Commander's Herald Weekly Update - New Secret Lairs Announced

Matt Morgan • April 23, 2021

Strategy

Welcome back to the Commander's Herald weekly update, where we get current with all the happenings of the past week. This week was exciting for Commander players of all types with several big announcements.

 

Strixhaven Prerelease Stamps

One of the major discoveries over the past weekend was the change in foil stamps for prerelease promotional cards. Wizards of the Coast has changed the promotional stamps a few times over the past few years, this time featuring a stamp of the year the set was released.

The stamp has undergone several different iterations, most recently being the dates of the prerelease weekend for the set. It was not announced before the prerelease events began that the promotional stamp had changed so it was definitely a surprise to many as the first packs of the set were opened. Changing the stamp should only leave one different stamp per year instead of unique stamps for each set, but that will be confirmed once the next set is released.

 

Secret Lair Announcements

The middle of the week did not slow down for Wizards of the Coast and its partners with announcements. Thursday featured several new Secret Lair drops each previewed by a different gaming or pop culture website.

Polygon.com announced the presumably last part of the Mystical Archive premium art treatment for Strixhaven: School of Mages. These special frames match the borders that were used in the Mystical Archive inserts in Strixhaven with non-Standard legal cards. Some multiformat all-stars such as All Is Dust and Drown in the Loch get special frames, and Fractured Identity also gets its first new art treatment as well.

All six Strixhaven cards shown on a parlor wall, with a gilded Secret Lair box shown below.

The second Secret Lair that was announced comes as a major surprise in style with its treatment of basic lands. Considering that the outlet previewing the new Secret Lair product is the satire site The Hard Drive this shouldn't come as too much surprise though.

The Hard Drive has been involved with a few previews before, each time bringing their own lighthearted style to the announcement.

Long time players will surely enjoy the meme-level appeal of this Secret Lair. In lieu of art each card features the full rules text for basic lands being presented. Similar art has been done by community members so it seems that Hasbro has been listening to the comedic side of the community with this inclusion.

 

The third Secret Lair that was announced was styled after concert posters you might find at your local concert venue. Commander staples including Nature's Lore, Wrath of God and Decree of Pain received arguably the most unique art style of the Secret Lair series.

Gamble Decree of Pain Preordain

Nature's Lore Wrath of God

The interview announcing this edition of the Secret Lair details the connections made between Magic: the Gathering and the style influencing the art.

Wrapping up the Secret Lair announcements, we go directly to Wizards of the Coast.

The Dr. Lair's Secretorium we see a new art for coveted shocklands in Alara shard color sets. Five separate options for three shocklands including one enemy color shock like Breeding Pool and two ally colored land like Temple Garden are featured in each drop.

Hallowed Fountain  Temple Garden Stomping Ground Blood Crypt Watery Grave

Steam Vents Overgrown Tomb Sacred Foundry Godless Shrine Breeding Pool

These Secret Lair drops come in at $29.99 give players an opportunity to pick up three of these highly played lands. Considering each of these lands typically are in the $15-20+ range each, this drop represents a very good value for players.

 

What a week of announcements it has been! With the diversity of both cards and styles in the Secret Lair announcements alone there has been a ton of excitement in discussions today. What do you find yourself the most excited about with the Secret Lair offerings? Let us know below!

Matt Morgan

Matt Morgan

Matt is a member of the EDHRECast, formerly grinding pro points until he let the inner Timmy take over and shifted his attention to Commander. He appreciates bad wordplay as much as a good alpha strike. A diverse nerd, you might also see him maining Leona support in League of Legends as well or on the deadlift platform at the gym.