Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is palpable as the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to release on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set takes us back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where five clans are embroiled in a relentless battle against ancient dragons. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I can't wait to see how the new cards will enhance my deck, much to the dismay of my friends.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is a world where five clans—Abzan Houses (White, Black, Green), Jeskai Way (Blue, Red, White), Mardu Horde (Red, White, Black), Sultai Brood (Black, Green, Blue), and Temur Frontier (Green, Blue, Red)—each led by a Khan, vie for dominance with their unique strategies. Wizards of the Coast has started to unveil the new mechanics these clans will employ, alongside some of the awe-inspiring dragons that are sure to shake up the game.

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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker
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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge
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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar
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To distinguish each clan, Wizards has introduced unique mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry rewards playing a second spell in a turn, no matter who's turn it is. Sultai's Renew lets players exile a specific card from their graveyard to grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that disappear at the end of the turn, enhancing their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, allows cards to be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers when a non-token creature dies, providing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as seen with Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Given that this is Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the dragons are not to be overlooked. They are getting new mechanics like Omen and Behold to bolster their presence. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If you cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck, giving you another chance to draw it later. If played as a creature, that option is gone. Behold, on the other hand, triggers when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield. For instance, Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not being tied to a specific clan, can appear across multiple colors, making them versatile in deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are the stars of this set, and one standout so far is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a formidable creature that triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These effects range from drawing a card to untapping all your creatures or even forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily hits at least the extra card draw trigger, and with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a terrifying reality.

Ugin returns as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), poised to be a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds. His passive ability exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is exceptionally powerful: search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, then cast them for free until end of turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, he can reach that threshold quickly if properly defended.

Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm

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Aside from the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most anticipated Magic: The Gathering release this year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set remains under wraps, but my Scion deck is already in need of a serious upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exciting new five-color dragon. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to the game when it lands on April 11.