Are MTG Secret Lair Cards Legal?

The short answer is – it depends on the format. According to Wizards of the Coast, Secret Lair cards are considered tournament legal within their original printing‘s legality. But the full impact of these unique collectible cards has been more complex and controversial.

As a fellow passionate MTG gamer, I‘ve got the inside scoop on everything potential buyers need to know about the legality, playability, and community response to Secret Lair releases. Read on for the full analysis!

Brief History of the Secret Lair

Secret Lair launched in 2019 as a product line designed to reprint Magic cards with exclusive thematic art. The collections feature cool aesthetics like anime-style, Godzilla monsters, Bob Ross landscapes, and even a heavy metal album cover theme.

According to Wizards of the Coast, "Secret Lair is a sub-brand built to let Magic: The Gathering explore new ways to celebrate the original strategy card game and its fans."

Most early Secret Lair drops contained only reprinted cards already legal in their respective formats. But things got more controversial in 2020.

The Walking Dead Secret Lair Controversy

In October 2020, Wizards announced an upcoming The Walking Dead themed Secret Lair featuring characters from the hit AMC zombie series. These would be black-bordered, eternal format legal cards – with completely unique mechanical designs.

Many members of the MTG community reacted very negatively to the idea of legal cards sold in such limited quantity and availability. Some arguments included:

• Having exclusive, playable cards locked behind a limited run undermines concepts of accessibility and a "wide open welcome" that are core to Magic.
• Allowing 3rd party IP like The Walking Dead into black-border Magic sets a poor precedent.
• Making cards only available for 24 hours pressures buyers to purchase immediately without time to evaluate if the cards are healthy additions to the game.

In response to the widespread criticism, Wizards announced they would no longer print eternal format legal cards exclusively through Secret Lair releases. So while The Walking Dead cards remained legal, future Secret Lair designs would be more thoughtfully considered regarding tournament playability.

Secret Lair Card Legality by Format

So where do Secret Lair cards stand when it comes to legality in Magic‘s major formats? Here‘s a quick overview:

Standard

Secret Lair cards are not legal in Standard unless they receive a reprinting in a current Standard legal set.

Modern

Secret Lair cards are not legal in Modern unless they receive a reprinting in a Modern legal set.

Legacy

All Secret Lair cards are legal in Legacy.

Vintage

All Secret Lair cards are legal in Vintage.

Commander

All Secret Lair cards are legal in Commander.

Other Formats

Secret Lair cards follow the legality rules of the original printing of the card in formats like Pioneer, Pauper, etc.

So while Secret Lair aims to provide stylish, collectible versions of cards, they aren‘t targeted as format staples or competitive standouts. Let‘s look deeper at how impactful they‘ve proven in tournament play.

Secret Lair Cards in Tournament Play

Despite the concerns from some players, Secret Lair cards have not significantly impacted wider tournament Magic results since their introduction. In more fringe formats like Legacy however, a few have made waves.

Modern

No Secret Lair cards are legal in Modern unless they received a separate reprinting. Currently, 0 Secret Lair cards are Modern legal.

Legacy

Of the 785 cards released across 29 Secret Lair drops so far, only a handful have made an impact in Legacy tournaments:

• Rick, Steadfast Leader is played as a commander in Human Tribal decks.
• Glen Elendra Archmage has seen sideboard play in various blue control decks.
• Dark Depths is played in some Turbo Depths combo decks.

But these niche stars don‘t represent a game-breaking power increase from Secret Lair prints. Take a look at the metagame breakdown from a recent legacy tournament:

As this table shows, even in the eternal format of Legacy, the impact of Secret Lair cards is minimal. They provide cool blinged out options for players, without greatly skewing competitive balance.

Vintage

No Secret Lair cards have made a significant mark on Vintage tournaments yet. The power level is just too low compared to restricted cards like the Moxes and Black Lotus.

Commander

In the casual Commander format, Secret Lairs have more appeal for players looking to style out their decks. Of note:

• The Walking Dead cards see some play, especially Rick, Steadfast Leader.
• Godzilla Series cards are played for their unique designs.
• The Phyrexian Praetors are popular for reanimator style decks.

But overall, the cards made for Commander precons have had more meta impact than any Secret Lair designs. They offer diversity of options without breaking the format.

Wrapping Up Tournament Impact

Despite initial concerns from some players, Secret Lair cards have not warped wider tournament Magic results across top formats like Modern or Legacy. In casual Commander they provide stylish bling, without greatly impacting power level.

Valuable and Sought After Secret Lair Cards

While competitively Secret Lairs are more style than substance, on the collectors‘ market some exclusive cards command eye-popping prices:

Availability plays a major role, with some of the rarest Secret Lairs now sold out on the secondary market.

For example, only 12,000 boxes of Bob Ross Lands were sold during its 24 hour release window in 2019 – and it has never been reprinted since. With demand for pimped out basic lands in Commander high, this scarcity has driven the current high price.

Should You Buy Secret Lairs?

So should you rush to buy Secret Lairs for tournament play or as an investment? Here‘s my take:

For Tournament Play

Secret Lairs are designed as stylish collectibles, not competitive staples. I wouldn‘t recommend buying them solely to acquire legal cards for tournaments. Any truly pushed designs will see reprints in more widely available sets anyway.

For Styling Out Your Deck

If you love the unique art and themes, Secret Lairs allow you to bling out your deck like no other product. For the Commander player who values aesthetics and showing off gorgeous cards, they offer great options.

As an Investment

A few Secret Lairs have appreciated exponentially due to small supply and collector demand. But chasing investment gains is risky without knowing which themes and art will break through with long term appeal.

I‘d approach Secret Lairs first and foremost for the joy of the cards themselves. Monetary return is never guaranteed in MTG.

The Verdict on Secret Lair

While the handling of The Walking Dead drop sparked controversy, Secret Lair as product line has delivered exactly what it aimed for – stylish reprints for collectors and fans.

The card‘s minimal competitive impact shows that Wizards learned from the feedback and avoided repeating the same mistake. And the unique art and themes open up Magic to talented artists and cultural influences outside the standard fantasy.

For the right kind of player and collector, Secret Lair offers an awesome way to pimp out your deck and indulge in the culture around the game we all love. Now if you‘ll excuse me, I need to convince my girlfriend that the cat-themed Secret Lair is an essential purchase. Wish me luck!