Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is palpable as the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11, with pre-orders already open. This set promises to transport players back to the enthralling plane of Tarkir, introducing a slew of powerful new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics that are sure to invigorate deck-building strategies. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the enhancements I'll be able to make, much to the chagrin of my fellow players.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is known for its five clans, each embroiled in perpetual conflict with 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 led by their respective Khans and each boasts a distinct playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has started to unveil the new mechanics these clans will employ, but the spotlight is undeniably on the formidable dragons set to shake up the game.

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box

0$164.70 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster Box

0$299.88 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster

0$24.99 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks

0$224.95 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor

0$44.99 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker

0$44.99 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen

0$44.99 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge

0$44.99 at Amazon### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar

0$44.99 at Amazon

To ensure each clan feels unique, Wizards has crafted 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 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, enhancing their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from their graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers whenever a non-token creature dies, bestowing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Of course, with Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the dragons are not to be overlooked. New mechanics such as Omen and Behold are introduced to expand their capabilities. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card either as a creature or as an instant/sorcery. If cast as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck, providing another draw opportunity. However, if played as a creature, that option is lost. Behold triggers upon revealing a dragon from your hand or when you already control one on the battlefield. A prime example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon play and triggers Behold. Since these mechanics are not clan-specific, they can appear in multiple colors, adding intriguing versatility to deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

8 Images

But the dragons are the stars of the show. A notable highlight is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a formidable card 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 forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers at least the card draw, and when combined with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.

Ugin makes a return as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). This card is set to be 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 exceptionally powerful: 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, Ugin can reach that threshold swiftly if adequately protected.

Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm

6 Images

Beyond the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most eagerly awaited Magic release this year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is poised for a significant 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. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.