Top 10 Mystical Archive Reprints in Secrets of Strixhaven

Secrets of Strixhaven releases April 24, and there’s a fantastic bonus sheet to collect – the Mystical Archive. Returning from the original Strixhaven, one Mystical Archive card can be found in each pack. Today, we’ll catch you up on the best reprints to keep an eye out for. 

TOP 10 MYSTICAL ARCHIVE REPRINTS IN SECRETS OF STRIXHAVEN

The Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical archive features an array of great reprints, with some being in very high demand indeed. What’s available? Well, check out the Collecting Secrets of Strixhaven article for more details on what you can pull, but in short:

“There are 65 Mystical Archive cards in Secrets of Strixhaven, consisting of 25 uncommon, 25 rare, and 15 mythic rare cards. Non-Japanese Play Boosters and 66.6% of Japanese Play Boosters contain at least 1 non-foil Mystical Archive card. Collector Boosters of all languages include at least 3 Mystical Archive cards. Non-foil and traditional foil Mystical Archive cards can appear in Play Boosters and Collector Boosters.”

So, what are the best reprints on offer? Let’s get right to it. 

10. TRIUMPH OF THE HORDES

We all love a good finisher in green, and for those of you who like to just end a game with no chance of the lifegain decks outpacing your Overrun, there’s Triumph of the Hordes. At four mana, it’s able to be cast while still giving you mana up for protection, which is sometimes a lot better than casting Craterhoof Behemoth. It’s especially good if you have fewer, taller creatures – or creatures that Fly – where a typical Overrun needs you to be fairly wide.

9. PYRETIC RITUAL

Pyretic Ritual is a staple of Modern Ruby Storm decks, and a Cube favorite. The new art with the Sisters of Flame is *chef’s kiss*, and if you do want to bling out your deck (especially if you’re using NEO lands) then the Japanese version might be the one for you. Those Tanuki are SO cute. 

8. DAZE

Speaking of format staples, Daze is another one that just won’t die. Whether it’s in Cube, Vintage, Legacy Delver, Legacy Doomsday, Sneak and Show, or in the now growing in popularity Pre-Modern format (in Bant or Mono-Blue Stiflenought), Daze has been an iconic Magic card for over 25 years. While we’re particularly partial to the Amonkhet Invocations treatment, these new Mystical Archive options are a very close second, whether in the English or Japanese treatment.

7. AD NAUSEAM

While cEDH is a proxy-friendly format, many events only allow a certain quantity of proxies. Either way, cEDH cards need reprints too, and plenty of us like to build as much of a deck as possible. Ad Nauseam is one such card that needed a reprint, and it’s been a hot minute since Double Masters. Our pick here is the Japanese treatment. There’s just something about it. 

6. CYCLONIC RIFT

Cyclonic Rift always needs a reprint, let’s be honest. It’s one of the best forms of interaction blue has in Commander, and most blue mages include a copy in their deck. Both arts for this one are great, and to be honest… there are very few misses for this bonus sheet.

5. AKROMA’S WILL

White has way fewer finishers than other colors, and the last hurdle for it to truly succeed as a color is to give it more ways to “turn the corner” and convert a board into a win. While Moonshaker Cavalry might be the best example of solving this puzzle in recent memory, it’s the four mana cheaper Akroma’s Will that’s truly the best-in-class card for this role. It jumps your team, lets them hit twice, and potentially also gives them lifelink, protection and indestructible, too. 

Pairing a finisher with protection means the card is basically never dead, and it makes it a stellar reprint. Both artworks here are stellar for different reasons.

4. STOCK UP

It’s pretty crazy when an uncommon is one of the most expensive cards in Aether Drift, but it’s true – Stock Up is just that popular. It’s easy to see why – getting two cards out of the top five while adding to the storm count or triggering casting a noncreature spell is pretty incredible. It makes Divination look thoroughly power-crept. 

This is our first reprint of the card so far, and both artworks are brilliant. Whether you’re playing Izzet Prowess or Dimir Excruciator in Standard, Sneak and Show in Legacy, Amulet Titan in Modern, or just want it for your Commander deck, now is a great time to see more supply.

3.  VAMPIRIC TUTOR

We’ve already covered one card used extensively in cEDH today, so how about another? Vampiric Tutor is an enduringly popular card thanks to the powerful effect of finding any card you need. These new artworks are everything you’d expect from a spell called Vampiric Tutor, to be honest.

It’s not just a cEDH card, though. If you’re playing a higher Bracket deck, this one could be sweet in Edgar Markov, Kaalia, K’rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, or even The Ur-Dragon.

2. JESKA’S WILL

Jeska’s Will is a card that’s in even more decks than Vampiric Tutor. Sure, it’s more “casual” than a hard tutor, but that’s still a pretty big achievement for a ritual that is at its best in Mono-Red or two-color decks. The art on the Japanese variant goes so hard, and that’s saying something, considering the “regular” version is already such a pleasing artwork. If you haven’t tried Jeska’s Will yet, then give it a go. That mana bump can help you out considerably.

1. FORCE OF WILL

Force of Will has been a staple of Magic since it was first printed way back in 1996’s Alliances. While there are multiple great artworks of this that we already love to play, the Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive hits a home run with not one but two brilliant artworks we’re itching to put into our decks. While the Japanese variant is gorgeous, I am fully behind the regular SOA printing here, as the use of negative space makes it really pop. 

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That’s our roundup of the ten best reprints in the Secrets of Strixhaven Mystical Archive. There are a total of 65 cards in the Bonus Sheet – plus another 10 Special Guest cards. Which are you most hyped for? Let us know on socials.