Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is building for the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to release on April 11 and now available for pre-order. This set transports players back to the plane of Tarkir, where they can expect to encounter powerful new creatures, familiar characters, and innovative mechanics that will invigorate deck-building strategies. As an avid fan whose prized possession is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm already planning how to integrate these new elements to the delight—and perhaps dismay—of my friends.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is renowned for its five clans, each embroiled in a perpetual battle against ancient dragons. These 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)—are led by a Khan and distinguished by their unique playstyles. Wizards of the Coast has begun to unveil the set's new mechanics and tantalizing glimpses of the dragons that are poised 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 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 generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, enables cards to be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure activates whenever a non-token creature dies, distributing +1/+1 counters and other advantages, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Given that this is Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are naturally at the forefront with new mechanics to enhance their power. Omen and Behold are the fresh additions to their arsenal. Omen operates similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. The catch? 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 lost. Behold, on the other hand, 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 triggers Behold. Since these mechanics aren't tied to a specific clan, they can appear across multiple colors, adding an exciting layer to deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are undoubtedly the stars of the show. One standout is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a formidable force 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 extra card draw, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a daunting prospect.

Ugin also makes a return, this time 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 nothing short of 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 eagerly awaited 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 in line 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. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.