The third Magic: The Gathering expansion of 2026, Secrets of Strixhaven (code set SOS), marks the return to the plane of Arcavios and the University of Strixhaven. The main set contains 255 cards, plus 65 bonus cards from the Mystical Archive and 5 preconstructed Commander decks. Official release: April 24, 2026, with a prerelease starting April 17.
Arcavios and the Five Colleges: The Set's Narrative Framework
Secrets of Strixhaven returns players to the University of Strixhaven, five years after their first visit in 2021 (Strixhaven: School of Mages). The plane of Arcavios is home to five colleges founded by Elder Dragons, each structured around a distinct color pair and academic discipline. Lorehold (red/white) teaches archaeology and the conjuration of spirits from the past, with Ajani serving as an advisor within the set's lore. Prismari (blue/red) channels art into elemental forms. Quandrix (green/blue) translates mathematics into living fractals. Silverquill (white/black) wields verbal magic as a political weapon. Witherbloom (black/green) explores the cycles of life and death through magical biology.
The narrative follows five first-year students (Abigale, Sanar, Kirol, Tam, and Lluwen) whose paths intertwine against a backdrop of archaeological mysteries. Jace Beleren collaborates with the Archaics, the primordial entities of Arcavios, while Quintorius, the already popular loxodon student from the first Strixhaven, rises to legendary planeswalker status. Seanan McGuire's tie-in novel, Strixhaven: Omens of Chaos, expands upon this storyline for readers.
The five Elder Dragons reimagined: key mythic cards of the set
Each college in Strixhaven was founded by an Elder Dragon, and these five mythical creatures return in new forms that are among the most memorable cards in the set. Unlike their 2021 versions (Velomachus Lorehold, Galazeth Prismari, Tanazir Quandrix, Shadrix Silverquill, Beledros Witherbloom), the new incarnations are now named after their respective colleges and each grants an existing Magic mechanic to your instants and sorceries.
Lorehold, the Historian imbues your spells with Miracle 2, allowing for devastating tactical strikes at a reduced cost. Prismari, the Inspiration grants Storm, which amplifies the power of turns where you chain spells. Quandrix, the Proof grants Cascade to your instants and sorceries cast from your hand, generating a cascade effect with each spell. Silverquill, the Disputant adds Casualty 1, allowing you to copy your spells by sacrificing a creature. Witherbloom, the Balancer applies Affinity for Creatures, reducing the cost of your spells based on the number of creatures you control. This card has already caused a price spike on Sprout Swarm due to its infinite combo potential in Commander.
The Mystical Archive: 65 Historic Reprints with New Frames
The Mystical Archive is one of the major draws of Secrets of Strixhaven. This pool of 65 bonus cards features iconic instants and sorceries from Magic's history, re-illustrated with entirely new artwork and frames, referred to in the lore as manuscripts from the Strixhaven library. The distribution includes 25 uncommons, 25 rares, and 15 mythic rares.
Confirmed reprints include key pieces from the game's history. Force of Will, the quintessential mythic counterattack from Legacy and Vintage formats, is included with new artwork and an alternate Japanese version illustrated by Hatori Kyoka. Vampiric Tutor, the ultimate black tutor for Eternal and Commander formats, features new artwork by Paul Adam for the Standard version and an alternate Japanese illustration by Sumie Okazu. Culling the Weak and Pyretic Ritual, two mana accelerators used in Commander and Modern respectively, round out the notable rares. On the uncommon side, Stock Up, a staple card draw card worth around $10 in its original version, also appears in the Archive.
Each Play Booster contains one guaranteed Mystic Archive card. Collector Boosters contain three to four, with access to the exclusive Silver Scroll Foil treatment and alternate Japanese versions (traditional Japanese artwork, unique frame, Japanese text), which are not found in Play Boosters.
Notable Planeswalkers and Legendaries
The set introduces two planeswalkers to the main set. Ral Zarek, Guest Lecturer, illustrated by Billy Christian, is a Silverquill (white/black) planeswalker who deviates from his usual Izzet colors, reflecting his role as a visiting professor at the College of Verbal Magic. His abilities include surveillance, discard, reanimate light creatures, and a coin-flip ultimate. Professor Dellian Fel, a new character, embodies the Witherbloom philosophy through life drain, removal, and progressive value generation effects.
On the Commander side, Quintorius, History Chaser (Lorehold, {2}{R}{W}, loyalty 5) is a legendary planeswalker usable as a commander, a rarity in precons. He creates red and white 3/2 Spirit tokens whenever one or more cards leave your graveyard, opening up endless combo lines already identified by the Commander community. The set also reveals a new Restoration Angel, a classic white utility creature that has been regularly reprinted since Avacyn Restored (2012).
Seven new mechanics and two returning ones
Secrets of Strixhaven introduces seven new mechanics, each rooted in the philosophy of one or more colleges. Opus rewards the accumulation of noncreature spells, with bonuses increased if five or more mana are spent, in the creative vein of Prismari. Increment translates Quandrix's mathematical approach into increasing benefits with each activation. Repartee captures Silverquill's verbal duel. Prepare and Infusion offer gradual power scaling for Lorehold and Witherbloom. Paradigm and Book create cross-platform strategic paths that encourage multi-colored decks.
Two returning mechanics round out the ecosystem. Flashback, which appeared in the original Strixhaven (2021), returns to its natural place in a set focused on instants and sorceries. Converge rewards the diversity of mana colors spent, a theme consistent with the color pairs of the colleges. Lessons, the iconic mechanic from the original Strixhaven, do not return as a featured mechanic.
The serialized card: Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral Recall
The ultimate collectible in the set is Emeritus of Ideation // Ancestral Recall, a double-sided serialized card limited to 500 copies worldwide. Each copy features a unique engraved number, a Double Rainbow Foil treatment, and a full-art throwback border. The artwork is by Mark Poole, the American artist who created the original Ancestral Recall for Alpha in 1993: more than 30 years of artistic continuity on one of Magic's most legendary cards.
The card appears only in Collector Boosters, with an appearance rate of less than 1%, and is always printed in English, including in French boosters. Ancestral Recall, a member of the Power Nine and one of the most powerful spells ever printed (drawing three cards for a single blue mana), hadn't received a playable reprint in any standard product since 1994.
Available Products
The Secrets of Strixhaven line caters to all types of players and collectors. Play Boosters (14 cards, 1 Mystic Archive guaranteed) are available individually, in packs of 10, or in boxes of 30 for drafting. Collector Boosters (15 cards, minimum 5 rares, 3-4 Mystic Archives) offer access to Silver Scroll Foil exclusives, alternate Japanese versions, and the chance to serialize, available individually or in boxes of 12, in both French and English.
The Bundle (9 Play Boosters, 30 lands including 15 foil, exclusive promo) and the Prerelease Kit (5 Play Boosters + College Seeded Booster) complete the offering for players. The pack of 5 preconstructed Commander decks covers all five colleges with new commanders and searchable dual-color lands (Tango Lands and Bi-Cycle Lands included). Finally, the Codex Bundle, exclusive to English and launching on May 15, 2026, offers 2 Collector Boosters, 6 Play Boosters, and borderless foil promos including an Archaic Sol Ring.
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