Mitsuhiro Arita, a renowned artist behind countless Pokémon Trading Card Game illustrations, including the coveted Charizard, is now lending his artistic talents 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 all four cards in 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 involvement.
Furthermore, the included cards see play across various formats. The iconic Lightning Bolt is a staple, while Murktide Regent is a powerhouse in Modern and Legacy formats since its Modern Horizons 2 debut in 2021. Light-Paws is a popular Commander card, and Shorikai is a favorite in Vintage Cubes and ranks among the top 20 most popular Commanders according to EDHRec.
Wizards of the Coast's store page describes the drop 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."
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. Given the limited availability and the shift away from the print-to-order system, securing these cards requires swift action.
For more Magic news, explore the upcoming Aetherdrift death race set launching next week, revisit previously released Secret Lairs featuring Chucky and Monty Python, or delve into WOTC's long-term strategy for Magic's continued success.