Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

Get ready for an exhilarating return to the plane of Tarkir with the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to release on April 11 and now available for pre-order. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I can't wait to see how the new additions will spice up my gameplay and leave my friends scrambling to keep up.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

If you're new to the world of Tarkir, you'll find 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 in perpetual conflict with ancient dragons. Each clan is led by a Khan and boasts a unique playstyle that Wizards of the Coast has meticulously crafted for this set. The unveiling of new mechanics for these clans has begun, but it's the mighty dragons that are stealing the spotlight.

### 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 stands out, Wizards has introduced exclusive mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry rewards playing a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai's Renew lets you exile a specific card from your 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, allows cards to be replayed from the graveyard for a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers whenever a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Tarkir: Dragonstorm isn't just about the clans; it's a celebration of dragons with new mechanics like Omen and Behold. Omen, similar to Adventure cards, allows you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If you opt for the spell, it shuffles back into your deck, giving you another chance to draw it later. Choose the creature route, and that option is gone. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield. A prime example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics are not tied to a specific clan, making them versatile across multiple colors and exciting for deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

8 Images

Of course, the dragons are the stars of the show. One standout so far is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a powerhouse that triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These effects 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 the extra card draw, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.

Ugin makes a grand return as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). This card is set to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds, thanks to its passive ability that exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. The -11 ability is nothing short of game-breaking: search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, and then cast them for free until end of turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, Ugin can reach that threshold quickly if properly defended.

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

6 Images

Excluding the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most anticipated Magic release this year. With less than a month until launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already in line for a major upgrade. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps an exciting new five-color dragon. No matter what, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it hits the shelves on April 11.