Legendary Pokemon Artist Rejoins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist in the trading card game world, is celebrated for his iconic illustrations on numerous cards from the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the highly sought-after Charizard. Now, Arita is channeling his artistic talents into a new realm with a special Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop. We're excited to offer you a first look at all four cards featured in this collection.

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

While this isn't Arita's first foray into Magic: The Gathering art—his previous work was a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods from the 2024 Bloomburrow set—the release of four new cards in such a short span marks a significant expansion of his involvement with the game.

These cards are not just visually appealing but also hold relevance across various Magic formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple in nearly every format it's legal in, and Murktide Regent has proven its prowess in both Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has become a beloved Commander, and Shorikai has secured a notable position in Vintage Cubes and ranks as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast highlights this Secret Lair drop on their store page, stating, "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 one will be available on the Secret Lair website in non-foil for $29.99 and foil for $39.99. Both versions will be on sale starting Monday, February 10 at 9am PT, while supplies last. Given the shift from WOTC's timed print-to-order system last year, Secret Lairs often sell out quickly, sparking some frustration within the community. If you're eager to add these cards to your collection, you'll want to act fast when they go live.

For more insights into Magic: The Gathering, don't miss out on the upcoming Aetherdrift set, launching next week. You can also explore previous Secret Lair reveals like Chucky and Monty Python, or delve into Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring Magic's long-term success.