The Value of the Secret Lair Commander Deck Everyone's Invited

As an alternative to purchasing a Commander deck with every new set release, players now have access to an expanding range of Secret Lair options. The quantity of these releases has been increasing rapidly, and the initial novelty of the concept is fading. 

I’ve never indulged in purchasing one of these decks. The first iteration wasn't of interest to me, and the shipping issues that followed left me with a sour taste for subsequent releases. That being said, for those looking to purchase a brand-new deck that offers a cohesive, out-of-the-box thematic experience, there are a few caveats to keep in mind. These decks are not designed for new players. Instead, they primarily offer reprinted cards with somewhat refreshed visuals. A quality more suited for established players looking for that extra sparkle of extravagance. 

In this article, I'll review the new Secret Lair Everyone's Invited Commander deck, examining its sealed value and providing an overview of the cards included.

Return On Investment

The retail prices of the Secret Lair Commander decks have changed over time. The original, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose, was retailing at $99 from the store, with subsequent decks starting at $150. The latest addition has raised this starting price to $200. This raises the question: is it worth it to buy it and play, or to simply resell further down the line? 

Using the MTGStocks’ Sealed Precons section, I analyzed the prices for these decks over time. Unsurprisingly, the secondary market has shown a sharp increase for all released decks. The biggest gainer is the original coin flip deck, which currently has an average sealed price of $435. The double-sided deck and win-con deck follow with a lower pattern of $250 and $187, respectively. These lower prices can be attributed to their being less mature as sealed products and having not been circulated in the market as much as their predecessor.

Due to this, I see these products as more of an appreciating asset and can anticipate that the Everyone's Invited deck will follow the same price points over time. The larger-than-usual entry price for purchase will more than likely drive the resale price more quickly over the next two years.

Single You Out

The cards included in the Everyone's Invited deck range from somewhere in the middle of the thematic and penny stock. Unfortunately, not all cards received the same level of care or impact on the financial market. This is a pity, as such products can be perfect for reviving interest in older or lesser-known cards. That being said, let's take a look at some that may surprise you.

Taurean Mauler, a card known for its ability to grow in multiplayer games, is a frequent inclusion in Commander products. Its Changeling ability is often an afterthought unless deliberately synergized with the commander. With multiple reprints available, why highlight it here? The answer is simple: this deck features Taurean Mauler as one of the ten double-rainbow foils, marking only the second time it’s been printed in foil. The original Morningtide copy is $56 on average (which makes me wonder how many other Morningtide cards have a high foil premium).

Raise the Palisade is another reprint, originating from Commander: The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth. The cards from this IP are rather limited and will likely remain so. However, this opens up a great opportunity for more reprints, as there are a lot of non-IP-specific named cards presented. Raise the Palisade has already leveled out in price after a brief spike last August. This stabilization in price would normally be set up for a slow incline over the $10 mark if not for the reprint.

Meat On The Bone

Looking at the standout reprints among the remaining cards, some deserve honorable mentions. Rin and Seri, Inseparable, seems to refuse to fit as a reprint anywhere outside of Secret Lair products. This marks its third reprint outside of the original Buy-A-Box Promo, yet, despite repeated printings, its price has remained consistently above $25. This latest version, featuring original art, is unlikely to significantly impact the value of existing copies, but remains a strong collectible.

Another standout is Black Market Connections, a well-known Commander staple that creates value by exchanging resources. Thankfully, we’re long past the days when this card averaged over $40, however, we still have ways to go before it normalizes under $10. Currently around $15, this reprint may temporarily drop the price to around $12, but it’s unlikely to fall below that for long, given its consistent demand.

Questions With Simple Answers

Is the Everyone's Invited deck worth buying? The short answer is yes, as long as you’re either looking to sell it further down the line or are genuinely interested in playing. But are the singles included worth it? That’s a bit more complicated, as we’re ahead of market circulation at the time of writing. Based on the standard versions of the ten featured cards, the deck’s value is around $220, which is roughly a 10% increase over the initial price. The inclusion of foil versions is likely to push this value even higher. If supply is limited, I wouldn’t be surprised to see secondary market prices reaching $275.

Join me again next time as we limit break Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy.

Further Reading:

Underplayed Auras In Commander

The Casual Commander Marketplace

Hidden Gems for Deadpool, Trading Card