Magic: The Gathering - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview

Get ready, Magic: The Gathering fans, because the dragons of Tarkir are soaring back into the spotlight with the eagerly awaited set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Set to launch on April 11 and now open for pre-order, this set promises to bring new excitement to the plane of Tarkir with a dazzling array of new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics that will redefine deck-building strategies. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm already plotting how to integrate these new elements to dominate the game table and leave my friends in awe—or perhaps, a bit frustrated.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to Tarkir, this plane is a battleground where five clans—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)—are constantly at odds with the ancient dragons. Each clan is led by a Khan and distinguished by a unique playstyle. Wizards has started to unveil the new mechanics that will empower these clans, but the real buzz is around the formidable dragons that are set to shake up the game.

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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 you for casting a second spell in a turn, no matter who's turn it is. Sultai's Renew mechanic allows you to exile a specific card from your graveyard to grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets you replay cards from your graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure mechanic triggers when 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. The set introduces Omen and Behold, two new mechanics that enhance their dominance. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card either as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If you choose to cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for another chance to draw it later. However, once played as a creature, that option disappears. Behold triggers 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 exciting versatility to deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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But let's not forget the dragons—the real showstoppers of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. One standout dragon 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 easily triggers the extra card draw, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a formidable threat.

Ugin also makes a return, this time as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is poised 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: you can search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, and then cast them for free until the end of the turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, Ugin can reach that powerful ultimate 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 of the year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already primed for a major 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. Whatever the case, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to Magic: The Gathering when it hits the shelves on April 11.