Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The much-anticipated Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This exciting set takes players back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, where five clans, each with their own unique strategies, battle against formidable ancient dragons. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how the new cards will enhance my collection and perhaps stir up some friendly rivalry among my peers.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is a realm 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)—are embroiled in a relentless struggle against powerful dragons. Each clan, led by a Khan, brings its distinct playstyle to the game. Wizards of the Coast has begun unveiling the new mechanics these clans will employ, alongside tantalizing glimpses of the dragons that are poised to reshape the battlefield.

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To ensure each clan feels unique, 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 specific card from their graveyard to grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, enhancing their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, akin to Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers when a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits on the board, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who creates a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

However, the dragons are the stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and they're getting new mechanics to amplify their impact. Omen and Behold are the fresh mechanics designed 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 cast as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for another draw chance later. If played as a creature, that option is lost. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or already have one on the battlefield. For instance, Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not limited to a specific clan, can appear across multiple colors, making them particularly intriguing for deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are the main attraction in Tarkir: Dragonstorm. A standout so far 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 extra card draw, and with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a terrifying prospect.

Ugin also returns, 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 game-changing: you can 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 ready for a significant upgrade. I'm hoping for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exciting new five-color dragon. No matter what, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.