4 min read
Wizards of the Coast (WotC) has made a shocking move regarding its latest collaboration. The company officially announced the delay of the Monster Hunter x Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair Superdrop. WotC originally announced the project just last week. However, the entire project is now pushed back to 2026.
Simple manufacturing issues did not cause this delay. Instead, WotC is sending the product back to the drawing board to rework it entirely. The developer plans to commission new art and change the card selection. They aim to better reflect the world of Monster Hunter and translate it accurately into Magic: The Gathering mechanics.
In an official statement on X, the @MTGSecretLair account admitted the project missed the mark:
We care a lot about the worlds we get to celebrate, and Secret Lair x Monster Hunter didn’t quite come together the way it should have. We hear you, so we’re heading back to the drawing board to rework this Superdrop.
We care a lot about the worlds we get to celebrate, and Secret Lair x Monster Hunter didn’t quite come together the way it should have. We hear you, so we’re heading back to the drawing board to rework this Superdrop. More to come.https://t.co/dtHublSB13 pic.twitter.com/yMkaUPaUWI
— MTG Secret Lair (@MTGSecretLair) November 26, 2025
A Value Proposition That Failed
The primary driver behind this sudden reversal was overwhelming negative feedback. Fans criticised the financial value of the cards heavily. While Secret Lair drops are sought-after collectables, the reprint equity in this set was virtually non-existent.
The drops retailed for $30 (non-foil) and $40 (foil). However, the market value of the single cards inside did not match the price tag.
- The Hunt: Total value of ~$8.20.
- The Monsters: Total value of ~$10.15.
- The Monsters 2: Total value of ~$9.15.
Even the highest-value drop, The Hunters, only offered about $25.50 in value. Consequently, purchasing these bundles made little financial sense for players.
Design Controversies & Art Errors
Beyond the price, the community identified glaring issues with the art direction and lore. A major point of contention was the promo card, Sol Ring. Typically depicted as an artifact, this version featured the dragon Valstrax.
Content creators like The Trinket Mage voiced confusion over this choice. While Valstrax has “jet engine” lore, using a living dragon to represent a ring artifact felt vague and disconnected.
Is there a lore reason why this creature is sol ring? I don’t see any rings and is this an artifact? pic.twitter.com/xfOcJH8OwS
— The Trinket Mage (@TheTrinketMage) November 18, 2025
Furthermore, quality control issues were also pointed out. Monsters such as Velkhana and Malzeno appeared smoothed or weird. Fans even spotted a typo on one card, labelling it the “Champion of Kotoko”.
Upon further inspection some of the Monster Hunter x Magic The Gathering cards don’t look too good
Velkhana and Malzeno especially look a bit weird, like they had their face smoothed.
Yuan Garuga also looks goofy and then there’s Champion Of “Kotoko” pic.twitter.com/bbyOFVHpUG
— DarkHero (@DarkHeroCC) November 19, 2025
Industry Implications
This delay represents a significant cost for WotC. Unlike previous delays caused by shipping queues, this is a direct response to quality concerns. Commentator Joel Are Magic noted that companies hate making choices that cost money, suggesting the backlash or potential pressure from IP holder Capcom was severe.
This is a pretty big deal. This was NOT a free decision, and companies absolutely hate making choices that cost them money.
That said, the upside is huge. Monster Hunter Secret Lair 2: Electric Boogaloo is almost guaranteed to pull out every stop and actually be a fantastic… pic.twitter.com/M3dLPSfhsX
— Joel Are Magic (@joelaremagic) November 26, 2025
Some fans worry this signals a larger problem with upcoming collaborations, citing similar doubts about the “pizza lands” in the 2026 TMNT set.
For now, the Monster Hunter drop is scrapped. WotC urges fans to keep their eyes peeled for updates, but the hunt will not resume until 2026.
