only reprint cards, starting with ''[[The Walking Dead]]'' drop a few Secret Lair Drops began introducing brand new cards with unique mechanical designs created just for the drop. These cards are legal in [[Eternal (format)|eternal formats]] and continued with other [[Universes Beyond]] releases. Players were initially concerned that the limited availability of Secret Lair Drops would mean any mechanically unique cards that proved important in a format would become expensive and unavailable for the majority of players in that format.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.hipstersofthecoast.com/2020/09/the-walking-dead-secret-lair-drop-releases-october-4-contains-mechanically-unique-cards/|title=The Walking Dead Secret Lair Drop Releases October 4, Contains “Mechanically Unique” Cards|author=David McCoy|publisher=[[Hipsters of the Coast]]|date=September 28, 2020}}</ref> In June 2021, it was announced that for upcoming Universes Beyond Secret Lairs, Wizards of the Coast planned to create and print in-canon versions of mechanically unique Universes Beyond cards, approximately six months after their initial release. The new versions were set in ''Magic'' 's [[Multiverse]]<ref name="June 2021">{{DailyRef|news/secret-lair-universes-beyond-update-2021-06-07|''Secret Lair Universes Beyond'' Update|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|June 7, 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210608105715/https://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/news/secret-lair-universes-beyond-update-2021-06-07?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter|archivedate=June 8, 2021}}</ref> and were made available through a special distribution on [[The List]]. The [[non-canon card]]s and the [[canon]] cards are considered [[Universes Within|equivalent game pieces]], meaning you can only play four copies (or one copy) of either the ''Magic'' version or ''Universes Beyond'' version in your deck.


====Bonus cards===='
==Extras==
===Bonus cards===
{{Main|Secret Lair/Bonus cards}}
{{Main|Secret Lair/Bonus cards}}
Each drop is delivered with a bonus card in the package. The chosen card may vary, but each drop only comes with a certain selection of cards. Originally, these themes had a theme connected to that specific drop. Later, specific bonus cards could be tied to a specific drop or could be chosen from an unrelated themed subset.
Each drop is delivered with a bonus card in the package. The chosen card may vary, but each drop only comes with a certain selection of cards. Originally, these themes had a theme connected to that specific drop. Later, specific bonus cards could be tied to a specific drop or could be chosen from an unrelated themed subset.


====Secret Lair Promos====
===Promos and prizes===
The following cards are standalone releases, and have "Secret Lair Promo" in the [[information below the text box]]. 
{{main|Secret Lair/Promos and prizes}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
Some Secret Lair cards are used as standalone prizes or promos. They may use the SLD expansion code, but others use a SLP expansion code.
!SLD #
!Card
!Release date
!Description
|-
|721
|{{card|Diabolic Tutor||SLD|#=721}}
|2022-07-23
|"[https://wearebraindead.com/ Brain Dead]" collab with [[retro card frame|retro frame]] and alternate art.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/magic-the-gathering/upcoming-mtg-secret-lair-x-brain-dead-drop-teased/|title=Upcoming MTG Secret Lair x Brain Dead Drop Teased|author=John Hall|date=July 15, 2022|publisher=[[StarCityGames]]}}</ref>
|-
|900
|{{card|The Scarab God||SLD|#=900}}
|2022-12-05
|Exclusive bonus card with DJ art by [[List of illustrators|Barely Human]] for spending $200 on a ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: December Superdrop 2022]]'' purchase.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|dECm3QvTIvE|Secret Lair December Superdrop|channel=[[Weekly MTG]]|date=December 1, 2022}}</ref>
|-
|901
|{{card|Lightning Bolt||SLD|#=901}}
|2023-09-22
|Exclusive bonus card included with the [[Nerf]] LMTD Lightning Lair dart blaster.<ref>{{TwitterRef|wizards_magic|1705333653855928783|author=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|title=Revealed today! The Wizard_Magic x NERF LMTD LIGHTNING LAIR!|date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|902
|
|
|
|-
|903
|{{card|The Locust God||SLD|#=903}}
|2023-11-20
|Exclusive bonus card for every $200 spent in a single order of ''[[Secret Lair Drop Series: Secretversary 2023]]''.
|}
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!SLP #
!Card
!Release date
!Description
|-
|0010
|{{card|Relentless Rats||SLP|#=10}}
|2023-05-18
|Art by [[GodMachine]]. Part of the [[Festival in a Box]] connected to [[MagicCon]] Barcelona 2023.
|-
|0011
|{{card|Relentless Rats||SLP|#=11}}
|2023-09-22
|Art by [[Graham Yarrington]]. Part of the [[Festival in a Box]] connected to [[MagicCon]] Las Vegas 2023.<br>Also for attendees who spend over $150 at the show store on-site.
|-
|0019
|{{card|Ponder||SLP|#=19}}
|2024-02-23
|Art by Jay Ryan. For attendees of [[MagicCon]] Chicago 2024 who spend over $150 at the show store on-site.
|}
 
====Secret Lair 295====
[[File:Secret Lair 295 booster.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Secret Lair 295 booster pack]]
The following cards are standalone releases of [[serial numbered card]]s and have "Secret Lair 295" in the [[information below the text box]].  
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!SLD #
!Card
!Release date
!Description
|-
|713
|{{card|Swords to Plowshares||SLD|#=713}}
|2023-09-23
|Randomly distributed as free gifts to visitors of [[MagicCon]] Las Vegas.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/16pj1wz/sld_swords_to_plowshares_magiccon_las_vegas/|title=[SLD] Swords to Plowshares (MagicCon Las Vegas)|author=u/SaltedDucks|publisher=Reddit|date=September 22, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|714
|{{card|Merfolk of the Pearl Trident||SLD|#=714}}
|2023-08-03
|Randomly distributed as free gifts to visitors of the ''Magic'' areas of [[Gen Con]] Indiana.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/15hf7nz/stranger_handed_this_to_me_at_gencon/|title=Stranger Handed This to Me at GenCon|author=u/Munsonian|publisher=Reddit|date=August 3, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{TwitterRef|StarCityBen|1687220306488782848|author=[[Ben Bleiweiss]]|title=Here's a picture of the Secret Lair Merfolk of the Pearl Trident for those wondering!|date=August 3, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|715
|{{card|Lord of the Pit||SLD|#=715}}
|2023-07-28
|Randomly distributed as free gifts to visitors of [[MagicCon]] Barcelona.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/15bydk3/sld_lord_of_the_pit_magiccon_barcelona/|title=[SLD] Lord of the Pit (MagicCon Barcelona)|author=u/SaltedDucks|publisher=Reddit|date=July 28, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|716
|{{card|Shivan Dragon||SLD|#=716}}
|2023-02-17
|Randomly distributed as free gifts to visitors of [[MagicCon]] Philadelphia.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/mtgfinance/comments/114rm1d/mtg_philly_randomly_dropping_serialized_secret/|title=Mtg Philly randomly dropping serialized secret lair card|author=u/Argument_In_My_Head|publisher=Reddit|date=February 17, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/114se25/sld_shivan_dragon/|title=SLD Shivan Dragon|author=u/C10ckwork|publisher=Reddit|date=February 17, 2023}}</ref>
|-
|717
|{{card|Giant Growth||SLD|#=717}}
|2023-05-05
|Randomly distributed as free gifts to visitors of [[MagicCon]] Minneapolis.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/139269v/sld_giant_growth/|title=[SLD] Giant Growth|author=u/SaltedDucks|publisher=Reddit|date=May 5, 2023}}</ref>
|}


====Secret Lair Prize cards====
===Secret Lair Playtest cards===
The following cards are standalone releases, and have "Secret Lair Play" (for participation) or "Secret Lair Prize" in the [[information below the text box]]. They were introduced as prizes for the [[2022–23 Pro Tour Season]].<ref>{{YouTubeRef|br5GczP7v30|Billy Jensen on MagicCon and Secret Lair Prize Cards|channel=[[Weekly MTG]]|date=November 11, 2022}}</ref>
{{Main|Secret Lair/Playtest cards}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
According to the limited information that is available, a Secret Lair Playtest card is nominally a "[[playtest card]]" but are said to be similar to the [[test card]]s first featured in the ''[[Mystery Booster]]'' and also seen at [[Unknown Event]]s.
!SLD #
!Card
!Release date
!Awarded to:
|-
|8001
|{{card|Jace, The Mind Sculptor||SLD|#=8001}}
|2023-02-17
|[[2022–23 Pro Tour Season|2023 Pro Tour]] participants
|}
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!SLP #
!Card
!Release date
!Awarded to:
|-
|0001
|{{card|Brainstorm||SLP}}
|2023-02-17
|[[2023]] [[Secret Lair Showdown]] Champions (only four in existence<ref>{{TwitterRef|wizards_magic|1603465413752459278|author=[[Magic: The Gathering]]|title=we're thrilled|date=December 15, 2022}}</ref>)
|-
|0002
|{{card|Ragavan, Nimble Pilferer||SLP}}
|2023-02-17
|2023 Secret Lair Showdown Top 32s
|-
|0003
|{{card|Fatal Push||SLP}}
|2023-02-17
|2023 Secret Lair Showdown participants
|-
|0004
|{{card|Unholy Heat||SLP}}
|2023-04-22
|[[2023–24 Pro Tour Season|Pro Tour Murders at Karlov Manor]] [[RCQ]] participants
|-
|0005
|{{card|Eldritch Evolution||SLP}}
|2023-04-22
|Pro Tour Murders RCQ Top 8's
|-
|0006
|{{card|Ugin, the Spirit Dragon||SLP}}
|2023-09-03
|Pro Tour Murders RCQ Champions
|-
|0007
|{{card|An Offer You Can't Refuse||SLP}}
|2023-04-22
|[[2023–24 Pro Tour Season|Pro Tour Outlaws of Thunder Junction]] RCQ participants
|-
|0008
|{{card|Death's Shadow||SLP}}
|2023-04-22
|Pro Tour Outlaws RCQ Top 8's
|-
|0009
|{{card|Dragonlord Silumgar||SLP}}
|2023-09-03
|Pro Tour Outlaws RCQ Champions
|-
|0012
|{{card|Explore||SLP}}
|2024-05-04
|[[2023–24 Pro Tour Season|Pro Tour 2024-3]] RCQ participants
|-
|0013
|{{card|Expressive Iteration||SLP}}
|2024-05-04
|Pro Tour 2024-3 RCQ Top 8's
|-
|0014
|{{card|Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle||SLP}}
|2024-05-04
|Pro Tour 2024-3 RCQ Champions
|-
|0015
|TBA
|
|
|-
|0016
|{{card|Dark Ritual||SLP}}
|2024-02-23
|[[2024]] [[Secret Lair Showdown]] Champions (only four in existence<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://magic.gg/news/the-2024-magiccon-schedule|title=The 2024 MagicCon Schedule|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|publisher=[[Magic.gg]]|date=November 17, 2023}}</ref>)
|-
|0017
|{{card|Murktide Regent||SLP}}
|2024-02-23
|2024 Secret Lair Showdown Top 32s
|-
|0018
|{{card|Spell Pierce||SLP}}
|2024-02-23
|2024 Secret Lair Showdown participants
|}


===Specials===
===Specials===
====Ultimate Edition====
{{Main|Secret Lair/Specials}}
''Ultimate Edition'' is a different product line under the Secret Lair umbrella with the same sensibility but with a different distribution model (through [[LGS]]'s).<ref name="Ultimate">{{DailyRef|news/making-fetch-happen-secret-lair-ultimate-edition-2020-03-13|Making Fetch Happen—Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|March 13, 2020}}</ref>
Besides the Drop Series there are several products under the Secret Lair umbrella that have the same sensibility but that have a different distribution model or a different design. These range from [[Ultimate Edition]] drops to [[Commander deck]]s and ''[[Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit]]''.
 
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!Set
!SLU #
!Release date
!Price
|-
|''[[Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition]]''
|001 - 005
|2020-05-29
|Around $400
|-
|''[[Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition 2]]''
|011 - 020
|2021-03-05
|Around $115
|}
 
====Ultimate Edition bonus cards====
{| class="wikitable sortable"   
!Set
!SLU #
!Release date
! Bonus card
|-
|''[[Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition 2]]''
|504
|2021-03-05
|Stained-glass {{card|Blast Zone||SLU}}
|}
 
====30th Anniversary Countdown Kit====
{| class="wikitable sortable" 
!Set
!SLC #
!Release date
!Price
|-
|''[[Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit]]''  
|1993 - 2023
|2022-11-01
|$149.99
|}
====Secret Lair Playtest cards====
{{Main|Secret Lair Playtest}}


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
Line 285: Line 61:


==Trivia==
==Trivia==
* The Secret Lair team has received two [[Heroes of the Realm]] reward cards - the [[Keeper of the Secret Lair]] and <c>The Secret Lair</c>.
*The Secret Lair team has received two [[Heroes of the Realm]] reward cards - the [[Keeper of the Secret Lair]] and <c>The Secret Lair</c>.


==References==
==References==

Latest revision as of 06:42, 3 January 2024

Secret Lair
 
Drop Series
 
Bonus cards
 
Promos and prizes
 
Specials
 
Playtest cards
 

Secret Lair is a “sub-brand” of Magic: The Gathering that groups existing cards into small collectible pseudo-sets called "drops", with strange themes and wild new art styles.[1][2] The name was inspired by the un-card R&D’s Secret Lair.[3]

Description

The Secret Lair Series is Wizard of the Coast's first full foray into selling single reprints directly to players.

The first Secret Lair series all consisted of alternate art reprints. Wizards of the Coast was trying to work with artists they usually didn't: street artists, comic book artists, album cover designers, etc. Alternately, they used traditional Magic artists working with very non-traditional art briefs. In some later series, original art was used in combination with alternate card frames.

With the The Walking Dead series, the premise of only reprints with alternate art was abandoned. Mark Heggen revealed that R&D views the Secret Lair platform as a product-testing grounds platform that lets them try things they can't do in normal products. He acknowledged that it had been art up to 2020, but that they had broadened the concept to speak to audiences of different sizes.[4] If they identify a small group that would be thrilled by a specific product, this could cater to them: "like the game of Magic the Secret Lair will always try new things and evolve - the first year focused on art which is the low hanging fruit" and "as we have new ideas and want to try new things to make the game joyful for more people, Secret Lair is the place to do that experimentation".

Even though the reaction among the fans was very negative, the Walking Dead was the best-selling drop, luring buyers from outside of the Magic world. This prompted the company to keep on experimenting in this realm[5] and creating the Universes Beyond product line. The 2019 Secret Lair team was awarded a Heroes of the Realm card: Keeper of the Secret Lair.

Drop Series

Main article: Secret Lair/Drop Series

All cards in the Secret Lair Drop Series have a rare or mythic rare shooting star expansion symbol. The tokens have a common expansion symbol. The Secret Lair Drop Series are in English only.

Each "drop" usually contains between three and seven cards and/or tokens in a customized collector box, costing either $29.99, $39.99, or $49.99 depending on the drop – some of which use premium foil cards as well. Additionally, the "drops" can contain digital product redemption codes for Magic: The Gathering Arena or Magic Online for various online products to be used on their respective platform. The drops are only available for purchase from the Wizards of the Coast webshop secretlair.wizards.com. In the first year, each drop usually only lasted for 24 hours (though there were some exceptions). "Superdrops" were introduced as multi-day sales that include multiple different drops that can be purchased individually or as part of a bundle.[6] Additional information on the contents of each Secret Lair Drop can be found on the webshop secretlair.wizards.com. In the second year, Wizards of the Coast focused more on superdrops, with solitary drops still possible for special occasions.[5]

Distribution

Wizards of the Coast used a print-to-demand model of distribution for Secret Lair Drops from their introduction in 2020 until 2023. Each order was printed after the purchase was made and then distributed to buyers. This model allowed for an unlimited number of people to buy the drop within the sale period and receive it at the cost of having to wait a period of time between printing and shipping. In 2024, Wizards switched to a limited-print-run model, where Secret Lair Drops were printed in set numbers before the drop was put up for sale. [7] This method allowed Wizards to ship the drops as soon as buyers made a purchase but at the cost of only having limited stock that could run out before the end of the sale period.

Packaging

Originally, each drop was packaged in a black box. Starting with the All-Natural Superdrop, the packaging for all Secret Lair drops was reduced to less than half the original volume, being made from all-recyclable paper (except the plastic card wraps), and containing 91% less plastic by volume. The April 2022 Superdrop introduced even smaller envelope packaging for regular, using less material and is lighter in weight, thereby creating less waste and making distribution more sustainable.[8] Going forward, the slim black box packaging will be restricted to most cobranded Secret Lair drops (e.g., Street Fighter), and most philanthropic drops (e.g., Extra Life 2021).

Mechanically unique cards

While originally featuring only reprint cards, starting with The Walking Dead drop a few Secret Lair Drops began introducing brand new cards with unique mechanical designs created just for the drop. These cards are legal in eternal formats and continued with other Universes Beyond releases. Players were initially concerned that the limited availability of Secret Lair Drops would mean any mechanically unique cards that proved important in a format would become expensive and unavailable for the majority of players in that format.[9] In June 2021, it was announced that for upcoming Universes Beyond Secret Lairs, Wizards of the Coast planned to create and print in-canon versions of mechanically unique Universes Beyond cards, approximately six months after their initial release. The new versions were set in Magic 's Multiverse[10] and were made available through a special distribution on The List. The non-canon cards and the canon cards are considered equivalent game pieces, meaning you can only play four copies (or one copy) of either the Magic version or Universes Beyond version in your deck.

Extras

Bonus cards

Main article: Secret Lair/Bonus cards

Each drop is delivered with a bonus card in the package. The chosen card may vary, but each drop only comes with a certain selection of cards. Originally, these themes had a theme connected to that specific drop. Later, specific bonus cards could be tied to a specific drop or could be chosen from an unrelated themed subset.

Promos and prizes

Main article: Secret Lair/Promos and prizes

Some Secret Lair cards are used as standalone prizes or promos. They may use the SLD expansion code, but others use a SLP expansion code.

Secret Lair Playtest cards

Main article: Secret Lair/Playtest cards

According to the limited information that is available, a Secret Lair Playtest card is nominally a "playtest card" but are said to be similar to the test cards first featured in the Mystery Booster and also seen at Unknown Events.

Specials

Main article: Secret Lair/Specials

Besides the Drop Series there are several products under the Secret Lair umbrella that have the same sensibility but that have a different distribution model or a different design. These range from Ultimate Edition drops to Commander decks and Secret Lair 30th Anniversary Countdown Kit.

Gallery

  • Original packaging (2019)

    Original packaging (2019)

  • Reduced packaging (2021)

    Reduced packaging (2021)

  • Envelope packaging (2022)

    Envelope packaging (2022)

  • Envelope packaging (reverse)

    Envelope packaging (reverse)

  • Secret Lair 295 Shivan Dragon packaging

    Secret Lair 295 Shivan Dragon packaging

Trivia

References

  1. ↑ Tom Marks (November 25, 2019). "Magic: The Gathering Reveals New Secret Lair Drop Series With Wild Art". Ca.ign.com.
  2. ↑ Mark Heggen (November 25, 2019). "Revealing Secret Lair". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022.
  3. ↑ Mark Rosewater (August 7, 2022). "Did the card “R&D’s Secret Lair” have any inspiration in the naming of the product “Secret Lair”?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  4. ↑ Weekly MTG - Secret Lair: The Walking Dead (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (October 2, 2020).
  5. ↑ a b Weekly MTG: Secret Lair 2021 Sneak Peak. Magicthegather.com (December 3, 2020).
  6. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 13, 2020). "Making Fetch Happen—Secret Lair: Ultimate Edition". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on November 26, 2023.
  7. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (January 2, 2024). "Speeding Up Secret Lair Shipping". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 6, 2022). "Statement on Sustainability and Secret Lair Drop Packaging". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022.
  9. ↑ David McCoy (September 28, 2020). "The Walking Dead Secret Lair Drop Releases October 4, Contains “Mechanically Unique” Cards". Hipsters of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (June 7, 2021). "Secret Lair Universes Beyond Update". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021.
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