The excitement is palpable as we gear up for the release of the new Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, hitting stores on April 11 and currently open for pre-order. As a fan whose prized possession is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new additions this set will bring to my collection. The plane of Tarkir, known for its fierce clans and majestic dragons, is set to introduce a host of powerful new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics that promise to revolutionize deck-building strategies.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Tarkir is a land of constant conflict, 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)—each led by a Khan, battle ancient dragons. Wizards of the Coast has begun unveiling the set's contents, focusing on the new mechanics each clan will employ and teasing some of the formidable dragons that are poised to shake up the meta.
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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker
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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar
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To enhance the uniqueness of each clan, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics that will only appear within their respective three-color identities. For instance, 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, supporting their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, akin to Flashback, permits cards to be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure activates whenever a non-token creature dies, 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.
As the name suggests, Tarkir: Dragonstorm puts a spotlight on dragons, introducing new mechanics like Omen and Behold to bolster their presence. Omen, similar to Adventure cards, allows a card to be cast either as a creature or as an instant/sorcery, with the caveat that if cast as a spell, it shuffles back into the deck for another chance to be drawn. Behold activates when a dragon is revealed from your hand or controlled on the battlefield, with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, generating a Treasure token upon play and triggering Behold. These mechanics, not limited to specific clans, add versatility and excitement to deck-building across multiple colors.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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The dragons are undoubtedly the stars of this set. Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), for example, triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of your creatures, ranging 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 ensures at least the card draw effect, and with heavy hitters like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss becomes a real threat.
Ugin returns as a colorless planeswalker in Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), set to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds, due to his ability to exile target permanents when casting a colorless spell. 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 end of turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, Ugin can quickly reach this powerful threshold if well-protected.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Aside from the much-anticipated Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my top pick for Magic releases this year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already primed for an upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exciting 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.
