Magic: The Gathering's Secret Lair has introduced its first-ever randomized booster packs with the Secret Lair x MSCHF: The Zeta Set. This new offering, priced at $19.92, draws inspiration from the crude, handmade cards used for playtesting Magic more than 30 years ago. Instead of a fixed collection, players receive a sealed envelope containing seven randomized cards, aiming to recreate the experience of opening booster packs.
The Zeta Set features 121 cards with a distinct DIY aesthetic, utilizing public-domain images, archival material, original photography, and typography reminiscent of early word processors. The cards span classic and modern Magic favorites, presented in three visual treatments: Photocopy, Photocopy Negative, and Color Banding. Examples of the unique card art include Arcane Signet depicting a cygnet, Llanowar Elves with a prosthetic elf ear, and Land Tax represented by a pile of loose change.
Secret Lair art director Jacob Covey explained that the project began with a desire to bring the pack-opening experience to Secret Lair. The collaboration with Brooklyn art collective MSCHF was a natural fit due to their playful and intelligent approach. MSCHF designers Niek Dekker and Kevin Wiesner were drawn to the unintentional beauty and found-object assemblage aesthetic of Magic's earliest playtest cards. These early cards were assembled from whatever materials designers could find, reflecting a similar creative process to MSCHF's use of existing cultural elements.
The design process involved extensive searching through image archives, consulting microfiche, scanning physical objects, and staging original photographs. Some cards directly reference early Magic prototypes, while others are based on visual puns, such as using a cygnet image for Arcane Signet. Dekker noted that the original playtest cards often included jokes that didn't always directly align with the card's function.
The large pool of 121 cards was developed to create a “fun chase” within the randomized product format. The selection was driven by the artists' enthusiasm rather than strict balancing of colors or card types, aiming for a fun, passion-driven output. The visual treatments mimic imperfections of handmade items and printing errors. For instance, Eerie Interlude was created by moving a hand across a scanner during operation, resulting in a stretched image.
The set also includes a modified tribute to an early, unprintable warning found on some playtest sheets. While the original “You Are Fucked” was not included in the commercial release, a family-friendly version, “YOU ARE EXILED,” appears on the Path to Exile card.
Despite their rough appearance and occasional archaic terminology, these are genuine Magic cards intended for play. Covey emphasized that the distinction between collectors and players is often blurred in the Magic community, with many players using rare cards in their decks. The success of this randomized booster pack format may influence future Secret Lair releases, depending on player reception.
The Zeta Set goes on sale through Secret Lair’s Chaos Vault on September 2 at 12 p.m. ET, with a limit of 12 boosters per customer while supplies last.