Serendib Efreet

Serendib Efreet was originally released in 1994 as part of the Arabian Nights expansion, the first expansion set for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game. The set was designed by Richard Garfield and inspired by the themes and lore of the One Thousand and One Nights, marking a shift toward distinct, flavor-driven expansions for the nascent game. This specific card, numbered 11 in the 2009 From the Vault: Exiled collection, was produced to commemorate iconic cards that had previously been banned or restricted in competitive play.

The artwork for the original Serendib Efreet was famously illustrated by Anson Maddocks, who utilized a distinct, surreal, and organic style that became synonymous with early Magic aesthetic. The card gained significant notoriety in the competitive scene due to its powerful efficiency as a blue creature, which was an unusual design choice at the time given that the blue color identity typically focused on control and utility rather than aggressive threats. The From the Vault iteration features updated foiling techniques and represents the card's enduring legacy in the game's competitive history.