Magic: The Gathering - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview

The anticipation is palpable as the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to hit shelves on April 11. Already available for pre-order, this set promises to reignite the thrill on the plane of Tarkir with a spectacular array of new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics designed to revolutionize deck-building. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how these additions will enhance my gameplay, much to the chagrin of my gaming circle.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir, a world where five clans are perpetually at war with ancient dragons, sets the stage for Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Each clan—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)—is led by a Khan and distinguished by a unique playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the new mechanics these clans will employ, alongside tantalizing glimpses of the dragons poised to dominate the battlefield.

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

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To ensure each clan's distinctiveness, Wizards has introduced exclusive mechanics that are unique 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, reinforcing 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 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.

With Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are at the forefront, introducing two new mechanics: Omen and Behold. Omen operates like 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, offering another chance to draw it later. However, if you play it as a creature, that option is lost. Behold 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. These mechanics, not bound to a specific clan, add versatility to deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are the true stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. A notable mention is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), which triggers various 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 hits the card draw trigger, and with the right heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a formidable threat.

Ugin makes a return as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), likely to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly those featuring Eldrazi. His passive ability exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell, and his -11 ability allows you to search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, and cast them for free until the end of the turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, Ugin can quickly reach that game-changing threshold if properly defended.

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

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Apart from the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most eagerly awaited Magic release this year. With less than a month until launch, much of the set remains under wraps, but my Scion deck is ready for a significant upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of a thrilling 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.