Summary
I was very excited to buyMagic: The Gathering’s collaboration with Monty Python, but I and many players like me never got the chance. This new set of cards wasone ofMagic’s Secret Lairproducts, which are periodically released online. Unlike mostMagicproducts,Secret Lairproducts are ordered directly from Wizards of the Coastand are one of the few ways players can get their hands on specific cards without having to go through the secondary market.
Unfortunately, recent changes toSecret Lairdrops havemade the cards far less accessiblethan in the past. Not only does this somewhat defeat the purpose ofSecret Lairsas a product, but it has also created a lot of frustration among players.Secret Lairhas seemingly gone from a product that was perfect for players like myself, to one that will simply exacerbate some of the problems withcollectingMagic: The Gatheringcards.
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Magic’s Recent Secret Lair Sold Out Before Many Could Buy It
Many Of The Drops Sold Out In A Few Hours
Until recently,Secret Lairdrops were a made-to-order product. There was still a limited amount of time that players had to order them, but this usually meant a week or more, and there was no concern that they would sell out. This changed with the latestSecret Lairdrop, which instead had a limited print run.
Due to the limited availability of these cards and the inclusion of a popular IP likeMonty Python and the Holy Grail,thisSecret Lairdrop ended up selling out pretty fast. I logged onto the site just a few hours after the sale had gone live, only to find that most of the products I wanted had already sold out. And I was far from the only player who had this experience.
Plenty of players had a similar experience, flooding the replies of theMTG Secret LairTwitter account’s post about the drop to complain about how quickly it had sold out. Many requested a return to a print-on-demand model, while others expressed their disappointment that they were not notified soon enough by Wizards of the Coast’s alert emails. Instead of excitement about the new release, the overall tone surrounding it quickly became one of frustration.
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Secret Lair’s New Release Strategy Caused Massive Wait Times
Magic’s Secret Lair Is No Longer Made-To-Order
By switching from printing the cards on demand to only printing a certain number ofSecret Laircards, Wizards of the Coast created several problems that weren’t an issue with previous releases. The most obvious problem for anyone who attempted to buy one of the newSecret Lairsat launch was the wait times. Players attempting to check out wereput into a digital queue and forced to wait for extended periodsbefore finding out if their order went through. This a major hassle for a product released in the middle of the work week, and it only got worse.
Not only did thisSecret Lairdrop sell out, but it sold out incredibly fast. That means some players were stuck waiting in the digital queue, only to find out the product they were trying to buy was no longer available. PopularMagicYouTuberTolarian Community College, AKA The Professor, even shared that hewaited in the queue for over an hourbefore learning the product he wanted had sold out.
If The Professor, for whom staying up to date withMagicreleases is part of his job, couldn’t even get his hands on the newestSecret Lairin time, it’s clear that more casual consumers never stood a chance. I had personally been so used to being able to grabSecret Lairdrops a few days after they were released that I never considered I’d be locked out of buying one a few hours after it went up. Now, my only chance to get my hands onMagic’sMonty Pythoncollaboration will be through the secondary market.
Limiting Products Mainly Benefits Magic’s Scalpers
Limiting Print Runs Inflates Prices Due To Scarcity
Like any collector’s item,Magic: The Gatheringdoesn’t just attract genuine fans of the game but also those looking to use it as an investment opportunity. Limiting print runs onSecret Lairproducts doesn’t just hurt fans; it alsoprovides a stronger incentive for people simply looking to flip the cardsfor a profit to buy them all up. This makes the already limited quantity of cards sell out that much faster, as they aren’t just being sold to players who actually want to use or hold onto the cards.
BeforeSecret Lairdrops became limited in quantity, they would still often go up in price when they hit the secondary market. I remember purchasing a “Phyrexian Praetors: Compleat Edition”Secret Lairfrom a local store at a $30 markup because I had missed out on the initial sale. Now that quantities ofSecret Lairsare even more limited, they will likely be sold at an even higher markup on the secondary market when, before, scalpingSecret Lairswas a risk because most players simply bought them directly from Wizards when they could.
Now,Secret Lairdrops will likely be similar to products like the Mythic Edition boxes from 2019. TheWar of the SparkMythic Edition box also sold out in a hurry, with many scalpers flipping boxes for nearly double what they paid for them. The more profitable flippingSecret Lairsproves, the more scalpers will start trying to buy, which will only make the problem worse for players who actually want the cards.
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Limited Print Runs Ruin The Best Part Of Secret Lairs
Secret Lairs Used To Make Cards More Accessible To Players
One of the best parts ofSecret Lairswas how accessible they made certain cards. While not allSecret Lairshave valuable cards in them, sometimes they are a great way to get a much-needed reprint of a rare card. I was immediately sold on the concept ofSecret Lairswhen I was able to snag an Ur-Dragon and a Sliver Overlord in a new art style for less than they were selling on the secondary market. However, this appeal ofSecret Lairswill likely be lost if they continue to be print-on-demand.
If players aren’t some of the lucky few to get their hands on a limitedSecret Lair, they are still going to have to rely on the secondary market to buy these cards. This means a rare card being printed in aSecret Lairno longer makes it more accessible. If anything, it’s just adding a new, possibly more expensive version. I would hope that Wizards of the Coast listen toMagicplayers’ concerns and go back to a print-on-demand model in the future.
