Magic: The Gathering - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview

The excitement is building as the new Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set brings us back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, where the eternal conflict between the five clans and the ancient dragons continues to evolve. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new additions that will undoubtedly shake up my gameplay and leave my friends scrambling to keep up.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to the world of Tarkir, it's 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 constantly at odds with the mighty dragons. Each clan, led by a Khan, brings its own unique strategy to the table. Wizards of the Coast has started to unveil the innovative mechanics these clans will employ, along with tantalizing glimpses of the formidable dragons that are set 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 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 bestow various counters on surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, enhancing their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers when a non-token creature dies, granting +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.

Of course, with Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the dragons are the stars of the show, and they're getting new mechanics to boot. Omen and Behold are the fresh additions to their arsenal. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If you choose to cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck, giving you another chance to draw it later. However, 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 have one on the battlefield. A prime example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who creates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not tied to specific clans, can appear across multiple colors, adding exciting possibilities to deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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But let's not forget the main attraction—the dragons. One standout so far 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 at least the card draw effect, and with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a terrifying 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 anticipated Magic release this year. With just under a month until launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already poised for a significant upgrade. I'm holding out hope for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exciting new five-color dragon. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it hits shelves on April 11.