The much-anticipated Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set brings players back to the dynamic world of Tarkir, where five clans and ancient dragons clash in epic battles. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm excited to see how the new cards from Dragonstorm will enhance my gameplay and, no doubt, give my friends a run for their money.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Tarkir is a plane of constant struggle between five clans, each led by a Khan and defined by a distinct color combination and playstyle. The clans are the 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). Wizards of the Coast has started revealing the new mechanics that will empower these clans, but the real stars of the show are the powerful dragons that promise to shake up the game.
To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has introduced 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 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 when a non-token creature dies, placing +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.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm also introduces new mechanics for dragons: Omen and Behold. 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 for another chance to draw it later. If you play it as a creature, that option is lost. 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. These mechanics are not tied to specific clans, making them versatile across multiple colors and exciting for deck-building.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
The dragons are the highlight of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. One standout 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 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 game-changer.
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 incredibly powerful: 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, Ugin can reach that threshold quickly if properly defended.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Aside from the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most anticipated Magic release this year. With just under a month until 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 Magic: The Gathering when it launches on April 11.
