Quick Hits

• Pauper is in flux: Gavin Verhey, announcing on behalf of the entire Pauper format panel, revealed Wizards is reversing a previous decision on the legality and bannings of the new Zeta Secret Lair cards — and Rosewater confirmed on Blogatog that Serra Angel is now Pauper-legal. A wild journey for a '90s icon.
• Teferi headlines the 2027 Zhalfir set, announced at MagicCon Amsterdam — and he's surfacing in a comic a full year ahead of the set.
• A huge Universes Beyond announcement is teased for New York Comic Con, where an MTG-dedicated panel has hit the schedule (DraftSim).
• Peter Cullen is moving card prices — yes, really — and "the Bear hype hasn't died down yet," per MTGStocks; meanwhile The Hobbit is finally loosening its grip on the market.
• Rosewater wraps "Getting the Banned Together" with Drive to Work #1378, and confirms Flashback is now deciduous.

Set News

DraftSim reports Teferi was revealed as a primary character in the 2027 Zhalfir set at MagicCon Amsterdam, with the headliner popping up in comic form a year early — start your speculating now.

On the Universes Beyond front, NYCC's MTG panel comes with a big announcement tease, but don't expect new 'walkers: Rosewater clarified that UB sets don't get planeswalkers at all — including reskins in Secret Lairs or bonus sheets. He does see a path to an urban-fantasy Universes Within set, though.

Reality Fracture preview season is rolling — mweepinc has a where-to-find-previews roundup — and Blogatog readers are high on the story, with chapters 3–4 spotlighting Loot and Emrakul and the Innistrad leg nodding to Hanweir.

Arena players: DraftSim also published a deep dive on the digital-only Heist mechanic's rules, history, and best cards.

Commander Corner

EDHREC serves a Chong and Lily, Nomads Bard Saga deck — finally, a home for the saga-matters itch. DraftSim's Homer, the Hermit guide digs into a Mystery Booster Commander Edition gem.

This week's Commander Clash restricts each player to cards from a single year — 1993 vs. 2003 vs. 2016 vs. 2026. For the brewers: one player shared a bracket 2–3 Sophina and Wernog pet list with zero game changers.

EDHREC's data desk checks which cards are hot and cold for Krenko, Mob Boss and remasters the Guided by Nature precon. And for the dog-lovers: Rosewater says a true multicolor Dog commander "will eventually happen — we make a lot of Dogs".

Short on inspiration? DraftSim ranked the best Orzhov mythics, replay-land effects, mana sinks, and all seven draw-third-card payoffs.

Competitive Scene

The Pauper reversal — announced by Gavin Verhey for the format panel — is the headline, and Joe Dyer's September Power of Pauper column is well-timed reading for a format absorbing Zeta legality chaos and Serra Angel. Dyer also filed Vintage 101 for the month.

Tolarian Community College is making the case for Canadian Highlander as Magic's next breakout format — worth a watch if you've been curious about the points-list format.

Off the beaten path: MTGGoldfish published a retrospective on the cheating scandal that erased Yuuya Watanabe from the game's ranks — sobering, essential reading.

Finance & Market

Weekly Winners credits the "Peter Cullen effect" for this week's risers, with bear cards still climbing; DraftSim's spike report leads with Optimus Prime, Inspiring Leader and notes LOTR premiums are cooling at last. Kaiju collectors should bookmark DraftSim's guide to getting the Godzilla cards.

Design & Lore

Drive to Work #1378 closes the book on "Getting the Banned Together," Rosewater's series on designing every card of his that got the axe — pair it with #1377 on Innovation, on calibrating how much new is enough. He also confirmed Flashback is deciduous — "it plays well, has a lot of design space, and is beloved by players" — and poured light cold water on a Jaya Ballard pre-Mending throwback set, noting Wizards rarely visits the past unless players already know the story.

Community corner: a death-metal Sheoldred fan illustration, a custom frog deckbox complete with Grolnok's severed-arm easter egg, and more Zeta-inspired homemade proxies are lighting up the subreddit today.