Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Joins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, the acclaimed artist behind numerous iconic cards in the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the highly sought-after Charizard, is now turning his talents to a different kind of dragon through a new Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop. We're excited to offer an exclusive first look at all four cards featured in this special collection.

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

This isn't Arita's first foray into Magic: The Gathering; he previously contributed a single, borderless art version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods for last year's Bloomburrow set. The release of four new cards in this Secret Lair represents a significant leap in his involvement with the game.

These cards are not just visually appealing but are also significant in various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple in nearly every format where it's legal, while Murktide Regent has been a dominant force in both Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has become a beloved Commander in its own right, and 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 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 on the Secret Lair website in non-foil for $29.99 and foil for $39.99. Both versions will be available while supplies last, with sales starting on Monday, February 10 at 9am PT. Given the high demand for Secret Lairs since Wizards of the Coast shifted from a timed print-to-order system last year, you'll want to be quick if you're aiming to secure a set.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, stay tuned for details on the upcoming death race set, Aetherdrift, launching next week. You can also explore past Secret Lair reveals, such as those featuring Chucky and Monty Python, or delve into Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring the long-term success of Magic.