Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Rejoins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist known for his iconic work on the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the highly sought-after Charizard card, is now bringing his talent to another beloved card game: Magic: The Gathering. His latest contribution is a captivating Secret Lair drop, featuring four new cards. We're excited to offer you a first look at these stunning creations in the gallery below:

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

While this isn't Arita's first foray into Magic: The Gathering, having previously illustrated a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods for the Bloomburrow set last year, this Secret Lair drop marks a significant leap with four new cards being released in quick succession.

These cards are not just visually appealing but also functionally relevant across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple in nearly every format it's legal in, while Murktide Regent has dominated in Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws stands out as a popular Commander choice, and Shorikai has secured its place in many Vintage Cubes, currently ranking as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast describes this drop on its store page as follows: "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 is customary with Secret Lair drops, this collection will be available on the Secret Lair website in non-foil for $29.99 and foil for $39.99. Both versions will be available starting Monday, February 10 at 9am PT, while supplies last. Given the high demand and quick sell-outs since Wizards of the Coast switched to a print-to-order model last year, fans are advised to act swiftly to secure these exclusive cards.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, dive into details about the upcoming Aetherdrift set, which launches next week, or revisit past Secret Lairs featuring themes like Chucky and Monty Python. Additionally, learn about Wizards of the Coast's strategies to ensure the long-term success of Magic: The Gathering.