Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is building as the new Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set brings us back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, where the eternal conflict between the five clans and the ancient dragons continues to evolve. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new additions that will undoubtedly enhance my gameplay and, perhaps, stir up some friendly rivalry among my peers.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is a world of constant struggle, 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, fight for dominance against the backdrop of ancient dragons. Wizards of the Coast has started to unveil the new mechanics that will define these clans, alongside tantalizing glimpses of the powerful dragons that are set to shake up the game.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted unique mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic 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 grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, enhancing their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards 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 exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grant additional counters.

With Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are not left behind; they receive new mechanics like Omen and Behold. Omen, similar to 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 another chance to draw it later. If played as a creature, that option is lost. Behold 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 tied to specific clans, add versatility to deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are the stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and one of the most notable is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG). This powerhouse triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control, ranging 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 triggers at least the card draw effect, and with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a formidable threat.

Ugin also makes a return as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is set to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds, thanks to his passive ability that exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is game-changing: search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, then cast them for free until the end of the 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 release this year. With just under a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already poised for a significant 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. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.