I don't see a "Zeta" set in the Pauper meta change history. The most recent set release recorded for Pauper is Edge of Eternities (EOE) on August 1, 2025. There is no set with "Zeta" in its name or code listed in the database.
It's possible you may be thinking of a different set name, or "Zeta" cards may refer to a set not yet tracked in the database. Could you clarify which set or cards you're referring to? For example, is "Zeta" a nickname for a specific set? If so, let me know the full name and I can check if it's in the system.
In the meantime, I can give you a current Pauper meta snapshot based on the most recent data (post-Edge of Eternities). Just say the word!
Let me look up those cards and check the current Pauper meta at the same time.
The meta changes don't show a specific event making those cards legal. Let me check card presence in Pauper recently and pull the current meta report to see if these cards are actually showing up.
Now let me check whether Baleful Strix, Dispatch, and Vandalblast are actually appearing in Pauper decklists in our database.
Good, the cards are showing up. Now let me see which archetypes are running them.
I don't have a recorded meta change event for when these cards became legal in Pauper, but they are clearly appearing in the database. Here is what the data shows for the current Pauper metagame (Aug 1 to Sep 22, 2026):
The overall meta is led by Red Madness (10.8% presence, 52.3% winrate), Mono Blue Terror (7.1%, 51.5%), Tron (6.3%, 51.3%), and Grixis Affinity (5.8%, 50.3%). Spy Combo stands out as the best-performing archetype despite lower presence (4.0% presence, 55.1% winrate). White Aggro also punches above its weight at 52.6% winrate.
All three cards you mentioned are showing up in decklists. Baleful Strix (111 decks, ~3.1 copies average) is heavily adopted in Dimir Faeries, Esper Midrange, and Esper Affinity -- all archetypes that can exploit its flying body and immediate card draw. Dispatch (101 decks, ~3.7 copies average) is a staple in Esper Midrange, Esper Affinity, and White Aggro, where metalcraft is reliably active given the artifact density in those shells. Vandalblast (156 decks, ~1.7 copies average on average -- suggesting sideboard use) is spread broadly as a sideboard tool in Tron, Gruul Ramp, Jund Midrange, and Jeskai Ephemerate, among many others.
These three cards appear to have enabled new Esper-colored midrange builds as a notable addition to the format, while Vandalblast has become a widespread sideboard answer to the affinity decks that dominate the meta.
Sources: Data from 145 tournaments (Aug 1 -- Sep 22, 2026): 57% Melee, 26% MTGO, 17% Cardsrealm. Recent events include:
https://www.mtgo.com/decklist/pauper-challenge-32-2026-09-2112854527
https://melee.gg/Decklist/View/925c097d-7cff-43ca-98e4-b4cb01471de3