The excitement is palpable as we gear up for the release of the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, slated for April 11 and available for pre-order now. This set brings us back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where five clans vie for supremacy against the backdrop of ancient dragons. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new cards and mechanics that will undoubtedly enhance my gameplay and leave my friends envious of my deck's new additions.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
For newcomers, Tarkir is a world of 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 and known for their distinct playstyles. Wizards of the Coast has begun unveiling the new mechanics that will define these clans, as well as teasing some of the formidable dragons that are poised to shake up the meta.
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To differentiate each clan, Wizards has crafted unique mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. For instance, Jeskai's Flurry rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a card from their graveyard to bestow various counters on surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, similar to Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers upon the death of a non-token creature, granting +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.
Given the set's name, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, it's no surprise that dragons are receiving special attention. Two new mechanics, Omen and Behold, are expanding their capabilities. Omen, reminiscent of Adventure cards, allows you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If cast as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for a future draw, whereas playing it as a creature forgoes this option. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or already control one on the battlefield. A prime example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and can trigger Behold. These mechanics, not bound to a specific clan, promise to add exciting layers to deck-building across multiple colors.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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Dragons are the main attraction here, and one standout is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a powerhouse that triggers various effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of your creatures. 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 makes it easy to hit at least the card draw trigger, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.
Ugin makes a triumphant return as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). This card is set to become a staple in colorless decks, especially those focusing on Eldrazi, thanks to his passive ability that exiles target permanents when you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is particularly formidable: you can search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, and then cast them for free until the end of the turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, reaching this threshold can be swift if he's properly defended.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Aside from the much-anticipated Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my top pick for Magic releases this year. With just under a month until launch, much of the set remains shrouded in mystery, but my Scion deck is already primed for a significant upgrade. I'm particularly hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exhilarating new five-color dragon. No matter what, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is set to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it launches on April 11.
