Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Rejoins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist known for his iconic illustrations on numerous cards from the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the coveted Charizard, is now channeling his artistic prowess into a new realm. Arita has collaborated with Magic: The Gathering for a special Secret Lair drop, and we're excited to offer a sneak peek at all four cards featured in this collection.

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

While Arita is no stranger to Magic: The Gathering, having previously contributed a single, borderless art version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods from the Bloomburrow set last year, this Secret Lair drop marks a significant milestone with four new cards being introduced shortly after his initial foray.

These new cards are not only visually stunning but also highly functional across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt remains a staple in almost every format it's legal in, while Murktide Regent has dominated Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has carved out a niche as a beloved Commander, and Shorikai has found its place in Vintage Cubes and ranks 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 with all Secret Lair drops, this collection will be available for purchase on the Secret Lair website. You can choose between a non-foil version for $29.99 and a foil version for $39.99, but remember, they are only available while supplies last. The drop goes live on Monday, February 10 at 9am PT. Given the shift from a timed print-to-order system last year, Secret Lairs tend to sell out quickly, which has been a point of contention within the community. If you're eager to add these cards to your collection, be sure to act fast when they become available.

For those interested in more Magic: The Gathering content, don't miss out on the upcoming death race set, Aetherdrift, launching next week. You can also revisit past Secret Lair reveals, such as those featuring Chucky and Monty Python, or learn about Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring Magic's long-term success.