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

Mitsuhiro Arita, renowned for his iconic artwork on countless cards from the original Pokemon Trading Card Game, including the highly coveted Charizard, is now turning his artistic talents to a different kind of dragon through a Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair drop. We're excited to offer you an exclusive first look at all four cards featured in this special collection.

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

While Arita is no newcomer to Magic: The Gathering, having previously contributed a single, borderless art version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods for the Bloomburrow set last year, this new Secret Lair drop marks a significant expansion with four new cards released in quick succession.

These cards are not just visually stunning but also hold significant play value across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple in virtually every format where it's legal, while Murktide Regent has been a dominant force in both Modern and Legacy since its debut in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has established itself as a beloved Commander, and Shorikai has not only found a place in many Vintage Cubes but is also currently ranked as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.

Wizards of the Coast describes this drop on its 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 one will be available on the Secret Lair website in non-foil for $29.99 and foil for $39.99. Both versions will be available while supplies last, starting on Monday, February 10 at 9am PT. Given the high demand and quick sell-out times of recent Secret Lairs, especially since Wizards of the Coast transitioned from a timed print-to-order system last year, it's advisable to be ready to purchase as soon as they become available if you're interested in adding these 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, explore past Secret Lairs we've revealed such as Chucky and Monty Python, or read about Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring Magic's long-term success.