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, now brings his talent to Magic: The Gathering. A new Secret Lair drop features four cards adorned with Arita's distinctive style, offering a first glimpse into his unique take on the world of Magic.

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

While not Arita's first Magic card (he previously illustrated a borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods), this four-card drop marks a significant expansion of his involvement. The selection includes cards with diverse playability across various formats. Lightning Bolt, a staple in numerous formats, is joined by Murktide Regent, a powerful force in Modern and Legacy. Light-Paws, a popular Commander card, and Shorikai, a favorite in Vintage Cubes and a top 20 Commander overall (according to EDHRec), complete the set.

Wizards of the Coast's store page describes the drop as follows: "Celebrated artist Mitsuhiro Arita, with nearly 30 years of experience creating iconic trading card game art, returns to Magic: The Gathering. Following his popular borderless Lumra, Bellow of the Woods from the 2024 Bloomburrow set, this Secret Lair showcases his signature creature designs across four exceptional cards."

This Secret Lair will be available on the Secret Lair website, starting Monday, February 10th at 9 am PT. Non-foil versions will cost $29.99, while foil versions are priced at $39.99. As with previous releases, these are available while supplies last. Given the recent shift away from a print-to-order system, quick action is advised to secure a set.

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