Notebook Genius vs Mood Swings: Which Secret Lair to Buy
By Secret Lair | Magic: The Gathering | Official Online Store | Published: 2026-10-17
Category: Comparisons
Compare Secret Lair's Notebook Genius and Mood Swings drops to see which fits your collection. We break down the tradeoffs and help you decide.
Quick answer
Choose Notebook Genius if you want a playful Magic: The Gathering crossover with classic cartoon charm. Pick Mood Swings if you're curious about an all-new trading card game designed by Mark Rosewater that focuses on emotional strategy.
What each drop offers
Notebook Genius (Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended) brings Garfield's cynical humor to Magic's earliest playtest card style. It's a drop for fans who appreciate nostalgic comic strips and want unique, collectible cards for their MTG decks.
Mood Swings is a completely separate prototype trading card game, not a Magic: The Gathering set. Designed by Mark Rosewater over twenty years, it asks players to build strategies around emotions like Triumph, Joy, and Courage. It's a standalone experience.
Key differences at a glance
The most important distinction: Notebook Genius is an MTG Secret Lair drop, meaning the cards are playable in Magic. Mood Swings is its own game with its own rules and cards. If you're looking to expand your Magic collection, Notebook Genius fits; if you want a fresh, emotion-driven card game, Mood Swings is the pick.
Price also differs. Notebook Genius (Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended) is $19.49, while Mood Swings is $18.24. Both are affordable, but Mood Swings is slightly cheaper as a new game entry point.
Tradeoffs at a glance
- Game type: Notebook Genius is an MTG Secret Lair drop; Mood Swings is a standalone trading card game. If you only play Magic, Notebook Genius is the safer bet. If you're open to a new game, Mood Swings offers a fresh challenge.
- Designer pedigree: Both are designed by Mark Rosewater. Notebook Genius channels early MTG playtest aesthetics; Mood Swings is a passion project decades in the making. Either drop gives you a piece of MTG design history, but in very different forms.
- Price point: Notebook Genius is $19.49; Mood Swings is $18.24. Both are budget-friendly. Price difference is minimal. Choose based on what you'll actually play, not cost.
Product details
- Mood Swings™ - 1st Edition: Mood Swings is an all-new prototype trading card game designed by Mark Rosewater, head designer of Magic: The Gathering, and more than two decades in the making. Build your strategy around cards like Triumph, Joy, and Courage, score points, string… This is not an MTG expansion; it's a separate game. Buy it if you want a novel, emotion-based card game experience.
- Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended: Secret Lair x Garfield: As Intended is inspired by Magic’s earliest playtest cards and the clipped newspaper-and-magazine… Garfield brings appetite, cynicism, and self-assurance. These are fully playable Magic: The Gathering cards with a unique, humorous art style. Ideal for MTG collectors and players who love Garfield.
Which one should you buy?
Best for
- MTG players who want unique, collectible cards with a humorous theme
- Fans of Garfield and nostalgic comic strips
Not for
- Players looking for a new standalone card game experience
- Those who prefer traditional Magic: The Gathering sets over crossover drops
