Exclusive: Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Returns to Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, renowned for his iconic artwork in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, including the coveted Charizard card, is now bringing his talent to another beloved card game. This time, he's showcasing his skills in a new Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop, featuring four stunning cards. We're excited to offer you an exclusive first look at all these cards.

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

While this isn't Arita's first foray into Magic: The Gathering—his previous work being a borderless art version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods from the 2024 Bloomburrow set—the release of four new cards marks a significant expansion of his contributions to the game. This Secret Lair drop comes shortly after his last work, showcasing the artist's growing presence in the Magic community.

The cards featured in this drop are not just visually appealing but also highly playable across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple in almost every format it's legal in, while Murktide Regent has made a significant impact in Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has become a favorite in Commander decks, and Shorikai has secured its place in Vintage Cubes and ranks as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast describes this exciting drop on their 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, these cards will be available on the Secret Lair website. You can choose between a non-foil version for $29.99 and a foil version for $39.99, available while supplies last. They go on sale starting Monday, February 10 at 9am PT. Given the high demand and the switch from a timed print-to-order system last year, these drops tend to sell out quickly, causing some frustration within the community. If you're eager to add these to your collection, be sure to act fast when they become available.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, don't miss out on the upcoming Aetherdrift set, launching next week. You can also explore past Secret Lair reveals, including themes like Chucky and Monty Python, or read about Wizards of the Coast's strategies to ensure the game's long-term success.