Wizards of the Coast has finally revealed at New York Comic Con today the first issue in the much-anticipated multi-year collaboration arc between Magic: The Gathering and Marvel, featuring the upcoming Marvel Secret Lair Superdrop. This Superdrop will allow players to snag cards revolving around five of Marvel’s most recognizable and beloved characters, including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Panther, Storm, and Wolverine. With each drop, players will receive a brand new Legendary creature—each with the new “Hero” creature type—and reskinned cards featuring that hero and others from the Marvel Pantheon.
Of the cards shown, the one that sparked my imagination the most was the brand new “Captain America, First Avenger” and his new “Throw” and “Catch” mechanics, which let him hurl equipment at up to three targets. It’s a fitting skill for someone who has partly made his name by hurling his shield for over 80 years. For three mana, Cap will unattach (i.e., unequip) a piece of equipment he has, dealing the mana value of said gear divided among one, two, or three targets. Then, at the beginning of your combat step, he can attach (i.e., equip) an Equipment you control. It doesn’t even have to be what you threw—or that you threw anything at all.
I’m not aware of many, or any, equipment cards that have effects triggered by becoming attached or unattached (though I’m sure there must be something), so I can’t comment on how strong this mechanic will be in the long run. However, as someone who values a hilarious mental image over a sound strategy, Captain America, First Avenger had me giddy with ideas from the get-go—what crazy things can I hurl at my friends? Here are the five artifacts I most want Captain America to throw at my friends.
Note: For maximum chucking, throw in “Training Grounds (1 blue)” and “Puresteel Paladin (2 white)” to reduce the Throw cost to a single colorless mana, and reattach the equipment he throws for free. That way, you can keep hurling things at targets for a single mana. Conveniently, both cards fall within Captain America, First Avenger’s color identity, so they work in a Commander setting.
Mjölnir, Storm Hammer
While it may not be the actual Mjölnir, this feels like a no-brainer considering what transpired in Avengers: Endgame. Though it may not be a heavy damage dealer with only four mana, it would just feel wrong not to sling around Thor’s hammer.
Excalibur, Sword of Eden
For your big damage dealer, you can’t get bigger than Excalibur, Sword of Eden from the Assassin’s Creed set. This mighty 12-drop’s cost is reduced by the number of historic (artifacts, legendaries, and sagas) cards you have in play, and in a deck full of equipment artifacts for Cap to chuck at opponents, you could get this out cheaply. With the Puresteel Paladin and Training Grounds combo mentioned earlier, you’ll be tapping a single mana to hit something for 12, over and over, as Captain America hurls swords at people. Glorious.
Cloudsteel Kirin
Cloudsteel Kirin’s mechanic, which prevents anyone from winning, is interesting, but that’s not why this equipment creature made my list. Instead, it’s simply because I love the thought of Captain America throwing a robot horse at someone. I’m a simple man, and I get great pleasure from silly ideas like this, which will be a running theme throughout these entries.
Crystal Slipper
As the wise Austin Powers once said, “Honestly, who throws a shoe?” Well, now you can proudly say it’s Captain America. While the Crystal Slipper, with a mana cost of only 2, may not hurt much, its added benefit of granting a creature haste could still be useful—or you can leave it attached and just picture Cap rocking a pair of crystal heels as he chucks robot horses or Excalibur at your opponent. I think I like that idea more now that I’ve thought about it.
Chariot of Victory
This three-drop provides all sorts of beneficial effects—first strike, trample, and haste—for a creature riding it, all for the measly equip cost of a single mana. In any Voltron deck, it’s almost a must-have, aiding in victory, as its name suggests. But in Cap’s hands, it becomes a Chariot of PAIN as he hurls a medieval cart at your best friend, who hit you with that annoying 1/1 when you had no creatures out. That’ll teach them. THROW, CAP, THROW YOUR MIGHTY CHARIOT!
There are many options from Magic’s history that are ripe as hilarious objects for Captain America to throw at your opponents, from suits of Power Armor to frying pans, chainsaws to candlesticks, or even a whole wardrobe of magical textiles. Your choices expand even further if you combine Bludgeon Brawl and Mycosynth Lattice, allowing you to hurl enchantments and artifacts like Sol Rings for fun!
All of these Secret Lair drops (each hero gets their own drop) will go on sale starting Monday, November 4, at 9 a.m. PDT on the Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair website. Secret Lair drops are $39.99 in non-foil and $49.99 in foil, with a limited print run and bundles available for those who want them all. This is just the start of the Magic and Marvel collaboration, and I can’t wait to see what other sweet stuff Cap can throw at people!
