Zhalfir Art | Illustration by Jose Vega
MagicCon Amsterdam held a Pro Tour, but even more exciting was the outline we got for Magic in 2027: All three in-universe sets were announced, and the one I’m most excited about by far is Zhalfir.
Zhalfir takes us to an afrofantasy plane that’s been a part of Magic for years, formerly as a continent on Dominaria but now a full-fledged plane. It looks vibrant, exciting, and it's my most anticipated set of the year—but what do we actually know about it?
Zhalfir Basic Information
Zhalfir Art | Illustration by Travis Anderson
Set Details
| Set Symbol | TBA |
| Set Code | TBA |
| Hashtag | #MTGZhalfir |
| Number of Cards | TBA |
| Rarities | Mythic, Rare, Uncommon, Common |
| Mechanics | TBA |
| Previews Start | TBA |
| Full Gallery Available | September, 2027 |
| Available on Draftsim's Draft Simulator | After Full Spoiler |
| Release on MTG Arena/Magic Online | TBA |
| Available on Arena Tutor | After Full Spoiler |
| Prerelease Weekend | September 24, 2027 |
| Paper Release Date | October 1, 2027 |
About the Set: The Story
Zhalfir Art | Illustration by Bimpe Aliu
Little was said on the preview panel about the story of Zhalfir, but Teferi is promised to return. I wouldn’t be surprised to see his granddaughter Kequia, who played a big role in the Secrets of Strixhaven companion novel Omens of Chaos. Also, the concept art included the character Kaervek, a villain from Zhalfir as famous as Teferi (last seen on Thunder Junction in Kaervek, the Punisher) who almost has to play an antagonistic role.
One source of conflict I expect surrounds Zhalfir’s new circumstances. For those unfamiliar with older lore, Zhalfir was a continent on Dominaria, and Teferi Akosa’s home. Teferi phased out Zhalfir during the first Phyrexian Invasion, but the events of Time Spiral prevented him from phasing it back in, so Zhalfir remained phased out (though not paused in time, still growing and evolving) until March of the Machine, where the story events involved it getting phased in and taking Mirrodin’s spot in Multiverse. There are lasting implications of this merge, as the five suns of Mirrodin still hang in the sky and influence the plane’s magic.
Zhalfir Mechanics
No mechanics have been confirmed, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see phasing come back a little—not only is it strongly connected to Teferi as a character but the plane as a whole. March of the Machine also placed a strong emphasis on knights from Zhalfir with cards like Marshal of Zhalfir and Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir, so that could prominently feature as a mechanical element.
Speculation
Beyond the return of a handful of characters and mechanics like phasing and knight-typal, it’s hard to predict what comes about in Zhalfir. This isn’t a knock on the plane, but a boon: It looks unlike other Magic sets, in part because of the strong influence of Afrofantasy on the plane. It’s a deeply fantastic realm that has my bet for the best set of 2027, or at least the most beautiful and unique.
Zhalfir Spoilers
None have phased in yet, but if you want to keep up with spoilers for Zhalfir and other upcoming Magic sets, bookmark Draftsim’s spoiler page!
Notable Cards
No cards have been spoiled (or leaked) yet.
Available Products
No products have been officially announced, but as a premier set, some products are obvious. We’ll get Play Boosters and Collector Boosters, and booster boxes of both. Draft Night and Bundles are main-stay products.
Zhalfir Art | Illustration by Eric Wilkerson, Jehan Choo, Bimpe Ailiu, Jose Vega, Rudy Parfaite
I expect Magic precons. There’s one stunning illustration that shows five Zhalfirins dressed as mono-colored creatures; that could imply five mono-colored Commander decks, which would fit with the theme of the five suns influencing the plane, but that might be a stretch. Expect at least a few precons from a full-sized set like this, though.
Wrap Up
Zhalfir Art | Illustration by Andrea Piparo
As much as I like the look of Nauticus and Kamigawa: Titanbreach, Zhalfir is the set I’m looking forward to the most in 2027 for the uniqueness of its design and influence. I wish we knew more about the story than a few characters, but it’s over a year out, so something needs to be kept under wraps. Still, I can’t wait to learn more about the set.
What do you think of Zhalfir? Are you looking forward to it? What do you think the story’s about? Let me know in the comments below or on the Draftsim Discord! If you want more Draftsim, check out our YouTube Channel and newsletter, both called The Daily Upkeep!
Stay safe, and thanks for reading!
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