First Look at 5 New Cards From Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Magic: The Gathering's Next Set

While Magic: The Gathering's recent crossovers with franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been turning heads, the next set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to captivate fans by returning to the beloved plane of Tarkir. We're excited to offer an exclusive first look at five cards that are likely to dominate draft tables come next month. The expansion is now available for preorder on Amazon.

Explore the gallery below to see all five cards, and continue reading for insights from Wizards of the Coast on their design and the overarching theme of the set.

Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm

6 Images

These five cards form a "cycle," sharing common design elements across Magic's five colors. Each card is a cheap, common-rarity creature featuring an ability linked to one of Tarkir's three-color clans, along with another ability that allows you to convert mana into a color from that clan.

Wizards of the Coast Senior Game Designer Adam Prosak explains, "Three-color limited environments require substantial mana fixing at all rarities. We aimed to enable many decks to access this, so we developed numerous designs to address mana issues. These creatures are unique in that they let you develop your board presence while simultaneously fixing your mana—a significant advantage over designs like tapped lands, which only provide mana at the cost of falling behind."

Preorder MTG Tarkir: Dragonstorm Cards

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box

0$164.70 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster Box

0$299.88 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster

0$24.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks

0$224.95 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor

0$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker

0$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen

0$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge

0$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar

0$44.99 at Amazon

Senior Worldbuilding Designer Lauren Bond highlights that while the mechanical design of this cycle was prioritized, common cards often serve as a canvas to depict the set's world. "These cards showcase the unique aspects of each clan since their last appearance. From the action-oriented Jeskai monks to the Temur's use of Whispers, the protective and avenging Naga of the Sultai, the diverse military roles within the Mardu, and the Abzan clerics' efforts to regrow lost kin trees."

Some recent Magic sets have faced criticism for relying too heavily on thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting established planes. However, Tarkir: Dragonstorm stands out with its straightforward approach to revisiting Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges the importance of such feedback to Wizards of the Coast, noting, "The top-level pitch for Tarkir was set well before Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged. We aimed to blend Dragons and Clans in a novel way for Tarkir, with Dragonstorms playing a pivotal role in shaping our return. Lauren and I felt the pressure to get it right from the start, striving to authentically expand this cherished plane's narrative."

Tarkir: Dragonstorm is now available for preorder, with the set slated for release in both physical and digital formats on April 11. In-store prerelease events will begin on April 4. Dive deeper into the set with our full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.