Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to release on April 11 and is currently available for pre-order. This exciting set brings players back to the plane of Tarkir, introducing a variety of powerful new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics that promise to invigorate deck-building strategies. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see what new additions will enhance my gameplay and potentially ruffle some feathers among my gaming circle.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to the world of Tarkir, this plane is characterized by its five clans, each embroiled in a perpetual struggle against ancient dragons. These 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 each led by a Khan and defined by unique playstyles. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the new mechanics these clans will employ, alongside teasers of the formidable dragons set to impact the game significantly.

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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 creates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, aligning with their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets cards be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers upon a non-token creature's death, distributing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who generates a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

With Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are not left out of the fun, gaining new mechanics named Omen and Behold. 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, giving you another chance to draw it later. However, if played as a creature, that option disappears. Behold, on the other hand, activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or 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, can enhance deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are undoubtedly the stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. A standout card 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 makes hitting at least the card draw trigger straightforward, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.

Ugin also makes a return 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 incredibly potent: 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, 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 stands out as my most anticipated Magic release this year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set remains shrouded in mystery, but my Scion deck is ready for a significant upgrade. I'm keeping my fingers crossed 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 launches on April 11.