Are Secret Lair Lands Legal? A Comprehensive Guide to Magic: The Gathering’s Secret Lair Lands
Yes, Secret Lair lands are legal in most Magic: The Gathering formats, with some very specific exceptions. This straightforward answer, however, is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to understanding the nuances of Secret Lair legality. While many players eagerly acquire these uniquely designed lands for their aesthetic appeal, it’s crucial to understand their tournament eligibility. Let’s delve deeper into the world of Secret Lair lands and their place within the Magic: The Gathering ecosystem.
Understanding Secret Lair
What are Secret Lairs?
Secret Lairs are a sub-brand of Magic: The Gathering, designed to celebrate the game and its fans by offering unique, often aesthetically striking, versions of both existing and new cards. These drops can feature reprints with alternate art, entirely new cards, or a combination of both. Secret Lairs are usually sold directly by Wizards of the Coast for a limited time.
The Legality Landscape
The legality of Secret Lair cards, including lands, is generally determined by whether the cards are reprints of existing cards or are brand-new cards created specifically for the Secret Lair. Reprinted cards are usually legal in any format where the original version of the card is legal. However, cards introduced for the first time in a Secret Lair have a more specific ruling on their legality.
Are Secret Lair Lands Legal in Tournaments?
The core of our discussion lies in this question: are Secret Lair lands legal in tournaments? The answer, in short, is a conditional yes.
Reprints
If the Secret Lair land is a reprint of a land that already exists in Magic: The Gathering, it is legal in any format where that original printing is legal. For example, if a Secret Lair features basic lands (like plains, islands, swamps, mountains, and forests) with unique art, those lands will be legal in all formats where basic lands are allowed. This includes the popular Commander, Legacy, Vintage, and other Eternal formats.
New Cards
If a Secret Lair drop introduces entirely new lands, their legality is usually restricted to eternal formats. These formats allow all the previously printed cards to be played in decks. Most of the time the secret lair cards fall under the category of reprints, however with the introduction of Universes Beyond it’s become a bit more nuanced. The “Universes Beyond” subset can contain new cards that may not be legal for Standard, Pioneer or Modern but may be legal for other formats. For example, The Walking Dead Secret Lair introduced entirely new cards that were legal in Eternal formats like Commander, Legacy, and Vintage but are not legal in Standard, Modern, or Pioneer. The key point here is to check what format the original card was legal in and whether the cards are reprints or new cards.
Secret Lair Land Value and Collectibility
While legality is crucial for gameplay, the allure of Secret Lair lands often stems from their aesthetic appeal. The value is subjective.
Art and Aesthetics
The unique art is the main draw for many players. Collectors are often drawn to the exclusive art.
Financial Aspect
Generally, Secret Lair basics are not considered to be good value in terms of pure card prices because of the high prices on a handful of basic lands. However, their value lies in their collectability, exclusivity, and the desirability of their unique art. Older, sealed Secret Lairs often increase in value over time, making them a potential investment for some. However, individual card prices are driven by how much demand there is for the unique look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Secret Lair Lands
To provide even greater clarity, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about the legality, value, and collectibility of Secret Lair lands.
1. Are Secret Lair basic lands always legal?
Yes, if the Secret Lair basic lands are reprints of the basic land cards (Plains, Island, Swamp, Mountain, and Forest), they are legal in any format where basic lands are legal.
2. What formats are Secret Lair lands not legal in?
Generally, Secret Lair lands that are reprints of existing cards are legal in all formats where those cards are legal. Secret Lair cards that are new cards are usually legal in eternal formats, and not legal in Standard, Modern, or Pioneer. Always consult the specific format rules before playing.
3. Can I use Secret Lair lands in my Commander deck?
Yes, absolutely. If the lands are reprints of cards legal in Commander or new cards made for the secret lair, they are legal in Commander. Commander is an eternal format, so most Secret Lair lands are legal.
4. Are Secret Lair lands legal in Limited formats?
Yes, Secret Lair basic land reprints are legal in limited. However, they will not appear in the boosters that you open for a limited tournament.
5. Do Secret Lair lands have any special rules regarding legality?
No, Secret Lair lands are subject to the same rules as any other Magic card. The only difference is their unique artwork and the method in which they were released.
6. If a land is banned in a format, is the Secret Lair version of that land also banned?
Yes, if a land is banned, all versions of that land are banned, regardless of the printing. For example, if a land that has a secret lair version is banned in modern, that secret lair land would be banned as well.
7. How can I check the legality of specific Secret Lair lands?
Always check the official Wizards of the Coast website for the latest rulings and format restrictions. There are also multiple sites like Scryfall that also provide this information.
8. Is the artwork on Secret Lair lands considered tournament legal?
Yes, as long as the card is a legitimate Magic: The Gathering card and is not a counterfeit, the artwork has no bearing on its tournament legality.
9. Are foil Secret Lair lands legal?
Yes, foil versions of Secret Lair lands are just as legal as non-foil versions.
10. Do Secret Lair lands have different mana symbols or tap abilities?
No, Secret Lair lands have the same mana symbols and tap abilities as their original printing. They are not functionally different in terms of gameplay.
11. What does “Eternal” format mean regarding Secret Lair legality?
Eternal formats like Commander, Vintage, and Legacy allow almost all cards ever printed to be used, therefore, lands introduced through Secret Lairs are often legal in these formats.
12. Why are some Secret Lair lands more expensive than others?
The price is determined by their availability, the desirability of the artwork, and the popularity of the set. Some Secret Lairs have lower print runs, making the cards more scarce and often more expensive.
13. Are Secret Lair lands considered good investments?
While some sealed Secret Lairs appreciate in value over time, the price of individual Secret Lair lands varies based on player demand. Whether they are “good investments” depends on many market factors.
14. Can Secret Lair lands be used as proxies?
No, Secret Lair lands are not proxies. Proxies are generally stand-ins for cards not allowed in a tournament setting. These are actual cards printed by Wizards of the Coast.
15. Where can I purchase Secret Lair lands?
Secret Lair lands are typically sold directly from the Wizards of the Coast website for a limited time. After their initial sale, you can often find them on secondary markets like TCGplayer, or Ebay.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Secret Lair lands are generally legal in most Magic: The Gathering formats where their original card counterparts are legal. The key distinction lies in whether they are reprints of existing cards or new cards introduced in the Secret Lair drop. Always remember to verify the format legality and check the latest rulings before playing in a tournament. Whether for gameplay or collection, Secret Lair lands offer a unique and exciting dimension to the world of Magic: The Gathering.