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 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. This four-card Secret Lair represents a significant expansion of his work within the Magic universe.

The featured cards boast diverse playability across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple wherever permitted, while Murktide Regent remains a powerhouse in Modern and Legacy since its Modern Horizons 2 debut in 2021. Light-Paws enjoys widespread Commander popularity, and Shorikai is a favorite in Vintage Cubes and currently ranks among the top 20 most popular Commanders on 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), starting Monday, February 10, at 9 am PT. Supplies are limited, and given the shift away from the previous print-to-order system, securing these cards requires swift action upon release.

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