Earlier this week, the long-anticipated Chaos Vault drop finally went on sale. Dubbed the Secret Lair x Brain Dead: New Earth Mentality drop, this product contains 10 cards priced at $29.99 and $39.99. Unfortunately, from a reprint value perspective, this collection of cards is quite disappointing, especially considering one of the most anticipated spoilers for the release was missing.
That said, after some MTG players received their Brain Dead Secret Lairs, the missing card miraculously reappeared for some. It appears that the value in this Secret Lair drop is heavily dependent on the bonus slot.
Despite the fact that the Chaos Vault drop wasn’t even revealed until earlier this week, players are already starting to receive their cards. As is typical when Secret Lairs start getting opened, players have been quick to show off their bonus cards to the world. Now, it appears we have an explanation for why Miren, the Moaning Well and Master of the Feast weren’t included in the main card list.
As it turns out, both of these designs, along with two others, appear as bonus cards instead. While Miren is definitely the more exciting of the two, this will be the first time either of these cards has received a reprint. Sadly, despite Miren getting a reprint, it’s unlikely to make the card more affordable. Secret Lair printings of cards typically command premiums under normal circumstances. You’re not even guaranteed to find Miren, the Moaning Well, meaning it could easily be extremely expensive.
Notably, we also don’t have information yet on pull rates for each bonus sheet option. Considering how expensive Miren is compared to Master of the Feast, which sits below $4 in traditional non-foil form, it’s very possible Miren is a rarer bonus card to open.
Interestingly, it seems Miren isn’t the only expensive bonus card players can open in this Secret Lair. Boasting a similar retro style printing, Tidal Barracuda is quite a strong reprint in its own right. Once again, this is the first time Tidal Barracuda is being reprinted, and the first opportunity for EDH players to pick up an alternate art copy.
As things currently stand, Commander 2020 copies of Tidal Barracuda sit at nearly $15 apiece. This comes after the release of MTG Avatar and Fire Lord Azula, which contributed to a major price spike across a multitude of Flash enablers.
Nonetheless, it should be noted that Tidal Barracuda’s symmetrical effect greatly reduces the Fish’s overall EDH demand. Overall, Tidal Barracuda only sees play in 31,100 EDH decks according to EDHREC. While this is more than the other bonus card choices, the number still pales in comparison to other elite Flash enablers like High Fae Trickster which appears in 116,000 decks.
The final bonus card revealed thus far, Invasion Plans, is quite an intriguing card for Commander. Despite its narrow applications, in the right Commander deck, this enchantment can have a devastating effect on the game.
The best way to use Invasion Plans is to pair it with Commanders that want to be blocked. Anzrag, the Quake-Mole, and The Incredible Hulk, for example, reward you with extra combat steps. Combined with an Indestructible effect like Mithril Coat, you can repeatedly gain extra combat steps until all opposing creatures are shot down. Alternatively, playing Invasion Plans in a deck that puts lots of small Deathtouch creatures on board, like Queen Marchesa, helps you remove your opponent’s most problematic threats.
Even with the card’s high upside, though, Invasion Plans barely cracks the 6,000 EDH decks threshold. Its appearance on The List, in addition to its Stronghold printing, has also helped reduce its value. With copies available for $1.50, Invasion Plans has the lowest reprint value of the four bonus cards. On the bright side, this is the first foil printing for Invasion Plans, which could give it some additional value.
Ultimately, while Invasion Plans and Master of the Feast aren’t quite as appealing as the potential alternatives, each bonus card has some appeal. It’s impossible to predict exactly how expensive these variants will be once they hit the market, so make sure to monitor their prices in the coming weeks.
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