Zendikar facts for kids

Zendikar is an exciting and dangerous world in the popular card game, Magic: The Gathering. It's known for its wild, untamed lands, floating islands, and powerful magical energy. This plane is also the home of Nissa Revane, a powerful elf planeswalker who cares deeply about its fate.

What is Zendikar?

Zendikar is a plane, which is like a different world or dimension in the Magic: The Gathering universe. It's famous for its unique and dangerous environment. Imagine a world where huge pieces of land float in the sky, and the very ground beneath your feet can shift and change! This wild energy is called "the Roil," and it makes Zendikar a challenging place to live.

The plane is full of incredible natural wonders, from towering mountains to deep, mysterious jungles. But it's also incredibly dangerous. Many powerful and strange creatures live here, and the land itself can be unpredictable.

Who Lives on Zendikar?

Many different kinds of people and creatures call Zendikar home. Some of the main groups include:

• Kor: These are graceful, nomadic humanoids who are expert climbers and explorers. They often use ropes and hooks to navigate Zendikar's tricky terrain.
• Elves: Zendikar's elves are deeply connected to nature and live in its forests. They are fierce protectors of their homes.
• Vampires: Unlike some other planes, vampires on Zendikar are not undead. They are a living race that feeds on the life energy of others.
• Goblins: These small, chaotic creatures often live in tribes and are known for their unpredictable behavior.
• Merfolk: Living in Zendikar's oceans and rivers, these fish-like humanoids are skilled mages and guardians of ancient secrets.

The Eldrazi Threat

For a long time, Zendikar was trapped by ancient, powerful beings called the Eldrazi. These creatures are like giant, colorless monsters from outside the normal universe. They don't eat or destroy for evil reasons; they simply consume the magical energy and life from planes, leaving them empty and lifeless.

The Eldrazi were originally imprisoned on Zendikar long ago by three powerful planeswalkers: Ugin, Sorin Markov, and Nahiri. They used special stone structures called "hedrons" to create a magical prison. However, over time, the prison weakened, and the Eldrazi began to stir, causing great fear and destruction across the plane.

Important Characters

Several important characters in the Magic: The Gathering story have strong connections to Zendikar:

• Nissa Revane: As mentioned, Nissa is an elf planeswalker from Zendikar. She has a deep bond with the plane's natural energy and has fought tirelessly to protect it from the Eldrazi.
• Gideon Jura: A powerful warrior planeswalker, Gideon helped lead the fight against the Eldrazi on Zendikar. He is known for his courage and his ability to make himself invulnerable.
• Jace Beleren: A mind-mage planeswalker, Jace was also involved in the efforts to stop the Eldrazi. His intelligence and magical abilities were crucial in understanding and fighting these strange beings.
• Chandra Nalaar: A fiery pyromancer planeswalker, Chandra brought her explosive magic to Zendikar to help defeat the Eldrazi.

Magic: The Gathering Sets on Zendikar

In Magic: The Gathering, a "set" is a collection of new cards released at a certain time, often telling a part of the game's ongoing story. Several sets have taken place on Zendikar, telling the story of its adventures and struggles:

• Zendikar: This was the first set to explore the plane. It introduced players to Zendikar's wild nature, its valuable "full-art" lands, and the sense of adventure and danger. The story focused on explorers seeking treasures and facing the plane's many hazards.
• Worldwake: This set continued the story of adventure on Zendikar. It showed more of the plane's unpredictable "Roil" and hinted at the growing threat of the Eldrazi, though they had not yet fully emerged.
• Rise of The Eldrazi: This was a major turning point. In this set, the ancient Eldrazi titans finally broke free from their prison on Zendikar. Their emergence caused widespread devastation and changed the plane forever.
• Battle for Zendikar: Years later, the Eldrazi returned in full force, threatening to completely destroy Zendikar. This set focused on the desperate fight to save the plane from being consumed by these monstrous beings. Heroes and planeswalkers united to protect the world.
• Oath of The Gatewatch: This set concluded the Eldrazi storyline on Zendikar. It saw a group of planeswalkers, including Nissa, Gideon, Jace, and Chandra, form a team called the Gatewatch. They made an oath to protect the planes of the Multiverse and worked together to finally defeat the Eldrazi titans on Zendikar.

Why is Zendikar Important?

Zendikar is a very important plane in the Magic: The Gathering story. It's a place of incredible beauty and danger, and it was the site of one of the biggest threats the Multiverse had ever faced: the Eldrazi. The events on Zendikar led to the formation of the Gatewatch, a team of planeswalkers dedicated to protecting all worlds. Its unique environment and thrilling stories make it a favorite among players.