The upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to captivate fans with its release on April 11, and it's already available for pre-order. This set revisits the plane of Tarkir, introducing a range of powerful new creatures, familiar characters, and innovative mechanics that promise to invigorate deck-building strategies. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I can't wait to see how my friends react to the new additions I'll be making.
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 perpetually at odds with ancient dragons. Each clan is led by a Khan and boasts a distinct playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the new mechanics that these clans will employ, and they've also given us a sneak peek at some of the formidable dragons set to make waves in the game.
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To ensure each clan's uniqueness, Wizards has introduced exclusive mechanics tied to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a specific card from their graveyard to grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers whenever a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as demonstrated by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.
Given that this is Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are naturally at the forefront with new mechanics like Omen and Behold. Omen functions similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as either a creature or an instant/sorcery. If you opt for the spell, it shuffles back into your deck for a future draw; if you choose the 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 produces a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. Since these mechanics are not clan-specific, they can appear across multiple colors, enhancing deck-building versatility.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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Dragons, however, are the true stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. A notable dragon revealed so far is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a powerhouse that activates different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These effects can range 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 extra card draw, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a daunting threat.
Ugin makes a return as well, appearing as a colorless planeswalker named Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). He's poised to become a staple in colorless decks, especially those featuring Eldrazi, due to his ability to exile target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is particularly powerful, allowing 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 formidable threshold if properly defended.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Beyond the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most eagerly awaited Magic release this year. With just under a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is ready for a significant upgrade. I'm particularly hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of a new five-color dragon. No matter what, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be an exciting addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it launches on April 11.
