Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is palpable as the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, promises to reignite the fierce battles between the Khans and dragons on the plane of Tarkir. Slated for release on April 11 and now available for pre-order, this set introduces a host of powerful new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics designed to revolutionize deck-building strategies. As an avid player with a cherished Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm already envisioning the havoc I can wreak on my friends with the new additions to my arsenal.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to Tarkir, it's a world 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, led by a Khan, boasts a unique playstyle, and Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the new mechanics these clans will utilize. Even more tantalizing are the glimpses of the powerful dragons set to dominate the battlefield.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted unique mechanics exclusive to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards players for casting a second spell during any turn, while Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a card from their graveyard to grant various counters to creatures. Mardu's Mobilize conjures temporary creatures to bolster their aggressive swarm tactics, and Temur's Harmonize, akin to 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, providing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

But let's not forget the star attraction of Tarkir: Dragonstorm—the dragons themselves. They're receiving two new mechanics: Omen and Behold. Omen functions similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast a card as either a creature or an instant/sorcery. If cast as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for another draw; if played as a creature, that option is lost. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield, as demonstrated by Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics are not clan-specific, enhancing their versatility across various deck builds.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are undoubtedly the highlight of this set, with Betor, Kin to All (2WBG) emerging as a formidable force. Betor triggers different effects at the end of your turn, based on the total toughness of creatures you control, from drawing a card to untapping your creatures or even forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers the card draw effect, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.

Ugin, the colorless planeswalker, also makes a triumphant return with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). A potential staple in colorless decks, especially Eldrazi builds, Ugin's passive ability exiles target permanents when you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is particularly potent: you can 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, reaching this powerful threshold becomes achievable with proper defense.

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 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. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to Magic: The Gathering when it launches on April 11.