Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is palpable as we gear up for the release of Magic: The Gathering's latest set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, hitting the shelves on April 11 and now available for pre-order. This set transports us back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, where the epic struggle between the five clans and ancient dragons continues to unfold. As a dedicated fan whose prized possession is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new additions that will undoubtedly spice up my gameplay and leave my friends scrambling to adapt.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is a world defined by its 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). Each clan, led by a Khan, brings its unique strategy to the table, and with Tarkir: Dragonstorm, Wizards of the Coast is set to introduce fresh mechanics tailored to enhance each clan's identity. Moreover, the set promises to showcase awe-inspiring dragons that are bound to leave a lasting impact on the game.

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

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

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

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

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

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To ensure each clan's uniqueness, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics that resonate with their three-color identities. For instance, Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, enhancing their spell-centric strategies. Sultai's Renew mechanic allows players to exile cards from their graveyard to gain various counters, adding a strategic depth to their gameplay. Mardu's Mobilize mechanic creates temporary creatures that bolster their aggressive tactics, while Temur's Harmonize mechanic lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost, echoing the power of Flashback. Finally, Abzan's Endure mechanic triggers when non-token creatures die, offering +1/+1 counters and other benefits, exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grant additional counters.

But let's not forget the main attraction: the dragons. Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces two new mechanics, Omen and Behold, to bolster the dragon's arsenal. Omen allows a card to be cast as either a creature or an instant/sorcery, with the unique twist that if cast as a spell, it shuffles back into the deck for another chance at being drawn. Behold triggers when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and when Behold is triggered. These mechanics, not tied to any specific clan, open up exciting possibilities for deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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Among the dragons revealed so far, Betor, Kin to All (2WBG) stands out as a formidable force. This dragon triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control, ranging from drawing a card to untapping all your creatures or even causing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers the card draw effect, and with heavy hitters like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a real threat.

Ugin, the iconic colorless planeswalker, returns as Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), poised to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds. 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 this powerful threshold if adequately protected.

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 its launch, most of the set remains under wraps, but my Scion deck is already due for a serious upgrade. I'm holding out hope for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps an exciting new five-color dragon. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it lands on April 11.