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 stunning cards, and we have an exclusive preview.

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

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 involvement.

The selection includes cards playable across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple, while Murktide Regent has proven powerful in Modern and Legacy since its Modern Horizons 2 debut in 2021. Light-Paws is a popular Commander choice, and Shorikai is a frequent Vintage Cube inclusion and a top 20 Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast's store page describes the drop: "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."

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 only while supplies last, launching Monday, February 10th at 9 am PT. Given the quick sellouts of recent Secret Lairs since the shift away from the print-to-order system, interested buyers should act swiftly.

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