Slivers Return to Magic: The Gathering in a Surprising New Form – What You Need to Know
Slivers Make a Sneaky Comeback in Magic: The Gathering
Slivers, the iconic hive-mind creatures beloved by Magic: The Gathering fans, are back—but not quite in the way players expected. Known for their unique ability to share powers among the entire brood, slivers have been a staple in tribal decks since their debut in the 1997 Tempest set. Now, after a lengthy hiatus, they return in the latest set Edge of Eternities, though with a twist.
- Slivers return as lore hints and a powerful artifact, not as creatures
- Thrumming Hivepool is the only sliver-related card, but it’s an artifact, not a creature
- The story references slivers as fictional creatures within the Sothera system
- Hints in card art and lore tease a full sliver comeback in future sets
The Unexpected Sliver Presence in Edge of Eternities
Players eager to see a flood of new sliver creatures in Edge of Eternities will be surprised. The set contains just one sliver-related card: Thrumming Hivepool, a rare artifact that promises to boost any Sliver deck but isn’t a creature itself. Even more intriguing, the slivers don’t officially appear in the set’s main storyline crafted by Wizards of the Coast. Instead, they’re woven into the setting as a sort of background mystery, with hints scattered across lore and card flavor text.
Slivers in the Sothera System: Fiction or Reality?
In the Edge of Eternities story by Seth Dickinson, slivers are portrayed as fictional creatures within the Sothera system’s culture—appearing in movies, mimicking sounds to lure victims, and implanting embryos, echoing classic sci-fi horror themes like the Alien franchise. Yet, the Thrumming Hivepool card’s lore suggests slivers do exist physically in this universe, trapped on what seems to be an asteroid. This subtle nod hints at ongoing experiments or discoveries related to these creatures, possibly linked to the infamous Riptide Project from MTG’s past.
Further speculation arises from the side story Grasp in the Dark by RJ Taylor, where a vague creature description might point to slivers, though nothing is confirmed.
Visual Easter Eggs and Future Possibilities
One of the most exciting clues comes from the card Wurmwall Sweeper. In its artwork, a shadowy figure resembling a sliver lurks in a desolate landscape, waiting for a spaceship to arrive. This location, the Wurmwall, is a remote part of space where the next chapter of the Sothera saga might unfold. Fans can look forward to a potential explosive return of slivers alongside colossal space worms in upcoming sets.
