Wizards of the Coast Pulls Magic: The Gathering x Monster Hunter Secret Lair, Promises Rework
Wizards of the Coast has announced a significant change of plans for its upcoming Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair x Monster Hunter collaboration. In a surprising move, the company has admitted that the initial reveal fell short of expectations and will be postponed indefinitely while they go “back to the drawing board.”
The collaboration, initially slated for release between December 1-22, was set to feature four distinct card drops. Each drop would have included reprints of existing Magic: The Gathering cards, rethemed with iconic elements from the Monster Hunter universe. Notably, these cards were not intended to introduce new mechanics, focusing solely on aesthetic and thematic integration.
However, the announcement was met with considerable fan disappointment. Wizards of the Coast directly addressed this feedback in a recent statement, acknowledging the criticisms regarding card selection and the faithful integration of the Monster Hunter world.
Fan Feedback Drives Rework
“Let’s cut to the chase: the Secret Lair x Monster Hunter Superdrop we revealed last week fell short of expectations,” the company stated. “We heard loud and clear that you were disappointed, and we believe we can do better. So, we’re going to postpone this release and rework this Superdrop entirely.”
Wizards of the Coast elaborated that while they are passionate fans of the Monster Hunter franchise, their enthusiasm led to a misstep in execution. Key concerns included how well the selected cards represented the franchise and whether the Monster Hunter world and its mechanics were authentically incorporated into Magic: The Gathering.
“As a result, the overall construction of this Superdrop is not up to the standard you have come to expect,” the statement continued. The company emphasized that pulling Superdrops back is a rare occurrence but underscored their commitment to meeting player standards.
Monster Hunter Returns in 2026
Capcom, the developer behind the Monster Hunter series, has reportedly agreed to allow Wizards of the Coast another opportunity to develop the collaboration. New details and an updated release date are expected in a few months, with the reworked Superdrop now targeting a 2026 launch.
This decision comes after a busy period for Secret Lair and other third-party collaborations in Magic: The Gathering. The game has seen recent themed drops including collaborations with Sonic, Final Fantasy, Deadpool, and The Office. Looking ahead, 2025 and 2026 are already slated to feature major Universes Beyond sets based on properties like Avatar: The Last Airbender, Marvel’s Spider-Man, TMNT, The Hobbit, and Star Trek.
This story was based on reporting from IGN. Read the full report here.
