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

Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist behind countless Pokémon Trading Card Game illustrations, including the coveted Charizard, is now lending his talent to Magic: The Gathering. His latest contribution is a Secret Lair drop featuring four cards, and we have an exclusive preview.

View the gallery below to see all four cards from Arita's Secret Lair:

This isn't Arita's first foray into Magic; he previously illustrated a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods for the 2024 Bloomburrow set. However, this four-card Secret Lair represents a significant expansion of his work within the Magic universe.

The included cards boast diverse playability across various formats. Lightning Bolt is a staple in nearly every legal format, while Murktide Regent has proven powerful in Modern and Legacy since its Modern Horizons 2 debut in 2021. Light-Paws enjoys Commander popularity, and Shorikai is a frequent inclusion in Vintage Cubes, currently ranking as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast's store page describes the drop as follows: "With almost three decades of experience creating iconic art for trading card games, Mitsuhiro Arita's work is globally recognized. His first Magic: The Gathering collaboration, a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods from 2024's Bloomburrow, quickly became a fan favorite. This Secret Lair Drop sees the legendary artist return, showcasing his signature creature designs across four exceptional cards."

This Secret Lair will be available on the Secret Lair website, priced at $29.99 (non-foil) and $39.99 (foil). Both versions are available while supplies last, launching Monday, February 10th at 9 AM PT. Given the tendency for Secret Lairs to sell out quickly since Wizards of the Coast transitioned from a print-to-order system last year, interested buyers should act swiftly.

For more Magic news, explore the upcoming Aetherdrift death race set (releasing next week), previously revealed Secret Lairs like Chucky and Monty Python, or learn about Wizards of the Coast's long-term strategy for the game.