r/magicTCG

Avacyn Restored Forest 243 by Jung Park

Marquette, MI

I don't mean specific cards or lines of text. I mean mechanics where regardless of what card it's on or what it does, reading or using it just has a certain aura!
There are lots of cards that put counters of creatures, but for me "becomes monstrous" will always be the coolest of them. Thematically and because of how good "monstrous" is on its own.
Commit a crime perfectly captures the cowboy wild west vibe in three simple words, really enforcing the set's flavor as a gunslingin' outlaw.

I don't even play commander, but was going to buy potentially a full set of these to have as a "game in a box". Super dissapointing to have a whole region shafted like this.

Wanted to build the new Jace polymorph deck using creatures that normally never see play because they cost too much and only do a kind of silly effect. Show me some creature cards that aren’t well known but can be very fun/interesting/silly if they manage to hit the board

NEW SECRET LAIR ALERT

So I had this post all typed up yesterday and then fat fingered a page refresh and it wasn't saved... so second time's the charm (though might be a bit abbreviated)

Just a reminder since people continually misconstrue the purpose this analysis - this is not meant to be an assessment of whether the cards in these drops will have the same value after they release (they usually won't, especially in cases where the value listed below is of a rarely reprinted foil). We also know that these specific SLD versions of cards will usually retain (in aggregate) at least the combined value of what you pay for them even if the original version cheaper.

Rather, this is meant for the scenario of "if you were looking for the cards in these drops already, are you better off grabbing these or grabbing the cheapest version available on the market?" I also provide a metric of "per card premium" if the answer is no, so that you know how much more you are paying for the bling / art factor. Numbers come from Scryfall at time of writing, analysis does not factor in discount for bulk purchases on the website or shipping or any bundles.

In addition, I will note any first time reprints and foil versions, as well as any cards that are new to Secret Lair as part of an effort to decide if I want to get the drops for my SLD only cube.

Mothership Post for Corn Maze Superdrop - Sale time: 9am PT on Monday 10/12

Mothership Post for Magiccon Atlanta Festival in a Box - Sale time: 9am PT on Monday 10/19

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Corn Maze - All Drops are $29.99 nonfoil / $39.99 foil

Secret Lair x Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Fear Me, Love Me

• 1x Muxus, Goblin Grandee as "Jareth, Goblin King" - $10.02 nf / $121.72 f (first foil reprint since Goblinstorm SLD drop)
• 1x Boggart Shenanigans as "Call Out the Goblins!" - $1.99 nf / $24.82 f (first foil reprint since LRW)
• 1x Dance with Calamity as "Dance with Goblins" - $0.30 nf / NA foil (first foil version)
• 1x Goblin Rabblemaster as "Goblin Cradle-Thieves" - $0.60 nf / $1.00 f
• 1x Claim the Firstborn as "The Kidnapping of Toby" - $0.20 nf / $0.33 f
• 1x Trinisphere as "I've Brought You a Gift" - $33.72 nf / $33.52 f
• Total - $47.08 nf / $182.37 f + first Dance with Calamity foil

Per Card Premium - NA nf / NA f

New to SLD: Boggart Shenanigans / Dance with Goblins / Claim the Firstborn

Muxus may not be the most popular goblin commander (thanks Krenko) but this still works as a pretty good Goblin starter kit, especially with another foil version after the disaster that was the Goblinstorm SLD deck roll out. Trinishpere is a bit of an odd inclusion mechanically but brings decent value. Notable reprints include the the first foil reprint of Boggart Shenanigans, and the first nonfoil version of the previously precon only Dance with Calamity.

Secret Lair x Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Should You Need Us

• 1x Jodah, the Unifier as "Sarah, Champion to the Lost" - $3.30 nf / $3.27 f
• 1x Lu Xun, Scholar General as Reversible "Sir Didymus" (Reversible) - $0.31 nf / NA foil (first foil version)
• 1x Kami of the Crescent Moon as "The Worm, Sagely Guide" - $7.88 nf / $21.62 f
• 1x Kogla, the Titan Ape as "Ludo, Rock Caller" - $3.01 nf / $2.55 f
• 1x Shigeki, Jukai Visionary as "The Wiseman, Eccentric Oracle" - $0.27 nf / $0.38 f (first foil since reprint since NEO)
• 1x Wort, Boggart Auntie as "Hoggle, Heart in Conflict" - $29.48 nf / $158.49 f (first reprint since LRW)
• Total - $44.25 nf / $186.31 f + first foil Lu Xun

Per Card Premium - NA nf / NA f

New to SLD: Lu Xun, Shigeki, Wort

The obligatory "lots of legendaries + Jodah" drop. At least we get Rebecca Guay art instead of Spongebob. Lu Xun getting his first ever foil version is notable, as is the first foil reprint for the BR Wort since Lorwyn. Kami of the Crescent Moon is also a respectable reprint, especially in foil.

Secret Lair x Jim Henson's Labyrinth: Through the Labyrinth

• 1x Timely Ward as "Rescue in the 13th Hour" - $3.74 nf / NA foil (first foil version)
• 1x Chronomantic Escape as "Under Jareth's Spell" - $2.72 nf / $11.99 f (first reprint since Future Sight)
• 1x Delayed Blast Fireball as "Frenzy of the Fireys" - $14.85 nf / $15.25 f (first foil reprint since SLD Extra Life)
• 1x Tempt with Discovery as "The Goblin King's Offer" - $2.67 nf / $5.91 f (first foil reprint since Tales of Middle Earth Commander)
• 1x Leveler as "The Cleaners" - $4.02 nf / $3.80 f
• 1x Thran Temporal Gateway as "Doors of Indecision" - $0.16 nf / $1.37 f (first reprint since DOM)
• 1x Rogue's Passage as "Shaft of Hands" - $0.31 nf / $2.44 f
• Total - $28.47 nf / $40.76 f + first foil Timely Ward

New to SLD: All except Delayed Blast Fireball and Rogue's Passage

Per Card Premium - $0.22 nf / NA f

A bit of a mishmash of miscellaneous spells to fill out your Sarah/Jodah deck. Timely Ward is notable as a decently played protection spell getting its first foil version, and both Chronomantic Escape and Delayed Fireball Blast having decent value, with their first reprint and first foil reprint respectively. At least we're getting 7 cards in this one.

Secret Lair x KPop Demon Hunters: How It's Done

• 1x Dawn's Truce - $5.51 nf / $5.93 f
• 1x Unbreakable Formation - $0.75 nf / $1.44 f
• 1x Freed from the Real - $6.89 nf / $15.45 f
• 1x Swan Song - $10.72 nf / $30 f
• 1x Demonic Counsel - $1.82 nf / $2.5 f (first reprint since DSK)
• 1x Tempt with Immortality - $1.55 nf / NA f (first time foil / first reprint since C13)
• 1x Underworld Breach - $7.08 nf / $10.46 f
• Total - $34.32 nf / $65.78 f + first foil Tempt with Immortality

New to SLD: Demonic Counsel, Tempt with Immortality

Per Card Premium - NA nf / NA f

To be honest it's a bit hard to judge this as a package since it's been announced we're going to get more KPDH cards in the future - so hard to see how these cards will slot into the eventual legendary creatures they pick for the main characters. On a value perspective, Dawn of Truce is pretty solid, Freed from the Real is a combo piece for infnite mana with any mana dork that taps for more than 1, Swan Song is a best in class one mana counterspell, Demonic Counsel is a Diabolic Tutor with a bit of effort, and Underworld Breach is of course a win con in Vintage and cEDH and Cube. Notable is Tempt with Immortality getting its first foil version with topless hot guy Jinu - tempting indeed. Also again 7 cards is nice.

Secret Lair x Marvel: Zombies

• 1x Unstoppable Slasher - $4.42 nf / $5.17 f
• 1x Zombie Apocalypse - $0.55 nf / $7.82 f
• 1x Vogar, Necropolis Tyrant as "Zombie Giant-Man" - NA nf (first nonfoil version) / $12.31 f
• 1x God-Eternal Bontu as "Zombie Thor" - $0.30 nf / $6.42 f
• 1x Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver as "Zombie Captain America" - $9.63 nf / $10.91 f
• 1x Varina, Lich Queen as "Zombie Scarlet Witch" - $4.26 nf / $4.11 f
• Total - $19.16 nf + first nonfoil Vogar / $46.74 f

New to SLD: Unstoppable Slasher, Vogar, Bontu,

Per Card Premium - TBD nf (breakeven if Vogar is $10.83) / NA f

A zombie drop for the spooky time of the year. One of the weird quirks of this one is we are getting a first time nonfoil version (as opposed to the more common first time foil version) from the Game Nights Free For All supplemental product of Vogar. Otherwise, Wilhelt and Varina are the #1 and #3 zombie commanders (and Wilhelt #50 overall) and solid commanders that work with all these cards. In particular Varina being an alternate Scarlet Witch may give it a waifu premium here.

Artist Series: Veronique Meignaud

• 1x Bloodsoaked Champion - $0.31 nf / $1.99 f (first foil reprint since KTK)
• 1x Voldaren Pariah // Abolisher of Bloodlines - $0.45 nf / $0.45 f (first non-List reprint since EMN)
• 1x Ashnod's Altar - $13.98 nf / $19.23 f
• 1x Cabal Stronghold - $12.28 f / $20.59 f (first reprint since DOM)
• Total - $27.02 nf / $42.26 f

New to SLD: Bloodsoaked Stalker, Voldaren Pariah, Cabal Stronghold

Per Card Premium - $0.74 nf / NA f

Bit of a shame that artist drops are often only 4 cards, and I was a bit nervous pulling prices after the first two. Thankfully Ashnod's Altar and Cabal Stronghold came in to make up for it. This works as a nice aristocrats package between a reusable sac fodder, two sac outlets, and a nice bit of ramp for monoblack, even if Stronghold is no Coffers.

Manufactured Grounds by See Machine

• 1x Ancient Den - $1.40 nf / $18.6 f
• 1x Seat of the Synod -$0.88 nf / $45.17 f
• 1x Vault of Whispers - $4.16 nf / $10.43 f
• 1x Great Furnace - $2.50 nf / $8.72 f
• 1x Tree of Tales - $1.36 nf / $15.24 f
• Total - $10.30 nf / $98.16 f

New to SLD: None

Per Card Premium - $3.94 nf / NA f

So we've actually had this exact drop (with different art) back in 2021 - Mirrodinsanity. These lands are msotly played in pauper for affinity, though Seat of the Synod does see play in Sewer-Cam Combo in Legacy, hence the higher foil price. Notably since there is an equivalent drop, a bit of comparison - five years on, a sealed Mirrodinsanity Non Foil is currently $85 on TCGPlayer, and Foil is $150

Peace, Love, & Treefolk

• 1x Dauntless Dourbark - $4.44 nf / $6.57 f
• 1x Leaf-Crowned Elder - $8.42 nf / $18.17 f (first foil reprint since MOR)
• 1x Timber Protector - $22.94 nf / $34.87 f
• 1x Treefolk Harbinger - $6.44 nf / $15.65 f (first reprint since LRW)
• 1x Doran, the Siege Tower - $8.08 nf / $11.31 f
• Total - $50.32 nf / $86.57 f

New to SLD: All

Per Card Premium - NA nf / NA f

Arguably my most anticipated from this drop - this is a perfect combination of being a bunch of rarely reprinted cards, a nice starter kit (either for a deck or as a package in my SLD cube), and great value with whimsical art. No notes.

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Bonus - Magiccon Atlanta

Generally the Mystery Booster 2 boxes were $250, which is MSRP for this drop, so all the bonus cards are basically gravy on top of that.

• Parallax Tide - $14.78 nf / $199.99 f - first reprint since NEM (not counting gold border)
• Regrowth - $0.48 nf / $1.18 f
• Viridian Revel - $1.44 nf / $14.39 f - first reprint since SOM
• Assassin's Trophy - $0.97 nf / $1.74 f
• Dance of the Dead - $15.20 f / NA nf - first reprint since ICE / first ever foil
• Tymna - $10.88 nf / $31.54 f
• Tana - $5.27 nf / $4.85 f

New to SLD - all except Regrowth and Assassin's Trophy

The Parallax Tide, Viridian REvel and Dance of the Dead repritns are very nice, especially the first ever foil Dance (though as a super rare card, there might be better options for textless). Tymna is the most popular partner commander, with Tana being her third most common pairing.

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Bundle + Bonus

The bonus card for spending $199 (ie any bundle) is Maze of ith skinned as the Labyrinth - about $9 in foil.

I did all this math yesterday but basically you get no discount for the all non-foil and all-foil bundles vs buying the 8 bundles individually. You get about a $20 discount on the everything bundle. The cheapest version of all cards in all bundles are above MSRP, on top of the bundle bonus and the first time versions.

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TLDR - my own subjective score combining taste / price / bundleability (how they play as a single deck or cube package).

• Labyrinth: Fear Me, Love Me - 4/5 nonfoil / 4.5/5 foil
• Labyrinth: Should You Need Us - 3.5/5 nonfoil / 4/5 foil
• Labyrinth: Through the Labyrinth - 3/5 nonfoil / 3/5 foil
• KPop Demon Hunters: How It's Done - 3.5/5 nonfoil / 3.5/5 foil
• Marvel: Zombies - 3.5/5 nonfoil / 4/5 foil
• Veronique Meignaud - 4/5 nonfoil / 4.5/5 foil
• Manufactured Grounds by See Machine - 2/5 nonfoil / 4/5 foil
• Peace, Love, & Treefolk - 5/5 nonfoil / 5/5 foil

Will try my shot at getting the nonfoil bundle.

Goldfishing a new Ratadrabik deck and ran into a confusing interaction with Mondrak.

Most of the confusion is whether or not there is going to be non-legendary Mondrak created, and if it hits the battlefield before or after the 2 legendary versions from Saw in Half comes in.

I’ve been going to NYCC since 2018 and have always loved going to artist alley and looking at the amazing talent. I didn’t get into playing MTG till around ‘23 which was also the last year i went to the con. It was super exciting to have a reason more than just adding a print to the gallery wall and actually collect signatures from artists. It was extremely difficult to keep myself from buying their play-mats with original art on them too!!

Hi y’all,
Just wondering if anyone knows why she’s running $30 or more when the pre-con was only $50. Is this the most valuable card in the deck being worth 60% of the deck value. Not arguing, just curious.

Thank you. 😊

She-Ra bonus

If you add any other third card that creates a Treasure, Clue, or Food token, would these two make infinite tokens?

Let's say you equip one if these with [[Goldvein Pick]] and attack to create a Treasure token. [[Academy Manufactor]] sees this and creates all 3 tokens. [[Bilbo, Fellow Conspirator]] sees the new Food token, and creates a Treasure. AM sees the new Treasure, and creats all three. Bilbo sees the new Food, creates another Treasure, etc.

Edit: thanks for all the clarifications!