MTG Secrets of Strixhaven Community Review: Philipp on Commander, Precons, and Set Highlights

With Magic: The Gathering – Secrets of Strixhaven, the beloved university of magic returned to tabletops on April 24, 2026. The set combines new cards and mechanics with familiar characters, popular playstyles, and exciting opportunities for Commander players and collectors alike.

Particularly in the Commander format, Secrets of Strixhaven inspires a wide range of new deckbuilding ideas. New legendary creatures, powerful Lorehold synergies, and unique cards from the Mystical Archive encourage players to experiment, collect, and further develop their favorite decks.

But how has Secrets of Strixhaven been received by players since its release? Which cards are already finding their way into new Commander decks, and which highlights have left a lasting impression?

For our community spotlight, we spoke with Philipp. He shares his Magic journey, his experiences with Secrets of Strixhaven, and why Lorehold in particular has captured his attention.

Our Interview Partner: Philipp

Philipp is 36 years old and has been playing Magic: The Gathering since the late 1990s. After taking a long break from the game, he returned to the hobby in 2022 with the release of Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty.

Today, he is part of an active Commander playgroup with around 14 players. Much of his Magic time is spent building decks, playing Commander, and testing new cards and strategies. Naturally, he was excited about the return to Strixhaven—especially the new possibilities surrounding Lorehold.

How Did You Get Into Magic: The Gathering?

Before diving into Secrets of Strixhaven, we wanted to learn how Philipp first discovered Magic: The Gathering and how his journey with the game has evolved over the years.

"Hi, I'm Philipp, 36 years old. I started playing Magic in the late 1990s, but eventually took a break because I didn't have enough people to play with. I returned to MTG in 2022 when Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty was released. Originally, a colleague and I just wanted to open one or two booster packs... well, you can probably guess what happened next. We started with four players and only played Pioneer. Today, we have an active Commander playgroup of around 14 players."

Which MTG Format Do You Currently Enjoy the Most?

Commander remains one of the most popular formats in Magic: The Gathering, and for Philipp, it is clearly his format of choice today.

"At the moment, I only play Commander. Every game feels different, especially in Bracket 2–3. What I enjoy most are the interactions at the table, the political decisions during the game, and the ability to build truly fun and unique decks."

What Do You Think of Secrets of Strixhaven So Far?

For many Magic players, Strixhaven is a setting defined by its atmosphere, colors, and colleges. Naturally, we were curious whether returning to Strixhaven felt just as exciting for Philipp.

"It's fantastic—it feels like coming home. Some characters are already familiar, while new mechanics such as Prepared bring fresh gameplay experiences. At the same time, older mechanics like Miracle are making a comeback, suddenly becoming relevant again."

Secrets of Strixhaven: The Most Important Mechanics at a Glance

In addition to new cards and familiar returning characters, Secrets of Strixhaven introduces several exciting mechanics. At the center of the set is Prepared: certain creatures come with an additional spell that can be cast from exile later in the game. This creates flexible plays and opens up new tactical possibilities.

The five colleges also bring their own distinct playstyles: Silverquill focuses on instants and sorceries, Prismari on big spells, Witherbloom on life totals, Lorehold on graveyard strategies, and Quandrix on ramp, counters, and large creatures.

Familiar mechanics such as Miracle, Flashback, and Converge also return. Together with new ideas like Paradigm and the artifact subtype Book, Secrets of Strixhaven offers plenty of possibilities for Commander players, deckbuilders, and collectors.

Have You Already Added Cards from the Set to Your Decks?

One question we found especially interesting was which cards from Secrets of Strixhaven had already found their way into Philipp’s Commander decks.

"Yes, I'm currently building a Lorehold, the Historian deck. The idea of casting expensive spells for just 2 mana during each opponent’s upkeep is simply too tempting. It’s also finally a Commander where you can play all those high-CMC sorceries you’ve collected over the years that have just been sitting in binders somewhere."

For Commander players in particular, Lorehold seems to be one of the most exciting new additions in the set. The opportunity to rediscover older cards and try unusual strategies opens the door to many new deck ideas.

Alongside his own deck project, Philipp has also tested one of the new Secrets of Strixhaven Commander decks.

"I also picked up one of the precons, and honestly, take a look at Lorehold Spirits. First of all, it’s a great precon with a Commander that does a lot and a deck that synergizes really well with it. Second, you can upgrade it nicely for very little money, which makes it run even better. I’ll just say Ark of Hunger and Bag of Holdings. And third, it’s finally a Boros deck that really does a lot with the graveyard."

For Philipp, a big part of the appeal of Secrets of Strixhaven lies in rethinking existing strategies and playing cards that previously rarely made it onto the battlefield.

Player, Collector, or Both?

Secrets of Strixhaven does not only appeal to deckbuilders. The set also offers several highlights for collectors, especially the cards from the Mystical Archive and their special variants, which make the set visually appealing as well.

"Definitely both. I really enjoy playing the upgraded Lorehold Spirits deck. But the Mystical Archive cards, and especially their Silverfoil versions, are simply eye-catching. I mean, just look at the Silverfoil version of Preordain or Vampiric Tutor."

For Philipp, Secrets of Strixhaven combines two important sides of Magic: exciting cards for actual gameplay and special variants for the collection.

Which Card or Artwork Has Impressed You the Most So Far?

With a set like Secrets of Strixhaven, it's not just the mechanics and deckbuilding opportunities that matter. For many players and collectors, the artwork and special card treatments are just as important.

"I'll stick to the cards I've actually pulled myself. In terms of artwork, it's definitely the Silverfoil Mystical Archive Preordain and the Full-Art Foil Lorehold, the Historian! What I'm looking forward to most right now is finishing my Lorehold Commander deck and finally getting to play Miracle again. I think it has a lot of potential to create a bit of chaos at the table—and let's be honest, that's what we all want, isn't it? 😉"

For Philipp, the highlights of Secrets of Strixhaven are not limited to gameplay alone. The set combines exciting Commander possibilities with visually impressive collector cards, creating a strong overall package for both players and collectors.

The combination of unique Mystical Archive treatments, nostalgic mechanics such as Miracle, and commanders like Lorehold, the Historian has left a particularly positive impression on him. Whether at the Commander table or in a collection binder, Secrets of Strixhaven offers plenty of memorable moments for Magic fans.

Alongside the new cards, the Mystical Archive in particular is generating a lot of excitement. It brings well-known spells from Magic’s history back in a special archive-style design, combining strong gameplay potential with high collector appeal.

For collectors, the Japanese variants are especially interesting. Alternative illustrations, a unique card frame, and Japanese card text make these cards real eye-catchers. Some of the most sought-after highlights include Force of Will and Vampiric Tutor.

This means the Mystical Archive appeals both to players looking for powerful cards for their decks and to collectors who appreciate special variants and artwork.

How Long Does It Actually Take to Build a Commander Deck?

Commander decks often do not come together in a single evening. Especially when many cards, synergies, and personal preferences are involved, deckbuilding can become a longer process. Philipp knows this very well.

"At the moment, I don’t have that much time, around 1–2 hours per week. The first version of a deck comes together fairly quickly because I’ve digitized my entire collection. That makes it easy to filter cards. But then comes playtesting and optimization. So until a deck is finished and actually works well, it can easily take a month. But a deck is only finished until the next set anyway 🙂."

Many Commander players will probably recognize themselves in that statement. After all, a deck is often never truly finished. It keeps evolving with every new card, every new set, and every game.

⭐ “A deck is only finished until the next set anyway.”

Philipp’s Tip for Secrets of Strixhaven

To wrap things up, we wanted to know what recommendation Philipp would give to players who want to get into Secrets of Strixhaven or try out new Commander decks themselves.

"Play the precons. They are fun and come with a solid mana base that you can build on nicely."

For Commander players in particular, the precons are a great starting point. They can be played right away, offer clear strategies, and can be upgraded step by step with new cards.

Secrets of Strixhaven Commander: Which Precons Are Especially Interesting?

For Commander players, Secrets of Strixhaven offers many new possibilities. The precons of the five colleges are especially exciting, as each deck brings its own playstyle and works well as a foundation for future upgrades.

✅ Lorehold – Artifacts and graveyard
✅ Silverquill – Spells and tempo
✅ Prismari – Big spells
✅ Quandrix – Ramp and counters
✅ Witherbloom – Life totals and value generation

Especially in Commander, these different strategies help make Secrets of Strixhaven interesting for both beginners and experienced deckbuilders. The precons can be played right out of the box, offer clear themes, and can be expanded step by step with suitable cards.

Conclusion

Philipp’s experiences show that Secrets of Strixhaven has a lot to offer, especially for Commander players and collectors. New opportunities surrounding Lorehold, the return of beloved mechanics such as Miracle, and the stunning Mystical Archive cards make the set appealing both from a gameplay and a collector’s perspective.

At the same time, the Commander preconstructed decks provide an accessible entry point into the world of Strixhaven. They are ready to play out of the box, feature clear strategies, and serve as excellent foundations for future upgrades. Whether you enjoy experimenting with new deck ideas, improving existing Commander decks, or collecting unique card treatments, Secrets of Strixhaven is definitely a set worth keeping an eye on.

What Do You Think of Secrets of Strixhaven?

How have you enjoyed Secrets of Strixhaven so far? Have you already added cards from the set to your decks, or are you mainly collecting the special variants? We'd love to hear your thoughts—feel free to share them with us on our social media channels.

Want to dive into the world of Strixhaven yourself? In our shop, you'll find Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Commander decks, and the perfect accessories for your next Strixhaven deck.

Ready to experience Secrets of Strixhaven for yourself? → Discover Secrets of Strixhaven now.

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