SpongeBob Magic: The Gathering Cards – Complete Guide to the Secret Lair Set

You've seen the posts. You've heard the whispers. You've watched the TikTok videos. On March 24, 2025, Wizards of the Coast dropped the bombshell that changed everything: SpongeBob SquarePants Secret Lair, part of the hilariously titled "Our Boss Is on Vacation" Superdrop.

And it sold out. Fast.

If you missed the limited window, you're not alone. Thousands of Commander players and collectors are now hunting for singles on the secondary market, desperately trying to piece together which characters map to which Magic cards—and whether these meme-worthy reskins are actually worth the markup.

This guide breaks down every card in the three SpongeBob drops, explains what "real" Magic card each character represents (so you know what the cards actually do), and shows you how to build a competitive Commander deck around the most optimistic fry cook in the Multiverse.

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The 3 SpongeBob Secret Lair Drops (Overview)

The SpongeBob release wasn't a single drop—it was split into three distinct Secret Lair products, each targeting different aspects of the Bikini Bottom experience:

1. Legends of Bikini Bottom (The Characters/Creatures)

This is the main event: 7 legendary creatures featuring the iconic characters from the show. Each is a reskin of an existing Magic card, maintaining the exact same rules text and mechanics. This drop includes:

• SpongeBob SquarePants (Jodah, the Unifier)
• Patrick Star (Barktooth Warbeard)
• Squidward Tentacles (Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar)
• Mr. Krabs (Charix, the Raging Isle)
• Sandy Cheeks (Toski, Bearer of Secrets)
• Plankton (Skrelv, Defector Mite)
• Gary the Snail (Toxrill, the Corrosive)

2. Internet Sensation (The Meme Spells)

The most meme-worthy drop: 3 instant and sorcery spells featuring actual SpongeBob meme formats as card art. These are reskins of Commander staples, each using a famous SpongeBob meme image:

• Counterspell (Mocking SpongeBob meme)
• Inevitable Betrayal (Imma Head Out SpongeBob meme)
• Force of Despair (Tired SpongeBob meme)

3. Lands Under the Sea (The Basic Lands)

A set of 6 foil basic lands with stunning underwater artwork featuring Bikini Bottom locations. These are collector favorites due to their unique art and foil treatment.

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"Legends of Bikini Bottom" – Character Card Breakdown

This is the section you came for. Let's break down exactly which Magic card each SpongeBob character represents, what they actually do, and why the card choices are hilarious or brilliant.

Here are all 7 legendary creatures from the drop:

Now let's dive deep into each character:

SpongeBob SquarePants = Jodah, the Unifier

Gameplay Analysis: SpongeBob (Jodah) is a top-tier competitive Commander. He's not just a meme—this is a genuinely powerful card. The first ability scales with the number of legendary permanents you control, meaning if you have 5 legendary creatures, they all get +5/+5. That's massive.

The second ability lets you cheat legendary spells into play, giving you massive tempo advantage. In a deck full of legendary creatures (like Patrick, Sandy, Squidward, etc.), SpongeBob turns your entire board into an army.

Price Range: $60-80 (as of late 2025)

Deck Building Tip: Build a "Legendary Tribal" deck. Every creature should be legendary. Cards like Mox Amber, Blackblade Reforged, and Hero's Blade synergize perfectly.

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Patrick Star = Barktooth Warbeard

Card Identity: Barktooth Warbeard (Mono-Red Legendary Human Warrior)

Mana Cost: {4}{R}

Stats: 4/4

Abilities: None. He's a vanilla creature.

Why This Is Hilarious: Patrick Star is famous for his lack of thinking. He's the character who asks "Is mayonnaise an instrument?" and stares at a box for hours. Representing him as a vanilla creature (a card with no abilities) is the perfect flavor win. WotC knew exactly what they were doing here.

Gameplay Analysis: Patrick is... not good. At all. A 4/4 for 5 mana with no abilities is terrible in Commander. However, if you're building a SpongeBob (Jodah) deck, Patrick still benefits from Jodah's +X/+X ability. With 7 legendary creatures out, Patrick becomes an 11/11 for 5 mana, which is actually decent.

Price Range: $15-20 (mostly for the meme value)

Deck Building Tip: Include Patrick for the flavor, but don't expect him to win games. He's your "secret weapon" that's actually just a big dumb beater.

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Squidward, Sarcastic Snob = Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar

Card Identity: Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar (Dimir Legendary Horror)

Mana Cost: {1}{U}{B}

Stats: 2/4

Abilities:

• At the beginning of combat on your turn, choose one:
  • Each creature you control that's attacking a player can't be blocked this turn.
  • Target creature you control gains deathtouch until end of turn and must be blocked this turn if able.

Why This Fits: Squidward is the control player. He wants to slow things down, tap opponent's creatures, and maintain order (even if it means ruining everyone's fun). The ability to make creatures unblockable or force unfavorable blocks fits his controlling, sarcastic personality.

Gameplay Analysis: Grazilaxx is a solid utility commander. The flexibility between unblockable attackers and forced blocks makes him versatile. In a SpongeBob (Jodah) deck, Squidward serves as a supporting creature that helps your other legendary creatures connect.

Price Range: $25-35

Deck Building Tip: Squidward works well with creatures that have combat damage triggers. Pair him with creatures like Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind or Sakashima of a Thousand Faces for maximum value.

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Mr. Krabs, Penny Pincher = Charix, the Raging Isle

Card Identity: Charix, the Raging Isle (Mono-Blue Legendary Crab Horror)

Mana Cost: {5}{U}

Stats: 0/17 (yes, seventeen toughness)

Abilities:

• Charix's power is equal to the number of Islands you control.
• {2}{U}: Charix gets +X/-X until end of turn, where X is the number of Islands you control.

Why This Is Perfect: Mr. Krabs is a crab who loves money. Charix is a massive crab with absurdly high toughness (defense) and the ability to convert that defense into offense. The flavor of "hoarding resources" (Islands) and "turning defense into attack" perfectly represents Krabs' penny-pinching ways.

Gameplay Analysis: Charix is a hilarious and surprisingly powerful card. A 17-toughness blocker can wall almost anything, and in a Mono-Blue deck with 10+ Islands, Charix becomes a 10+ power threat. The activated ability lets you convert all that toughness into a massive one-shot attack.

Price Range: $20-30

Deck Building Tip: In a SpongeBob (Jodah) deck, Mr. Krabs serves as a defensive wall that can transform into a massive attacker. If you're running enough Islands, he's a legitimate win condition.

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Sandy Cheeks, Martial Astronaut = Toski, Bearer of Secrets

Card Identity: Toski, Bearer of Secrets (Mono-Green Legendary Squirrel)

Mana Cost: {4}{G}

Stats: 1/1

Abilities:

• Toski attacks each combat if able.
• Whenever a creature you control deals combat damage to a player, draw a card.

Why This Fits: Sandy is the action hero—always ready for a fight, always moving forward. Toski's "attacks each combat if able" perfectly captures Sandy's aggressive, never-back-down attitude. The card draw on combat damage represents her resourceful, inventive nature.

Gameplay Analysis: Toski is a card draw engine in the command zone. In a deck with multiple creatures, Toski guarantees you draw multiple cards each turn cycle. In a SpongeBob (Jodah) deck, Sandy ensures you never run out of gas.

Price Range: $30-40

Deck Building Tip: Sandy is an all-star in any aggressive deck. She combos beautifully with Edric, Spymaster of Trest-style effects that reward combat. In a Jodah deck, she ensures you always have legendary creatures to cast.

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Plankton, Tiny Tyrant = Skrelv, Defector Mite

Card Identity: Skrelv, Defector Mite (Mono-White Legendary Phyrexian Mite)

Mana Cost: {W}

Stats: 1/1

Abilities:

• {1}, {T}: Target legendary creature you control gains protection from a color of your choice until end of turn.
• {1}, {T}: Target legendary creature you control gains hexproof until end of turn.

Why This Is Perfect: Plankton is tiny, manipulative, and obsessed with control. Skrelv is a 1-mana 1/1 that protects your key creatures—the perfect representation of Plankton's small but impactful presence.

Gameplay Analysis: Skrelv is a utility piece that protects your Commander (SpongeBob) from removal. For just 1 white mana, you can give SpongeBob hexproof or protection from any color. This is essential in a competitive Jodah deck where your Commander is the linchpin.

Price Range: $25-35

Deck Building Tip: Plankton is your protection piece. Keep 1 white mana open to protect SpongeBob from targeted removal. In competitive pods, this is non-negotiable.

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Gary, the Snail = Toxrill, the Corrosive

Card Identity: Toxrill, the Corrosive (Dimir Legendary Slug Horror)

Mana Cost: {5}{U}{B}

Stats: 7/7

Abilities:

• At the beginning of each end step, put a slime counter on each creature that didn't attack this turn.
• Creatures with slime counters on them get -1/-1 for each slime counter on them.
• Whenever a creature an opponent controls with a slime counter on it dies, draw a card.

Why This Is Ironic and Powerful: Gary is SpongeBob's pet snail—innocent, cute, and beloved. Toxrill is a massive, terrifying slug horror that slowly kills everything on the board. The irony is perfect, but so is the power level. Toxrill is one of the strongest control Commanders in the format.

Gameplay Analysis: Toxrill is a stax/control powerhouse. He creates a soft lock where opponents can't attack without getting punished, and creatures that don't attack get slowly killed by slime counters. The card draw on death ensures you never run out of resources.

Price Range: $40-50 (the most expensive character card)

Deck Building Tip: Gary can be your win condition in a SpongeBob (Jodah) deck, but he's so powerful he deserves his own Commander deck. Build him as a Dimir control deck focused on keeping the board clear while Gary slowly wins the game.

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"Internet Sensation" – The Meme Cards

The "Internet Sensation" drop is pure meme gold. Each card features an actual SpongeBob meme format as the artwork, creating instant recognition for anyone who's spent time on the internet.

Counterspell (Mocking SpongeBob Meme)

Card Identity: Counterspell (Instant)

Mana Cost: {U}{U}

Abilities: Counter target spell.

The Meme: The iconic "Mocking SpongeBob" meme where SpongeBob imitates someone with a mocking tone. The card art features this exact meme, with the text "CoUnTeRsPeLl" in the mocking style.

Gameplay Analysis: Counterspell is a Commander staple. It's one of the most efficient counterspells in the format. This is a genuinely playable card, not just a meme.

Price Range: $20-30 (significantly more than regular Counterspell due to meme value)

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Inevitable Betrayal (Imma Head Out SpongeBob Meme)

Card Identity: Inevitable Betrayal (Sorcery)

Mana Cost: {6}{B}{B}

Abilities: Search target opponent's library for a creature card and put it onto the battlefield under your control. That player shuffles. That creature gains haste. Sacrifice it at the beginning of your next end step.

The Meme: The "Imma Head Out" SpongeBob meme, where SpongeBob slowly backs away from a situation. Perfect for a card that steals an opponent's creature and then gets rid of it.

Gameplay Analysis: Inevitable Betrayal is a powerful but expensive theft effect. In Commander, stealing an opponent's best creature (even temporarily) can swing games. The haste and sacrifice clause prevent you from keeping it forever, but you get one good attack with it.

Price Range: $25-35

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Force of Despair (Tired SpongeBob Meme)

Card Identity: Force of Despair (Instant)

Mana Cost: {2}{B}{B}

Alternative Cost: You may exile a black card from your hand rather than pay this spell's mana cost.

Abilities: If an opponent cast a creature spell this turn, destroy all creatures that player controls.

The Meme: The "Tired SpongeBob" meme, where SpongeBob looks exhausted and done with everything. Perfect for a card that destroys creatures after an opponent has already cast one.

Gameplay Analysis: Force of Despair is a powerful board wipe that can be cast for free (by exiling a black card). It's situational—only works if an opponent cast a creature this turn—but the free alternative cost makes it a Commander staple.

Price Range: $30-40

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Building a SpongeBob Commander Deck

Now that you know what each card does, let's build a deck. The obvious choice is SpongeBob (Jodah, the Unifier) as your Commander.

The Commander Choice: SpongeBob (Jodah, the Unifier)

You must use SpongeBob as your Commander because he's the only 5-color option, allowing you to include all the other Bikini Bottom characters (Patrick is Red, Sandy is Green, Squidward is Blue/Black, etc.).

The Strategy: "Legendary Tribal"

SpongeBob's ability scales with the number of legendary permanents you control. This means you want every creature to be legendary. Build a "Superfriends" style deck where every card synergizes with the legendary theme.

Key Synergies:

1. SpongeBob + Plankton (Skrelv): Plankton protects SpongeBob from removal. Keep 1 white mana open at all times to give SpongeBob hexproof or protection.

2. SpongeBob + Sandy (Toski): Sandy ensures you draw cards every combat, keeping your hand full of legendary creatures to cast.

3. SpongeBob + Patrick (Barktooth): Patrick might be weak, but with 7 legendary creatures out, he becomes an 11/11 beater. Include him for the meme, keep him for the value.

4. SpongeBob + All Characters: The more Bikini Bottom residents you have on board, the bigger they all get. Aim to have 5+ legendary creatures on the battlefield simultaneously.

Sample Deck Building Tips

Essential Non-SpongeBob Cards:

• Blackblade Reforged - Equipment that makes SpongeBob massive
• Hero's Blade - Free equipment for legendary creatures
• Mox Amber - Mana rock for legendary-heavy decks
• Archetype of Imagination - Makes your team unblockable
• Akroma's Will - Instant-speed buff and protection
• Fires of Yavimaya - Gives your team haste

Land Base:

Since SpongeBob is 5-color, you need a diverse mana base:

• Command Tower - The best land in Commander
• Exotic Orchard - Mana of any color opponents can produce
• Path of Ancestry - Scry when casting legendary spells
• Ancient Tomb - Fast mana
• All 10 Shock Lands - Reliable dual lands
• All 10 Fetch Lands - If budget allows, these are essential

Win Conditions:

1. Combat Damage: With 5+ legendary creatures out, each one is getting +5/+5. Swing wide and overwhelm opponents.

2. Gary (Toxrill): If you can protect Gary, he becomes a game-ending threat that slowly kills everyone.

3. Combo Finishes: Include combo pieces like Thassa's Oracle + Demonic Consultation for competitive pods.

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Is It Worth Buying Now? (Financial Advice)

As of late 2025, the SpongeBob Secret Lair is sold out from Wizards of the Coast and only available on the secondary market (eBay, TCGPlayer, local game stores). Here's the financial reality:

Current Market Status (Late 2025)

Sealed Bundles: Trading at $200-300+ (2-3x the original MSRP)

Single Cards:

• SpongeBob (Jodah): $60-80
• Gary (Toxrill): $40-50
• Sandy (Toski): $30-40
• Force of Despair: $30-40
• Counterspell: $20-30
• Patrick (Barktooth): $15-20
• Other characters: $20-35 each

Foil Basic Lands: $10-15 each (high collector value due to unique art)

Verdict: Buy Singles, Not Sealed

Should You Buy Now or Wait?

The SpongeBob Secret Lair is unlikely to be reprinted (Secret Lair drops are intentionally limited). Prices will likely continue to rise over time, especially for the most playable cards like SpongeBob (Jodah) and Gary (Toxrill). However, there may be a slight price dip in the months immediately following the release as initial hype cools.

Our Recommendation: If you want to play with the cards, buy singles now rather than waiting. Prices are unlikely to drop significantly, and SpongeBob (Jodah) is a genuinely competitive Commander that will hold value.

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FAQ: SpongeBob Magic: The Gathering Cards

When was the SpongeBob Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair released?

The SpongeBob Secret Lair was released on March 24, 2025, as part of Wizards of the Coast's "Our Boss Is on Vacation" Superdrop. It was a limited-time window that sold out quickly and is now only available on the secondary market (eBay, TCGPlayer, local game stores).

What Magic card is SpongeBob SquarePants?

SpongeBob SquarePants is a reskin of Jodah, the Unifier, a powerful 5-color Legendary Human Wizard Commander. Jodah gives all legendary creatures you control +X/+X where X is the number of legendary permanents you control, making him one of the best "Legendary Tribal" commanders in the game.

Can you play SpongeBob cards in Commander?

Absolutely! All SpongeBob Secret Lair cards are fully legal in Commander format. Since they're reskins of existing cards, they follow all the same rules. SpongeBob (Jodah) is actually a top-tier competitive Commander choice, not just a meme.

How much do SpongeBob Magic cards cost?

As of late 2025, prices vary significantly:

• SpongeBob (Jodah): $60-80
• Gary (Toxrill): $40-50
• Sandy (Toski): $30-40
• Force of Despair: $30-40
• Counterspell: $20-30
• Patrick (Barktooth): $15-20
• Other characters: $20-35 each
• Sealed bundles: $200-300+

What is Patrick Star's Magic card?

Patrick Star is a reskin of Barktooth Warbeard, a Mono-Red Legendary Human Warrior. This is a hilarious "flavor win" by WotC—Barktooth is a vanilla creature with no abilities, perfectly capturing Patrick's unique thought process.

Is the SpongeBob Secret Lair worth buying now?

For Players: Yes, if you want to build a SpongeBob (Jodah) Commander deck. Buy singles rather than sealed bundles—prioritize SpongeBob ($60-80), Plankton for protection ($25-35), and Sandy for card draw ($30-40).

For Collectors: The foil basic lands hold the most unique artistic value. Sealed bundles are premium-priced and only worth it if you're a completionist.

Are SpongeBob Magic cards tournament legal?

Yes! All SpongeBob Secret Lair cards are fully tournament legal in formats where their original versions are legal. SpongeBob (Jodah) is legal in Commander, Legacy, and Vintage formats.

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Conclusion: Are You Ready? (To Pay the Resale Price)

The SpongeBob Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair is one of the funniest, surprisingly playable crossovers WotC has ever done. It's not just a meme—SpongeBob (Jodah) is a legitimate top-tier Commander that can hold its own in competitive pods, while characters like Gary (Toxrill) are format-defining powerhouses.

The card choices are perfect. Patrick being a vanilla creature? Genius. Mr. Krabs being a massive crab with 17 toughness? Flavor win. The meme spells in the "Internet Sensation" drop? Chef's kiss.

If you missed the drop window, you're going to pay a premium. But if you're building a SpongeBob Commander deck, it's worth it. Jodah is that good.

Ready to build your SpongeBob Commander deck? Check out the product recommendations below to get started with the essential cards from the drop.

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Recommended Products: SpongeBob Secret Lair Singles

Focus your purchases on the playable cards that will actually win games. Here's what you need to build a competitive SpongeBob Commander deck.

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External References

• Wizards of the Coast - "Our Boss Is on Vacation" Superdrop Announcement - Official announcement and product details
• TCGPlayer - Secret Lair Drop Series Search - Current market prices for SpongeBob Secret Lair cards

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