Mitsuhiro Arita, renowned for his iconic artwork in the Pokémon Trading Card Game, including the coveted Charizard card, is now channeling his artistic prowess into a new venture with Magic: The Gathering. This time, Arita is lending his talents to a Secret Lair drop, featuring a set of four stunningly illustrated cards. Fans can get an exclusive first look at these cards in the gallery below:
Flip through the gallery below to see all the cards in Arita's Secret Lair:
While this isn't Arita's debut in the world of Magic: The Gathering—his previous contribution was a borderless art version of Lumra, Bellow of the Woods in last year's Bloomburrow set—the release of four new cards in this Secret Lair drop marks a significant expansion of his presence in the game. Each card in this collection is not only visually appealing but also relevant across various Magic formats. Lightning Bolt remains a staple in numerous decks, while Murktide Regent has solidified its power in both Modern and Legacy formats since its introduction in Modern Horizons 2 in 2021. Light-Paws has become a beloved Commander, and Shorikai has found its niche in Vintage Cubes, ranking as the 20th most popular Commander according to EDHRec.
Wizards of the Coast highlights this collaboration on their store page, stating: "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 other Secret Lair drops, this set will be available for purchase on the Secret Lair website. You can choose between a non-foil version priced at $29.99 and a foil version at $39.99. Both options will be available starting Monday, February 10 at 9am PT, but only while supplies last. Given the high demand and quick sell-out times since Wizards of the Coast shifted from a timed print-to-order system last year, it's advisable to act fast if you're eager to add these cards to your collection.
For those interested in more Magic: The Gathering news, you can explore details about the upcoming death race set, Aetherdrift, set to launch next week. Additionally, check out previous Secret Lair reveals, such as those featuring Chucky and Monty Python, or delve into Wizards of the Coast's strategies for ensuring the long-term success of Magic: The Gathering.
