The 10 Most Valuable Secret Lair MTG Cards – May 2025 Edition

Secret Lair drops, love them or hate them, have completely flipped the landscape of Magic: The Gathering over the past few years. With art that ranges from jaw-dropping to straight-up bizarre, and availability that makes blink-and-you-miss-it feel generous, some of these cards have become serious money-makers.If you’ve been hoarding a few sealed drops or have one of these beauties in a deck sleeve, it might be time to check their value. A few of these are now selling for well above what most Planeswalkers ever dreamed of.Let’s go through ten of the most valuable Secret Lair cards right now, as of May 2025.

10 — Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite (Phyrexian Text)

The Phyrexian Praetors drop featured all five legends in fully translated Phyrexian script—alien, cryptic, and deeply metal. Elesh Norn leads the charge in terms of value, both for her persistent role in white-heavy Commander builds and because nothing screams “prestige” like unreadable card text in an extinct fantasy language.The mystique has only grown, especially since WotC hasn’t re-released this specific treatment. It’s the kind of collectible that turns heads and wins table cred.

9 — Negan, the Cold-Blooded

Once a lightning rod for controversy, the Walking Dead Secret Lair is now a prized oddity. Negan, in particular, has found his niche—slotting cleanly into Rakdos sacrifice decks and offering a brutal, flavorful payoff.What helped push the price wasn’t just scarcity. This foil version remains the only official printing in this style. Time has softened the edges on the Universes Beyond debate, and now Negan’s just another powerhouse with a high-ticket tag.

8 — Damnation (Seb McKinnon Variant)

When Seb McKinnon took a swing at Damnation, it hit differently. Dark, surreal, almost poetic—his vision of total annihilation on the battlefield is now one of the most revered in black-bordered history.Following Wizards’ severing of ties with McKinnon, the supply dried up for good. Demand didn’t. That alone has been enough to drive up prices, especially among black mages who like their wipes with a side of elegance.

7 — Eleven, the Mage

She’s weird, she’s powerful, and she’s been holding strong since her debut. Eleven brought Izzet decks a new way to play with spells and clues. Plus, it didn’t hurt that this was the first and flashiest version before any in-universe printings appeared.Fans of the show still chase it down. Commander players, too. With a perfect storm of pop culture relevance and solid gameplay, Eleven has cast a long shadow on the Secret Lair economy.

6 — Nyxbloom Ancient (Showcase Foil)

If mana multiplication had a god, Nyxbloom would be it. Already a green staple, this version gave it the mythic starfield makeover, turning an already huge threat into something downright cosmic.It’s not just Commander ramp players drooling over this card—it’s a centerpiece in more than one foil collection, and the demand reflects that.

5 — Enter Night (Sword to Plowshares, Metallica Variant)

The Metallica drop was a headbanger’s dream, blending iconic rock imagery with legendary spells. “Enter Night,” their take on Sword to Plowshares, hit especially hard.It’s a playable staple in nearly every format that allows it, and the theming gave it a cross-audience appeal—players, collectors, and metal fans. That trifecta pushed it straight into the top tier of value.

4 — Black Lotus (Lunar Token Edition)

Let’s be clear—this wasn’t a reprint of the Black Lotus, but a stylized token shaped like the game’s most mythical flower. Even so, it became a grail piece almost immediately.Designed for Lunar New Year 2020, this ultra-limited token blended tradition, rarity, and just the right amount of nostalgia. And as every collector knows, you don’t need function when you’ve got that much form.

3 — Akuma, the Demonic

Akuma didn’t just punch through expectations—he obliterated them. Commander players instantly saw his potential as a one-shot engine, while fans of the game loved the stylized, anime-inspired art.He’s been reprinted since (in Universes Within), but it’s this original version with the Street Fighter badge that people still crave.

2 — Tarmogoyf (Teddy Bear Version)

Yes, you read that right. Tarmogoyf in teddy bear form—stuffed, stitched, and savage. This twist on a Modern icon sparked wild reactions, but there’s no denying its demand.The art may be absurd, but the power is real. And when scarcity meets novelty meets eternal format viability, you get a price tag that won’t quit.

1 — Force of Will (Double Rainbow Foil Etched)

Force of Will always had gravity. The Secret Lair treatment gave it sparkle, too. The double rainbow foil etched version is arguably the most over-the-top version of the card ever made—and that’s saying something.Not only does it see consistent play in Legacy and Commander, but this edition was printed in extremely limited numbers. For collectors, it’s the crown jewel. For players, it’s the flex to end all flexes.

Parting Thoughts

Love the drops or not, there’s no question Secret Lair has reshaped how value emerges in MTG. These cards aren’t just alternate arts—they’re short runs, hype-fueled lightning strikes, and often tied to artists, brands, or ideas you won’t see again.If you’ve been sleeping on what’s in your collection, this might be your sign to take a peek. And if you’re hunting for rare pieces without breaking the bank?

Check out https://mtgetsy.com—a marketplace made by players, for players. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just window-shopping foils, we’ve got the goods to keep your collection glowing.

What’s your most valuable Secret Lair pull? Drop a comment and tell us your story.