The Secrets of Strixhaven set is bringing us not just one, but two different bundles. There’s the regular one, which you probably already know about. But the players are more excited about the brand-new Codex Bundle, which features a brand-new design.
It’s so unique that it might just be one of the coolest products Wizards has released in years. (Plus it contains more Collector boosters than other special bundles!) Want to form your own opinion about that? We’ve got you covered.
Below you’ll find how the Codex Bundle looks, what you can expect from its contents and how it compares to its regular counterpart. There’s a lot to talk about, so let’s get right to it.
Codex Bundle Contents
Each Secrets of Strixhaven Codex Bundle contains:
- 2 Secrets of Strixhaven Collector boosters
- 6 Secrets of Strixhaven Play boosters
- 1 Codex booster (containing 2 of 6 possible promo cards)
- 20 foil basic lands
- 1 oversized Codex spindown
- 1 cardboard storage box with unique design
In the following sections, we’ll take a closer look at some of these items, in case you aren’t familiar with them. (If you are a more experienced player, feel free to jump ahead.)
Collector Boosters
Special Bundles usually contain a single Collector booster, which is already a big draw towards them. But that’s not the case here — the Codex Bundle features two Collector packs.
Given that these are the priciest Magic booster, this is a big deal. In each Collector booster you can expect five rares or mythic rares, and all cards in the pack are either foil or use alternate art. Sometimes even both.
Some versions of cards can only be opened in Collector boosters, which is another reason why they add a lot of value to the Bundle.
Play Boosters
Next up, there’s six Play boosters included in each Codex Bundle.
These are the regular boosters, significantly cheaper, but you could still pull some great cards from them. (You can find what you might get in the Secrets of Strixhaven spoilers article.)
If you want to extract some extra play value from these, you can use them for a 2-player draft. That’s a neat casual game mode for which you need exactly 6 boosters. This way you aren’t just cracking the packs, but also playing with the cards right away.
Promo Cards from the Codex Booster
Now to another amazing part of the Codex Bundle — the exclusive promo cards. These are foil borderless reprints with brand-new art, which appear only in this Bundle.
You can expect two different ones in every Codex Bundle, out of six possible options. Speaking of which, why don’t we take a look at them.
So, there’s a new version of iconic Sol Ring, as well as five Talismans, one for each of the Strixhaven colleges. All of these are staples in their decks, and will fit into many Commander decks.
Foil Basic Lands
20 foil basics are also included. There’s not much to say about these, expect that they’re a nice way to bling out your decks. So, a neat addition, although it doesn’t affect the Bundle’s value much.
Codex Box
Finally, there’s the box itself. With regular Bundles, they’re sturdy with nice artwork, so they look nice on a shelf. But the Codex Bundle takes this to a new level.
The box features which a book-like design, somewhat reminiscent of Codie, Vociferous Codex, hence the name. It’s unlike any other Bundle box and really stands out. (Its main dimensions are supposed to be 8.75 cm x 18.65 cm, but that’s not 100% confirmed yet.)
And that’s that for the Codex bundle. Now it’s time to explore its regular counterpart.
Regular Secrets of Strixhaven Bundle Contents
In the regular Secrets of Strixhaven Bundle, you’ll find:
- 9 Secrets of Strixhaven Play boosters
- 30 basic lands (15 foil, 15 non-foil)
- 1 promo card
- 1 spindown
- 1 cardboard storage
We talked about most of this stuff above, so we won’t go over it again. The only thing to note is the promo card, which is the same across all Bundles. It’s a foil alternate art version of a card from the main set.
Codex VS Regular Secrets of Strixhaven Bundle
So, which of the two Bundles is a better option? Usually, we’d say that it depends on what you’re looking for and while that’s obviously still true, it doesn’t change the fact that the Codex Bundle seems a much better buy, if you can get it for anywhere close to its MSRP.
Speaking of which, the MSRP for the Codex Bundle is $89.99, while regular version is cheaper at $57.99.
So, for thirty bucks more, you’re getting 3 fewer Play boosters. However, you more than make up for that with the two Collector packs, 2 exclusive promos, and a unique box design. That’s why between the two, Codex Bundle gains the advantage. There simply so many more chances to open exciting cards.
Still, the regular Bundle is a fine option, if you’re looking for something cheaper or if you really don’t care about the Collector boosters and promo cards.
What’s Your Choice?
That’s it for the Codex Bundle. But what choice are you making for with these two Bundles? Will you pick one of them and if so — which one? And is the Codex truly a best design in recent MTG history? Or do you prefer something else, such as Secrets of Strixhaven Commander precons? Let us know in the comments below.
Oh, one more thing worth mentioning are the Mystical Archive cards. These are reprints of iconic instants and sorceries all over Magic’s past. In a Codex Bundle you’re essentially guaranteed to open 12 of those, which is pretty neat.
Until next time, have fun and may you open something spectacular in your next booster pack.