Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is palpable as we gear up for the release of *Magic: The Gathering's* Tarkir: Dragonstorm set on April 11, which is now available for pre-order. This set transports us back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where the iconic struggle between five clans and their formidable dragon adversaries takes a thrilling new turn. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I can hardly wait to see how the new cards will elevate my game, much to the chagrin of my fellow players.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir is a world of constant conflict, where five distinct 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)—each led by a Khan, vie for supremacy against the ancient dragons that roam their lands. Wizards of the Coast has begun to unveil the innovative mechanics each clan will bring to the table, along with tantalizing glimpses of the dragons that promise to shake up the meta.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted unique mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, enhancing their strategic depth. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a card from their graveyard to bestow various counters on surviving creatures, adding a layer of tactical resurrection. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, perfectly suiting their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures, offering a fresh take on resource management. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers upon the death of a non-token creature, granting +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.

But the real stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm are, of course, the dragons. They're getting new mechanics like Omen and Behold to bolster their already formidable presence. Omen, akin to Adventure cards, allows you to cast a card as either a creature or an instant/sorcery. If you choose the spell option, it shuffles back into your deck for another chance to draw it later; if you play it as a creature, that option is lost. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not bound to specific clans, promise to add exciting versatility to deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons are the main attraction, and one standout 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 hits the card draw trigger, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a game-changer.

Ugin also makes a return as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is set to become 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 nothing short of spectacular: search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, then cast them for free until the end of the turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, he can reach that ultimate ability quickly if properly defended.

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 just under a month until its launch, much of the set remains shrouded in mystery, but my Scion deck is already poised for a significant upgrade. I'm keeping my fingers crossed 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 an exhilarating addition to the Magic universe when it hits shelves on April 11.