Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Rejoins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, renowned for his iconic artwork on the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the highly sought-after Charizard, is now bringing his talent to the world of Magic: The Gathering with a new Secret Lair drop. We're excited to offer you an exclusive first look at all four cards featured in this special collection.

Explore the gallery below to view all the cards in Arita's Secret Lair:

While Arita is no stranger to Magic, having previously illustrated a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods for the Bloomburrow set last year, this Secret Lair drop marks a significant expansion of his work in the game, featuring four new cards. This is a substantial increase from his previous single card contribution.

These new cards are not only visually stunning but also impactful across various formats. The legendary Lightning Bolt is a staple in virtually every format where it's legal, and Murktide Regent has proven to be a powerhouse in both Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws, on the other hand, is a beloved Commander in its own right, while Shorikai has secured a spot in many Vintage Cubes and ranks as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast describes this Secret Lair on its store page: "With nearly 30 years of experience creating beloved art for trading card games, Mitsuhiro Arita's work has become some of the most recognizable in the world. His first collaboration with Magic: The Gathering was on a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods released in 2024's Bloomburrow, which quickly became a fan-favorite. In this Secret Lair Drop, the legendary artist returns to showcase his iconic creature design across four remarkable cards."

As with all Secret Lair drops, this set will be available on the Secret Lair website. You can purchase it in non-foil for $29.99 and in foil for $39.99, with both versions available only while supplies last. The drop goes live on Monday, February 10 at 9am PT. Given the high demand for Secret Lairs, especially since Wizards of the Coast shifted from a timed print-to-order system last year, it's advisable to act quickly if you want to secure these cards.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, dive into details about the upcoming death race set, Aetherdrift, launching next week. You can also explore past Secret Lairs we've revealed, such as those featuring Chucky and Monty Python, or read about Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring Magic's long-term success.