New Horizons: Spring 2023 Secret Lair

This week on New Horizons we’ll compare and contrast the prices and value in the upcoming Secret Lair Spring Superdrop 2023.

Intro

The Spring Superdrop 2023 consists of eight different Secret Lairs wrapped up in one seasonal package. This includes three Halo Foil March of the Machine Showcases, representing the multiplane resistance to the Phyrexian invasion. There's also three artist Series Lairs celebrating different artists from recent years, as well as two additional guest artist appearances in the Cool Ocean Breeze and Nature Is Adorable products.

Right off the bat, let's consider some numbers associated with the products. The March of the Machine Showcases are priced at $50 each with the remaining products priced at just shy of $30 in non-foil and $40 in foil. If you’re looking for a specific bundle of foil cards with alternate art, the Halo Foil Showcases are a great save, cutting the combined cost of regular foils by 22-50%. The range here comes from Vol.2, including Higure, the Still Wind which is currently $110 in the original foil due to only one printing in Betrayers of Kamigawa.

On the other hand, combining the prices of their non-foil counterparts, the first two volumes would cost around $30 to buy the individual singles in each. If purchasing all the singles from their cheapest printing in volume three (at the time of writing), you would spend exactly $50 due to over half of the lair being in the $10+ price range. The Artist Series is a bit more balanced in terms of pricing with each of them containing a reprint with a high foil multiplier from the original printing.

Linvala, Keeper of Silence

Linvala, Keeper of Silence piques my curiosity. Originally printed in Rise of the Eldrazi and holding a slowly increasing price of $21, the card has been reprinted twice before, in Modern Masters 2017 and Jumpstart. While the average price is similar, the two previous foil versions of the card have wildly different prices. The newer Modern Masters 2017 holds a $66 price in foil, whereas the original printing is miles ahead at $271.

Now with a new print in each version, the prices of the originals look to be holding strong while the Secret Lair art is going through its adjustments. Presenting a slow downward trend, before the cards begin to circulate in the market, both the foil and non-foil are currently close to $20 and $35, respectively.

Looking a bit closer at the graphical price data, Linvala is also one of the only cards that have been recently reprinted and increased in value. All of the other cards that will be covered later have begun to show a negative trend once their reprints have become public. 

Wizards has also provided us with a slight upgrade in the form of a team-up of Drana and Linvala, which can be picked up at just $1.5.

Linvala, Keeper of Silence	CardKingdom $21.99	TCGPlayer $24.47
Linvala, Keeper of Silence	CardKingdom $21.99	TCGPlayer $15.99
Linvala, Keeper of Silence	CardKingdom $17.99	TCGPlayer $15.17
Linvala, Keeper of Silence	CardKingdom $17.99	TCGPlayer $14.00

Misdirection (Halo Foil)

Misdirection is one of only 18 other cards (not counting Un-sets here) that change the target of a spell with another one, offering a unique ability with different various upsides, downsides, and restrictions. Most notably, it is the only one of these 18 cards where the mana cost can be completely avoided. In recent times, at least in my own playgroup, an argument has been made surrounding the playability of Bolt Bend in EDH. This card mimics the cost reduction effect but doesn't come without its drawbacks.

Misdirection already has a home in a variety of EDH decks, like any partner combination of Kraum, Ludevic's Opus, and it’s also Vintage and Legacy playable. While currently seen as a sideboard card in Oath of Druids and some versions of Doomsday, the price of Misdirection has remained accessible throughout the years.

Originally printed in Mercadian Masques, the price has largely bottomed out to an all-time low of $2.62, before beginning to climb back up again in 2021, to about $10 now. The original foils remain largely sought after with the current price at $257. With only one other foil printing from the first Conspiracy set at $18, the price of the Secret Lair reprint is boasting a low $10 average. With the original price and the Secret Lair foil matching closely in value, the card is likely to maintain an upward trend in both versions as the demand will slightly increase without the proportional increase in supply.

Misdirection (Halo Foil)	CardKingdom	TCGPlayer $6.56
Misdirection	CardKingdom $2.99	TCGPlayer $3.12
Misdirection	CardKingdom $13.99	TCGPlayer $12.99
Misdirection	CardKingdom $3.49	TCGPlayer $2.64

Grand Abolisher

Grand Abolisher is an ideal addition to the Secret Lair, catering to both veteran and novice players. This card has demonstrated its resilience against power creep and has had limited printings, making it a valuable find.

Initially released in Magic 2012 (M12), and with only one previous foil printing, it’s since been reprinted in Commander 2014 and Archenemy: Nicol Bolas. The regular prints of Grand Abolisher have experienced a significant price surge, going from around $10 in 2020 to an average of $30 today. The foil variant has also witnessed a substantial increase, reaching a high of $135. However, the non-foil versions have recently declined in price due to the introduction of another reprint.

The new artwork is priced at around $22, while the foil version is priced at $32. Interestingly, the current price of the foil Secret Lair edition is comparable to that of the original non-foil version. While Grand Abolisher sees moderate play in formats like EDH, CEDH, and occasionally in Modern sideboards, its unique protection effect makes it a noteworthy inclusion in any white deck. Looking over the recent data from the European market, the foils of the Secret Lair are currently matching a similar price point to the original foils. While this trend is unlikely to repeat in the US market, the card can be currently considered undervalued due to its misalignment from the previous versions in non-foil.

Grand Abolisher	CardKingdom $19.99	TCGPlayer $26.44
Grand Abolisher	CardKingdom $11.99	TCGPlayer $9.49
Grand Abolisher	CardKingdom $10.99	TCGPlayer $9.00
Grand Abolisher	CardKingdom $10.99	TCGPlayer $10.43

Conclusion

My Winter Superdrop 2023 article discussed the impact of Secret Lair printings on card prices and the opportunity to acquire them at a discounted rate compared to the original versions. The Spring Superdrop 2023 follows a similar concept, offering players the chance to obtain specific singles in foil or curated bundles to enhance their collections. This presents a reasonable value proposition for players seeking these particular cards. However, it is crucial to consider the selection of cards and their availability to newer players.

In this release, certain cards have had limited previous printings, making them suitable candidates for redistribution in Secret Lair. Although there are benefits for the player/collector, many remain skeptical about the concept of Wizards directly selling cards and the resulting product fatigue.

Join me in the next installment of New Horizons, as we disassemble the Secret Lair Commander Deck: From Cute to Brute.

 

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