Legendary Pokemon TCG Artist Rejoins Magic: The Gathering

Mitsuhiro Arita, a celebrated artist known for his iconic illustrations in the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the coveted Charizard, is once again making waves in the card game world. This time, he's lending his artistic talents to Magic: The Gathering with a new Secret Lair drop. We're excited to offer you an exclusive 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 debut in the Magic: The Gathering universe—his previous work was a single, borderless art piece for Lumra, Bellow of the Woods in last year's Bloomburrow set—the release of four new cards in quick succession marks a significant milestone. These cards not only showcase Arita's unique style but are also highly playable across various formats. Lightning Bolt, a staple in almost every format it's legal in, continues to be a fan favorite. Murktide Regent has been a dominant force in both Modern and Legacy since its introduction in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has carved out a niche as a beloved Commander, and Shorikai has become a staple in Vintage Cubes and ranks as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast describes this Secret Lair drop on their 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 priced at $29.99 and a foil version at $39.99. Both options will be available starting Monday, February 10 at 9am PT, but only while supplies last. Given the high demand for Secret Lairs since Wizards of the Coast shifted from a timed print-to-order system last year, it's advisable to act quickly if you're interested in adding these cards to your collection.

For more on Magic: The Gathering, you can delve into details about the upcoming death race set, Aetherdrift, set to launch next week. Additionally, explore 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.