Shifting Wastes

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Shifting Wastes
Information
Plane Tarkir
Type Desert
Status Threatened by dragonstorms
Scryfall Statistics

The Shifting Wastes are the territory of the Abzan Houses, and formerly the Dromoka brood, on Tarkir. It is a region with lush steppes, hot deserts, and sands that shift constantly to reveal hidden underground karsts.[1][2]

Description

The land is typically dry and arid with a few surrounding mountains and shared borders with the Mardu and Sultai.[2] The sudden appearance of sinkholes within the desert has increased in frequency and intensity due to the dragonstorms. Though the Abzan are expert desert navigators, this phenomenon has claimed the lives of even the most veteran travelers. While dangerous, some sinkings have revealed boons for the Abzan, such as lost fortresses and underground oases.

Known locations

  • Aerie of the Unfettered — An abandoned ancient structure that was home to only dragons during Dromoka's reign.[2] It has since been taken over by a host of wild dragons that threaten any Abzan in the region.
  • Anafenza's Kin-Tree Green mana — The first recovered Kin-Tree location from Dromoka's reign.[2] It is now a verdant oasis carefully tended by Kin-Tree wardens.
  • Arashin, or Great Arashin City White manaBlack manaGreen mana — The largest and oldest Abzan fortress city that is built on a lush oasis and underground spring.[2] Arashin is known for its magical protective walls that can be raised to block out storms and other draconic threats. The council of houses meet in this city.[3]
  • Dusyut Forest Green mana — A mysterious and verdant underground forest full of water, animals, and fruit-bearing trees.[2] Discovered somewhat recently after a severe sinking revealed the location.
  • Lookout Roost — A watchtower far in the desert, close to the mountains that mark the border with the Sultai.[2] It rises four hundred feet into the air, is built of a reddish stone, and peopled by Vulture-aven that have been given the Roost to watch over.
  • Qatros Karst City White manaBlack manaGreen mana — The newest fortress city shaped by talented earthcarvers from a sandstone karst revealed by a sinking.[2][4] It was formerly a network of caverns and passages used by rebels and refugees during Dromoka's reign and has now been expanded into a bustling city, housing markets, gardens, open-air temples, and a university converted into a hospital. Cycling spells keep air flowing through shafts carved to the karst's surface. It houses the kin-tree of House Fenzala. The city acts as a haven from dragonstorms, and the surrounding storm-altered cliffs are abundant in valuable glass, jewelry, and salt. A conflict over mining rights with the Sultai Brood led to a protracted siege against the city around 4564 AR, in which over a hundred Abzan were killed.
  • Salt Road — A large road that extends throughout Tarkir, the Salt Road is used as the main Abzan trading route.[2]
  • Stormplains White mana — a grassy expanse where the dragonstorms are the fiercest.[3]
    • The temple in the heart of storms — A massive ancient temple riddled with colonnades, its walls once held intricate murals. An enormous subterranean antechamber houses a ragged Omenpath leading to the Meditation Realm.[5]

Historical

  • Arashin - built upon a rocky hill that served as the clan's symbolic and administrative center. While not the largest city of the Abzan, the trade routes that wound through the Shifting Wastes all passed through it. Arashin
  • The Amber Throne - where the khan sat.[1]
    • The First Tree - a sacred tree.[1]
    • Great Aerie - a gigantic structure that extended and fortified the natural defensive position of the hill. The fortress was nearly invulnerable to ground assault, and the sky was heavily patrolled by dragons and aven. Dromoka made her roost in the Great Aerie.
  • Kavah - a settlement two days away from Arashin.[6]
  • Mer-Ek - the colossal fortress that protected Arashin. In the current timeline, it was incorporated into the Great Aerie and later into Great Arashin City.
  • Sandsteppe Gateway - close to the border of Mardu territory, where the desert gave way to the rolling steppe, it was a fortress bridge spanning the gap between two mountains that were divided by a river, which flowed out from Abzan lands.

In-game references

Represented in:
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References

  1. ↑ a b c Magic Creative Team (September 3, 2014). "Planeswalker's Guide to Khans of Tarkir, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Lauren Bond & DK Billins (February 21, 2025). "Planeswalker's Guide to Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. ↑ a b Cassandra Khaw (March 10, 2025). "Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Episode 4: Heart of Fire". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. ↑ Rhiannon Rasmussen (March 3, 2025). "Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Abzan: Siege Blossoms". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Cassandra Khaw (March 12, 2025). "Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Episode 5: Recursion". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ Ari Levitch (December 3, 2014). "Bond and Blood". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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