Secret Lairs and Format Legality: A Comprehensive Guide

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Determining the legality of Secret Lair cards in Magic: The Gathering formats can often be confusing, as it depends on several factors. Generally, Secret Lair cards are legal in all formats where the original printing of the card is legal, with the notable exception of Standard and Block Limited. This is due to the fact that most Secret Lair drops consist of reprints of previously released cards, not entirely new ones, with different art treatments and card finishes. The crucial factor to remember is that the format legality is determined by the card’s original printing and not the unique iteration from a Secret Lair.

Understanding Format Legality

To clarify, if a card included in a Secret Lair has a previous printing that was legal in Modern, Pioneer, Legacy, or Commander, the Secret Lair version of that card is also legal in those formats. However, due to the way Wizards of the Coast designs their expansions, new cards released exclusively through Secret Lairs, meaning the cards don’t have another printing, are not designed for, nor are legal in the Standard format.

Why Aren’t Secret Lairs Standard Legal?

Standard is a rotating format that only allows cards from the most recent few sets. Since most Secret Lair drops feature reprints rather than new cards, they don’t fall into the set criteria for Standard. Also, the new cards that can occasionally come in a Secret Lair drop are not made for standard play, only for Eternal formats.

Exceptions to the Rule

There are important exceptions to this general rule, particularly regarding silver-bordered cards and cards associated with crossover promotional material. These are typically not legal in sanctioned tournaments, and often are not legal in any format except for Commander, or only legal in Eternal Formats like Legacy, Vintage, and Commander.

Frequently Asked Questions About Secret Lair Legality

Here are 15 frequently asked questions (FAQs) to further clarify the legality of Secret Lair cards, along with relevant examples:

1. Are all Secret Lair cards legal in Commander?

   • Generally, yes. Because Commander is an Eternal format, any card legal in other Eternal formats like Legacy or Vintage will be legal in Commander, unless the card is otherwise banned in the format. The new cards in the secret lair drop are legal for Eternal formats such as Commander.

2. Can I use Secret Lair cards in Modern?

   • Yes, if the card was originally printed in a Modern-legal set. For example, if a Secret Lair contains a card that originally appeared in Eighth Edition or later (excluding specific banned cards), the Secret Lair version is legal in Modern.

3. Are Secret Lair cards legal in Pioneer?

• Yes, if the card was originally printed in a Pioneer-legal set. Any cards printed from Return to Ravnica forward are Pioneer legal.

1. Why are some Secret Lair cards not legal in tournaments?

   • Usually, this is because they are silver-bordered or part of special promotional collaborations (like My Little Pony or certain Universes Beyond cards) that are not designed for sanctioned play or Standard legal.

2. Are the My Little Pony Secret Lair cards legal in any format?

   • The MLP cards are silver-bordered, making them illegal in tournaments or sanctioned events. However, they are often used in casual play and Commander games via the “Rule Zero” which permits agreement between players on any card.

3. What about the Stranger Things Secret Lair cards?

   • The Stranger Things cards are legal in Eternal formats like Legacy, Vintage, Commander, and Oathbreaker. They are not legal in Standard, Pioneer, or Modern because they don’t have original printings in the main set.

4. Are the Warhammer 40,000 Secret Lair cards legal?

   • Warhammer 40,000 crossover cards in the Secret Lair are legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage. They are not legal in Standard, Pioneer, or Modern because they were not in a legal set.

5. Can I use Secret Lair basics in any format?

   • Yes, basic lands from Secret Lairs are legal in any format where basic lands are permitted. Their legality isn’t tied to a set, but rather to their basic land type.

6. If a card is banned in a format, is the Secret Lair version also banned?

   • Yes, a ban applies to the card, not the specific printing. If a card is banned in a format, all versions of that card are banned, including Secret Lair printings.

7. Does the frame or art on a Secret Lair affect its legality?

   • No, the frame or art does not affect legality. It’s the original card name and original set that determines whether it is playable in a given format.

8. Why are there so many formats where Secret Lairs aren’t legal?

   • Formats like Standard and Pioneer need controlled environments of new cards so each time a set is released it gets a chance to shine. If all cards were allowed then these formats would look too much like Legacy or Vintage where almost all cards are allowed.

9. What if a Secret Lair contains a new card (not a reprint)?

   • New cards in Secret Lairs (as seen with Stranger Things and some Universes Beyond drops) are generally not legal in Standard or Modern. Typically, they are made legal in Eternal formats, including Legacy, Vintage, Commander, and Oathbreaker, if they are designed to play within the bounds of the MTG color pie and legal mechanics.

10. Are the Universes Beyond cards legal?

    • This question has a varied answer. Some Universes Beyond cards such as the Warhammer 40k cards are only legal in Eternal formats. However, cards like the Lord of the Rings cards are legal in everything except Standard. If a new Universes Beyond card is printed in a Secret Lair it will follow the standard rule of being only legal in Eternal formats such as Vintage, Legacy, Commander, and Oathbreaker.

11. Are 30th Edition MTG cards legal?

    • No. The 30th Anniversary Edition cards have a different card back, making them illegal in any sanctioned Magic event. They are for collectible purposes, not tournament play.

12. Where can I find the official legality of a specific Secret Lair card?

    • The easiest way is to use a comprehensive resource like Gatherer (Wizards of the Coast’s official card database) or a reliable database such as Scryfall. These resources will list the original printing information of the card, which determines the format legality of all versions of that card.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the format legality of Secret Lair cards may initially seem complex, but the general rule is relatively simple: if the original printing of the card is legal in a given format, the Secret Lair version is legal in that format as well. Always check the original printing of the card, and be aware of exceptions, such as silver-bordered cards, and special promotions, or new cards only available in a Secret Lair drop which are then only available in the Eternal formats. Knowing this will ensure that your deck is legal and ready for your next Magic: The Gathering game, be it a friendly match or a competitive tournament.