Serendib Efreet

The Serendib Efreet is a foundational card in Magic: The Gathering, first appearing in the limited 1993 Alpha set and later gaining notoriety in the 1994 Summer Magic release, often referred to as Edgar. Designed by Richard Garfield, the card was created as a high-efficiency flying creature, intended to challenge players with a balance of aggressive stats and a recurring damage penalty. Its presence in the Summer Magic set is particularly significant to collectors, as this rare print run was intended to correct errors in the preceding Revised Edition but was largely destroyed due to internal recalls.

The iconic illustration for the card was provided by Anson Maddocks. In the early days of the game, Maddocks' art was celebrated for its distinct, surreal aesthetic, which deviated from the high-fantasy norms of the time. The Serendib Efreet's artwork became subject to intense scrutiny during the Summer Magic printing, as the card was mistakenly printed with a green frame and artwork belonging to the card Ifh-Bíff Efreet, creating a legendary rarity that remains a centerpiece for specialized collectors today.