Magic: The Gathering — Secrets of Strixhaven: Everything You Need to Know
Magic: The Gathering returns to one of its most beloved settings on 24th April 2026, and Secrets of Strixhaven is shaping up to be one of the most exciting sets in recent memory. Whether you're a seasoned player or someone who's been curious about MTG but never taken the plunge, here's everything worth knowing about the new set — and why it matters.
Back to School
Strixhaven University is the greatest magical academy in the MTG multiverse — a school founded by five Elder Dragons, each representing a different two-colour college of magic. The original Strixhaven: School of Mages set from 2021 was hugely popular, and Secrets of Strixhaven picks up where it left off, venturing beyond the university walls to explore the wider world of Arcavios.
The five colleges return — Lorehold, Prismari, Witherbloom, Quandrix, and Silverquill — each with their own identity, playstyle, and dedicated Commander precon deck.
What's in the Set
Secrets of Strixhaven is a full Standard-legal expansion, the 111th Magic set ever released. The product lineup includes:
Play Booster Box (30 packs, 14 cards each) — the main way to crack packs and build your collection
Collector Booster Box (12 packs, 15 cards each) — premium packs guaranteed to contain the rarest and most spectacular cards, including Mystical Archive cards and potential serialised cards
Draft Night Box — a Pick-Two draft kit for four players, perfect for game nights
Five Commander Precon Decks — one per college, ready to play out of the box
The Mystical Archive Returns
The most talked-about feature of the original Strixhaven set was the Mystical Archive — a bonus sheet of iconic instants and sorceries with stunning new artwork, with one guaranteed in every booster pack. Secrets of Strixhaven brings it back, and it's already generating excitement. Every Play Booster will contain a Mystical Archive card, and Collector Boosters will include Japanese alternate-art versions in exclusive Silver Scroll foil.
For collectors, these are the chase cards — reprints of format staples with brand new art that will have both players and collectors hunting packs.
The Miracle Mechanic
Secrets of Strixhaven brings back Miracle — a beloved mechanic that lets you cast powerful spells for dramatically reduced costs when they're the first card you draw in a turn. It's the kind of explosive, high-skill mechanic that MTG players love, rewarding timing and knowledge of your deck.
The Headliner Card
Every recent MTG set has a Headliner — the premium chase card that defines the set's collector appeal. For Secrets of Strixhaven that's Emeritus of Ideation, which comes in a 500-copy serialised version with art by MTG legend Mark Poole. Only 500 will ever exist, making it one of the most collectible cards in the set.
Why Now is a Good Time to Try MTG
If you've been curious about Magic but put off by the complexity or cost, a new set release is actually the best possible entry point. The Commander precon decks are ready to play straight out of the box at a reasonable price point, and the Strixhaven setting — with its university theme and clearly defined colleges — is one of the most accessible and flavourful in the game's history. Think Hogwarts, but with Elder Dragons.
The Draft Night box is also worth a mention for anyone who wants to try MTG with friends without committing to building a full deck — everything you need for a four-player draft is included in one box.
Preorder at Topaz Cards
We have the full Secrets of Strixhaven lineup available for preorder ahead of the 24th April release
Browse all Secrets of Strixhaven preorders →
Prerelease events start 17th April at local game stores — a great way to get your hands on the cards a week early if you're playing competitively.
Stock is limited and allocations from distributors are likely, so early preorders matter. We'll have everything ready to ship on release day.