Secret Lair: Stranger Things

Spoilers, Rumors, and Speculation forum

Posted on Oct. 14, 2021, 12:45 p.m. by Coward_Token

IGN sneak peek

Update: Wizards article

Update2: Clarification on a certain keyword

Spoiler (IGN article) Show

So I assume that for the MTG-flavored versions they'll still have something other than plain universal Partner?

Both would be fine "solo" IMO. Jim has some neat synergy with Academy Manufactor, Thorough Investigation, and Tamiyo's Journal aside from being a Boros card advantage commander. Eleven is already in three colors and built-in card advantage that fuels the cheating ability.

Edit: Also I haven't seen ST but if "Friends Forever" is such an important catchphrase, they could have just made a Sorcery/Enchantment with that name rather than pseudo-"Partners With" on everything.

Spoiler (the other cards from the Wizards article) Show

Dustin: Tweaked alternative to having Dalakos, Crafter of Wonders in the command zone. These combos works with Dustin too. Jeskai artifacts with Jim?

Lucas: You can obviously use Clues from the other commanders as bullets. This protects nicely against Assault Suit voltron commanders as the goad lasts for the entire turn roation.

Max: Go big dorks. If nothing else, with a dork that taps for at least you can pop a Clue, although that's pretty underwhelming.

Mike: Combos with Ashnod's Altar, but what doesn't? Pretty funny to e.g. cast Puppeteer Clique, sac & recur with persist, sac & recur with Mike, and finally sac & recur with persist again in one turn. e.g. Corridor Monitor comes to mind as wel.

Will: With flicker effects you're getting two triggers, for what it's worth. Still, I feel Orzhov-inclusive decks can afford to be a lot pickier with their card advantage. And yes, the signage is unfortunate and hopefully unintentional.

Mind Flayer: In these creature-pushed days, a 9/9 for 7 isn't that remarkable, even less so in commander. At least the Stolen Strategy-esque effect is permanent. Aside from that and similar cards like Gonti, you can also activate its creature-ness with reanimation spells in mono-black, especially Dredge the Mire.

Personally, nothing that's too interesting to me. Thoughts?

DemonDragonJ says... #2

Here is a link to the full card list on WotC's own website.

I actually am very impressed, this time around. I will never change my mind that this is a blatant display of corporate greed and a predatory business practice that both radically overcharges for cards that are normally not especially expensive and also detracts business from local game stories, but the artwork on these cards is simply phenomenal, and I especially appreciate both the black-and-white dual lands and the cards that are modeled after old-school comic covers and/or movie posters; if I can find them on the secondary market, that will be great.

Being unfamiliar with Stranger Things, I have no real comments to make about the cards from that subset, but their artwork is nice, anyway. The artifact lands should have had flavor text, but I suppose that such text would have covered that very interesting and unique artwork.

I dislike how there are two red cards and no black cards in Monster Anatomy 101, but I suppose that the fact that both Read the Fine Print and Thrilling Tales of the Undead heavily favor black balances out that imbalance.

I still dislike how Secret Lair is a limited-time offer, but I do definitely appreciate how WotC is experimenting with new and different art styles, as that is always a good thing.

What does everyone else here think about these new Secret Lair?

October 15, 2021 11:54 p.m.

TypicalTimmy says... #3

I think Jim giving card draw to Boros, who wants to go wide and attack often is a wonderful thing. And since it appears to be a Clue token for each attacking nontoken creature, that can get out of hand (holy crap, pun totally unintended!!) really quickly!

Dustin actually partners really well with Jim, as he can then use his to pay for the to sacrifice a Clue to draw a card. So that actually works beautifully.

Eleven is definitely powerful, and also partners with Jim as Jim can ensure to flood your hand. This also gives access to decks which are extremely potent. Then, because her second half of her attack trigger is 11 or more cards in hand, you can almost certainly always cast something for free on your 2nd main phase.

Lucas seems like trash. I'm sure there are decks that can use him, but Goading is a hit-or-miss ability unless you build heavily into it. Unfortunately the feels more like a setback for his strategy.

Max seems fine, although I am generally opposed to the "second spell, do X" thing. It feels extremely limiting. It's a good value engine, but after your 2nd spell in the turn she basically does nothing.

Mike and Jim would be a massively powerful pair in Naya, because Jim can fill your hand, then you can return something that died due to blockers or removal spells / abilities. So Mike / Jim feel like a solid partner combo for casual players, with Jim and Eleven more for competitive ones. Though there are better competitive partners in general. But in this vacuum, Jim and Eleven seem the best - in my opinion.

I am generally against giving opponents value, so I am disregarding Will entirely. I understand there are players who like that sort of thing, but it's not for me; I'm simply not into giving my opponents free resources.

Mind Flayer seems ultra powerful in the right deck. I'd rather see it ran in the +99 than as the Commander, as 7mv on top of a rather restrictive ability is difficult to justify. Would be lovely to run in Sen Triplets.

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Given my thoughts and justifications, I'd feel confident in saying Jim is easily the most powerful in the group, though I understand that other players have their own opinions.

I simply think giving Boros a very powerful draw engine, on top of caring for caring for artifacts is wonderful.

October 16, 2021 6:09 p.m. Edited.

TypicalTimmy says... #4

And to be clear, Lucas' Goad ability fits in flawlessly with what we have seen him do in-show with his slingshot. His ability may be the most spot-on in all of them, regarding that.

I am merely saying that Goad is a difficult ability to work around. Consider that it took an entire Commander to make it viable, and it still isn't that good. It simply requires too many moving parts, and your opponent can always make deals on who to attack and what to have it blocked with.

Putting it in is what holds it back the most, because generally does not care all that much about attackers or blockers. In fact, blue has tons of spells to stop attackers and blockers with auras such as Frozen Solid. It feels like it goes strictly against blue to force opponents to attack each other. And although you could do some tap-dance tricks to Goad a bunch of creatures, if you are going to build that into your deck you might as well build in an infinite combo and simply win the game instead.

October 16, 2021 6:28 p.m.

Coward_Token says... #5

The bot reminded me that Hawkins National Laboratory  ^Flip is also a thing. Lonis is sad over the black pip, while Eloise isn't. (For the Stranger Things commanders, you gotta go with Eleven and/or Will, only ones with black in their identity. Despite the flavor connection, Mind Flayer, the Shadow doesn't really synergize with it.)

November 8, 2021 12:55 p.m.