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Magic: The Gathering is finally doing an African fantasy set and giving Zhalfir it's time to shine

At MagicCon Amsterdam, it was announced that the plane of Zhalfir will be explored in depth with a new set out in fall of 2027

The art for Teferi, Hero of Dominaria from Magic: The Gathering
Image credit: Wizards of the Coast

If you've been hoping for the return of Zhalfir in Magic: The Gathering, then you're in luck. In 2027, we are heading back to the plane for an aptly titled Zhalfir set releasing in the fall of 2027. 

It will be the "first time we're going to see [Zhalfir] explored as its own plane," Senior Creative Director Jackie Jones said about the set at MagicCon Amsterdam. And while the plane itself was phased out of time and space by Teferi during the First Phyrexian Invasion, "its people and its culture kept on living and evolving," the whole time, said Jones. So now, with Zhalfir safely back within time and space, we'll get the opportunity to get to know the people and cultures of Zhalfir while also getting a look at the creatures and wildlife of the plane. 

Zhalfir is a plane inspired by African arts and history, notably West African and North African cultures. In the process of fleshing out Zhalfir's culture in the design process, the team worked with cultural consultants so that the African fantasy set could properly "honor[] the real world cultures and creative traditions that inspired this setting," Jones said. 

It's a fitting time for Zhalfir to step into the spotlight with its own dedicated set, because in 2027, we'll also be returning to the Japanese-inspired plane of Kamigawa for Kamigawa: Titanbreach. If there's ever been a better time to give the stage to the various cultures of the Magic multiverse, it's now. 


Whether you are a Commander player, a regular at your local game shop's FNM event, or simply love collecting Magic: The Gathering cards, you've landed in the right place. From Universes Beyond to the furthest reaches of the Magic Multiverse, we've got you covered here at Popverse. 

 

Jules Chin Greene

Jules Chin Greene: Jules Chin Greene is a journalist and Jack Kirby enthusiast. He has written about comics, video games, movies, and television for sites such as Nerdist, AIPT, and Multiverse of Color.

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