After winning the Cats vs Dogs Chaos Vault last year, we’ve known a cat-themed Secret Lair Superdrop would be coming for some time. Officially confirmed in early May, we’re now barreling toward this Superdrop’s release date of June 15th. Admittedly, this is still a month away; however, that hasn’t stopped Wizards from revealing things early.
Today, to get the hype train really going, Wizards has unveiled three full Garfield-themed Secret Lair drops. Sadly, while the visuals on these are pretty compelling for Garfield fans, the reprint value is a mixed bag. While it’s not all bad news, it seems a brief value positive Chaos Vault was hardly a trendsetter.
Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended
Styled after the original Garfield comics Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended offers incredibly disappointing reprint value. In total, the cards in this drop aren’t even worth $10, which is a long way off the usual $29.99 purchase price. As always, Secret Lair tax could pump up the value a bit, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this one remains on digital shelves for a while.
In terms of the cards themselves, Dark Ritual is the best out of the bunch, being worth around $5. After this, however, Counterspell is the next most enticing reprint, typically being worth around $2. While this isn’t much, there’s already a good bit of player interest in this comical variant, so it could easily sell for more.
Technically, the same is also true for the reprint of Swords to Plowshares, which typically just sells for $1. While players have pointed out that this art would have worked better for Fatal Push, it’s still undeniably charming. Technically, the same is also true for the new Earthquake reprint, but it does feel slightly out of place.
Beyond lacking flavor, Earthquake also lacks value, as copies can easily be picked up for around $0.60. This, sadly, puts it in a similar realm to Fog, which routinely sells for just $0.30 thanks to widespread reprints. Given the art is a bit mismatched here, too, there’s a chance this new variant won’t be a heavy hitter.
Secret Lair x Garfield: Motivationally Challenged
Ditching the usual MTG card frame for something a lot more Secret Lair, the Motivationally Challenged drop is easily the most striking of the trio. This drop also has the best reprint value of the bunch, too, making it the clear choice from a value perspective. With cards worth a total of $38, this drop actually breaks even for once, which is a rarity nowadays.
Out of this $38, the bulk of it is made up by a new Rin and Seri, Inseparable reprint. Typically selling for around $29, this is a fan-favorite Commander; however, it’s now on its third Secret Lair printing. Potentially, this could lead to this new reprint underperforming; however, its final resting price remains to be seen.
As usual, values fall off pretty hard after the heavy hitter, with Orim’s Chant being the next most expensive card. While this is a staple in Commander, with a $5.60 price tag, the new art could easily prove divisive. The Ponder reprint could easily suffer from the same problem, although past Secret Lairs do usually go for more than the $2 base reprint price.
Similarly, the new Sol Ring reprint should likely be worth a lot more than the $1 price of regular reprints. Personally, I think even paying that much for this cursed art would be too much, but each to their own. If nothing else, this Sol Ring could be a good way to inflict psychological damage on your opponents.
Last, and also least, the reprint of Beast Within is the dud of the drop. Selling for just $0.50 on average, it’s difficult to get excited about this reprint. At least the theming is spot on, for once, which is always a nice blessing.
Secret Lair x Garfield: Our Only Thought Is to Entertain You
Despite being a fairly innocent comic strip, the internet has decided that Garfield dabbles in psychedelic horror from time to time. This drop, “Our Only Thought Is to Entertain You,” seems to play into this. On the new Molten Collapse reprint, for instance, Garfield has seemingly been spagetified, which doesn’t seem fun.
While this reprint is the worst of the drop, selling for $0.30 on average, it’s not all bad news. The similarly eerie It That Betrays, for instance, is worth around $11 on average. With a past Secret Lair printing selling for $26, this card could almost pay for the entire drop itself. Combined with Maddening Cacophony, in fact, these two cards could easily break even.
As a regular reprint, Maddening Cacophony can usually be picked up for around $7.50, which, while decent, isn’t fantastic. If this new variant matches its past Secret Lair printing, however, then it could sell for upwards of $15. Sadly, if these two cards don’t climb this high, then the drop may end up falling short.
Outside of the two heavy hitters, Maddening Hex is the next most expensive reprint at just $2. While a past Secret Lair variant goes for around $4.50, it’s hardly a super staple. For better or worse, the same is mostly true for Hunter’s Insight. While it does appear in 130,000 Commander decks, it only sells for $0.40 thanks to frequent reprints. In theory, this new variant could become an expensive chase printing, but that remains to be seen.
More Cats Coming Soon
While three Garfield drops are already a lot, this is just scratching the surface of what the Superdrop contains. Thanks to past reveals, we already know we’re getting a full drop themed around Felix the Cat, for instance. On top of this, we should be getting a full drop by Vanessa Stockard, which will be absolutely adorable.
Considering we’ve got a little over one month until the Cats Are the Best Superdrop launches on June 15th, we might be waiting a little while for more reveals. Thankfully, with Marvel Super Heroes on the horizon, too, MTG players definitely shouldn’t be bored until then.
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