It’s easy to grow cynical as a Magic player in 2024. The game is currently undergoing a series of seismic changes made explicitly in the name of profit, with less regard given to what made it great in the first place. We see this in the mishandling of Secret Lairs, and we see this in the expanded role of Universes Beyond. Among all of this negativity, however, there are still sparks of hope. Back in February the Sheldon’s Spellbook Secret Lair drop was released.
This unique drop celebrated one of the titans of the Commander format, with half of all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society (ACS). This week, the staggering amount raised by the drop was finally revealed.
Over $2 Million Raised!
“Last spring, Wizards of the Coast partnered with the American Cancer Society to fulfill the wishes of Sheldon Menery, the Godfather of Commander, to release a Secret Lair that would ensure that the friends and loved ones we play this game with would be around the table for as long as possible.
We are thrilled to announce to the Magic Community that Sheldon’s Spellbook raised $2,140,640! This gift is the largest fan-driven gift for Wizards of the Coast and Hasbro and is the largest Secret Lair charitable donation.”
American Cancer Society
This is an absolutely astounding figure. We’ve seen similarly heroic performances before, with $1.6 million raised for Extra Life in 2020. The Sheldon’s Spellbook Secret Lair sets a new standard, however. As ACS notes in their post, it’s the largest Secret Lair charitable donation of all time. Even more impressive, it’s the largest fan-driven gift from Hasbro and WotC in general.
Why did this Lair in particular resonate with players? I believe it’s down to a combination of factors. First of all, Sheldon Menery was an absolute hero in the eyes of the MTG community. We’ll get into it more later on, but his contributions to the Commander format were legendary. He was also a hugely positive voice in the game as a whole.
Second, because of how widely applicable the chosen charity was in this case. According to the ACS website, cancer affects “1 in 3 people in the United States.” That’s a huge chunk of the population who have good reason to contribute to the cause. In the comments of the statement from ACS on Reddit, many discussed their own experiences with cancer, and how they led them to purchase the drop.
“That’s a fantastic number! This was the only SLD I purchased this year. Cancer research and support is very dear to my heart, having lost a wonderful aunt to cancer before the pandemic. I was more than happy to keep contributing to this cause.”
SomeWriter13
The card selection in this Secret Lair drop was fairly solid, but unremarkable in terms of value. Ultimately, then, the sentiment above must be the reason for its staggering success. The option to, as PluralKumquat put it in the thread, say “f*%£ cancer” with an MTG purchase proved very popular indeed. That over $2 million was raised really speaks to the widespread reach of the disease, and the willingness of those in the MTG community to do something about it.
A Lasting Legacy
“Words cannot express our gratitude to the entire community for their amazing generosity and desire to honor an incredible person. We wish Sheldon could have seen your amazing achievement himself, but we know he would have been overjoyed with the response.”
American Cancer Society
Of course, the popularity of the drop was also a testament to Sheldon Menery himself. As one of the most universally beloved figures in the MTG community, Sheldon had a career that spanned multiple roles and multiple decades.
Menery began as an avid Magic player, getting in on the ground floor in 1993. His love for the game grew over time, and he eventually trained up to be a level 5 judge. He also created a range of Magic content, contributing to Pro Tour coverage and writing articles for Star City Games. These articles typically revolved around the Commander format, which Menery held a strong passion for.
It was this passion that ultimately led to Menery’s biggest contribution to the game. In 2006, he was a founding member of the Commander Rules Committee: an independent body tasked with managing the ever-growing Commander format. This committee carefully curated the format and its ban list over the years.
The recent controversy involving the Rules Committee has soured public perception. It’s important to remember just how crucial the role it played was, however. Back in 2006, Commander was a fun side format more than anything else. In 2024 it’s the biggest Magic format by far. The Rules Committee, with the help of Menery, were the ones who made that happen.
Before his death in 2023, Menery collaborated with Wizards to design the Sheldon’s Spellbook Secret Lair drop. Every card tells part of his story, and it’s a wonderfully fitting tribute all around. The $2 million this drop raised is the final gift of someone who already gave his all to the game and a testament to the spirit of community that makes Magic more than the sum of its parts.
“I’m not great at everything, but I am great at one thing: surrounding myself with excellent people. And that tends to take care of the rest.”
Sheldon Menery, 1961-2023
