The excitement is palpable as the new Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, gears up for its April 11 release, with pre-orders now open. This set transports players back to the dynamic world of Tarkir, where ancient dragons clash with five warring clans. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm already planning the upgrades that will have my friends green with envy.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
For newcomers, Tarkir is a plane 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 formidable dragons. Each clan boasts a unique Khan and a distinctive playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the innovative mechanics these clans will employ, along with tantalizing glimpses of the dragons set to shake up the game.
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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 ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. 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 bestow various counters on their creatures. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, amplifying their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur's Harmonize, akin to Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Abzan's Endure activates when a non-token creature dies, distributing +1/+1 counters and other advantages, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.
Given the set's name, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are at the forefront, boasting new mechanics such as Omen and Behold. Omen, similar to Adventure cards, allows a card to be cast as a creature or as an instant or sorcery, with the spell option shuffling the card back into your deck for a future draw. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield, with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, as an example, who generates a Treasure token and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not restricted to specific clans, add versatile deck-building options.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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Dragons are the main attraction, and one highlight is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), which triggers effects based on the total toughness of your creatures at the end of your turn. These effects range from drawing cards to untapping all your creatures or forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers the card draw, and with powerhouses like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.
Ugin also returns as a colorless planeswalker, Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), likely 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 lets you 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 that threshold is achievable if properly 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 eagerly awaited Magic release this year. With less than a month to go until launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is poised for a major upgrade. I'm hoping for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the debut of an exciting new five-color dragon. No matter what, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is set to be an exhilarating addition to Magic: The Gathering when it hits shelves on April 11.
