Magic: The Gathering - Tarkir: Dragonstorm 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 brings players back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, introducing a host of powerful new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics that promise to revolutionize deck-building. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm already envisioning the havoc I'll wreak on my friends with the new additions.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to the world of Tarkir, it's a realm where five clans are perpetually at odds with ancient dragons. Each clan—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)—is led by a Khan and boasts a unique playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the new mechanics these clans will employ, but the real buzz is around the formidable dragons that are set to dominate the battlefield.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted exclusive 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 tactics. 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 whenever a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Of course, with Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are the stars of the show. Two new mechanics, Omen and Behold, are set to expand their arsenal. 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, offering another chance to draw it later. If you play it as a creature, that option is gone. Behold triggers when you reveal a dragon from your hand or already control one on the battlefield. An example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. Since these mechanics aren't tied to a specific clan, they can appear across multiple colors, making them particularly versatile in deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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But let's not forget the dragons themselves. One standout is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a powerhouse 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 makes it easy to hit 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 also makes a return, this time as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is poised to be a staple in colorless decks, especially Eldrazi builds, thanks to his passive ability that exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is downright absurd: 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 release this year. With just under a month until launch, most of the set remains under wraps, but my Scion deck is already due for a serious upgrade. I'm holding out hope for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps an exciting new five-color dragon. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it lands on April 11.