Like many trading card games, Magic: The Gathering uses a resource (or currency) system to determine when and how much players can take action during their turn. In Magic, this currency is known as "mana" and is paid for with "lands," special cards that take the form of five different types of environments: Plains, Forest, Island, Mountain, and Swamp. Most basic Land cards are abundant and easy to find, but this isn't the case for all.
In 2021, Wizards of the Coast released The Unfathomable Crushing Brutality of Basic Lands, a Secret Lair Drop set that included one of each land, all beautifully illustrated by Mark Riddick. Most Secret Lair Drop sets are only sold direct-to-consumer through Magic: The Gathering's website, and are sold in extremely limited quantities. Because of this, these specific Land cards are rare and desirable as both collector pieces and displays.
Northwest Florida MTG's SLD: Unfathomable Lands set is 100% complete, and all five lands in his collection are graded CGC Gem Mint 10! We caught up with Northwest Florida MTG to talk about how they got started collecting Magic: The Gathering cards, their favorite card in the set, and what they like about the CGC Cards Registry. Check out the Q&A below!
Q&A with the set owner, Northwest Florida MTG
How did you become interested in collecting Magic: The Gathering cards?
I started playing MTG in 1994 with the release of the 3rd Edition (Revised) set. There was a period of about 10 to 15 years when I was away from the game due to my military career. Once I got back into the game, I still had all my old cards that were still in good condition. I didn't know much about grading cards at the time, and I saw that the value of so many of them had increased substantially. So in 2018, I submitted my first batch of cards for grading to a different third-party grading company. While I was waiting for them to finish grading the cards, a friend showed me a CGC slab and I really liked it. Once I received my cards back from the first company, I didn't like how bulky they were and how small the wording was on the label. I started submitting cards to CGC since then. In fact, I liked the CGC slabs so much that I ended up cracking every other slab I had and sent all the cards in to CGC. I have been an Elite member with CGC for many years now and exclusively use CGC for all my grading needs and have also started "Northwest Florida MTG" on Whatnot and eBay.
What drew you to collecting this set, specifically?
I really like the art and style of this particular Secret Lair set. Art is subjective, but I think that the art that Mark Riddick created for this set of cards is some of my favorite in the game.
What is your favorite card in this set and why?
I collect graded basic land sets and have many sets framed on the walls of my office. It is hard to pick out just one of the lands from this set since they are all so good. However, I think the Mountain with the pillars on the sides and flames coming out of the skull on the bottom puts this one at the top of this set.
What other collecting goals are you working on?
I am currently working on an all-CGC 10 set of 3rd Edition (Revised). I have six more cards to go to reach this goal. These cards are really hard to get in a CGC Gem Mint 10, since back in the day we didn't play with sleeves. Also, these last 6 cards I need are on the edges and corners of the original print sheets, and the further from the center you get on the print sheet, the more off center the cards get. So the majority of the copies are off-center right out of the pack.
Tell us about your experience with the CGC Cards Registry. What do you like about it, and how has it helped you reach your collecting goals?
I have had an overall positive experience with the CGC Registry. I like being able to see other people's sets and cards they have loaded. I also like how you can message some people about buying cards you see in their set. I have been able to acquire several CGC 10 cards to help with my Revised Set goal.
About the CGC Cards Registry
The CGC Cards Registry is a free online platform where collectors can register and display CGC-certified cards, compete with other collectors, and get inspired. The CGC Cards Registry is also a great organizational tool for your collection. Begin adding your CGC-certified cards to the CGC Cards Registry here.
If you don’t see a set for your cards, please request a set. You may also review our CGC Cards Registry FAQs for details on how to make requests for new sets and slots.
The CGC Cards Registry team is here to help. Questions or comments? Want to connect with other collectors? Visit the CGC Registry Chatboards!
Previous CGC Cards Registry Featured Sets:
POKÉMON
MAGIC: THE GATHERING
YU-GI-OH!
MARVEL
OTHER
About CGC
Since revolutionizing comic book grading in 2000, CGC has grown to include certification services for a vast variety of pop culture collectibles, including trading card games (TCGs), sports cards, magazines, video games, and home media. CGC also offers seamless solutions for autograph collectors with CGC Signature Series and JSA Authentic Autograph services. If you collect it, we grade and protect it.
CGC is part of the Certified Collectibles Group, a global provider of expert and impartial authentication and grading services for collectibles. Since 1987, the Certified Collectibles Group companies have certified more than 110 million collectibles, including coins, banknotes, comic books, cards, autographs, and stamps.