An interesting downside of the Magic multiverse, with its huge range of fully-realized planes, is that there just isn’t time to explore everything as much as we’d like. This is doubly true these days, with Universes Beyond taking up half of each year’s releases. With new planes to consider as well, callbacks to old favorites are looking less likely by the day.
That said, some heavily-requested revisits are more likely than others. In recent months, for example, many MTG players have been clamoring for a return to Zhalfir, landing it a place on Wizards’ shortlist. With Mark Rosewater now engaging with the demand directly, players are excitedly speculating about what such a set could look like.
A Return To Zhalfir For MTG?
“Theothin: Hi Mark! I’ve been really hoping to see a dedicated Zhalfir set at some point, to get a better look at how things there have been going since MOM. How much interest have you seen in this?
Mark Rosewater: Some. It’s a common request.”
Via Blogatog
For those unfamiliar, Zhalfir is a bit of a unique case among the various planes in MTG. It was originally one of the three areas that made up the Jamuraa region in Dominaria, which was the setting for 1996’s Mirage expansion. Teferi eventually phased it out to escape the first Phyrexian Invasion, however, leaving it stranded in the void. It would later make a return during the March of the Machine story arc, becoming a plane in its own right, and a safe haven for refugees from Mirrodin.
A new set entirely based on Zhalfir, to explore mechanical identities and the Phyrexian effect, then, is an exciting prospect indeed. Because of this, as Rosewater notes above, such a set is a common request from players on social media.
In terms of how likely such a return is, signs are fairly mixed. According to Rosewater, Zhalfir is on Wizards’ shortlist of planes to revisit, and a six on the Rabiah Scale. This puts its chances slightly below average in theory, despite Rosewater’s engagement with these requests.
While these are promising signs, it’s worth noting that many other planes have received the same treatment recently. In particular, Alara and Muraganda have gotten a lot of similar attention, without confirmed return sets so far. For this reason, a return to Zhalfir is far from guaranteed.
Mirage Of Mechanics
“Theothin: Hi Mark! If we were to get a full set on Zhalfir, how much of its mechanics do you think would draw from Mirage vs Mirrodin?
Mark Rosewater: I have no idea. What would you all expect?”
Via Blogatog
Though the odds are somewhat against a return to Zhalfir, that hasn’t stopped MTG players from sharing what they’d like to see in such a set. Knight Typal elements, for instance, are already featured on cards like Sidar Jabari of Zhalfir, and many players want to see those return. A major role for fan-favorite planeswalker Teferi is also a common request, and on that makes a ton of sense. Older mechanical returns, like potential retrains on Phasing and Flanking, are also popular suggestions.
With the plane now acting as a pseudo-new Mirrodin, many players are also excited to see how that plays out both mechanically and narratively. More Myr creatures is a recurring request, given the general rarity of the type. From a lore perspective, there are also several players interested in how the new wave of Mirran refugees fuels conflict on the plane.
All of this spirited discussion clearly indicates a community appetite for Zhalfir. Whether we get one or not, however, very much remains to be seen.
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