Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

The excitement is building as the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to launch on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set brings us back to the dynamic world of Tarkir, where ancient dragons clash with the five clans led by their respective Khans. As a dedicated fan with a cherished Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how the new cards will enhance my gameplay and perhaps give my friends a run for their money.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For newcomers to the Tarkir saga, the plane is a battleground 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 constantly at war with ancient dragons. Each clan boasts a unique playstyle, and Wizards of the Coast has started to reveal the new mechanics that will define their strategies. More thrillingly, they've given us a glimpse of the mighty dragons set to dominate the battlefield.

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

$164.70 at Amazon

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

$299.88 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster

$24.99 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks

$224.95 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor

$44.99 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker

$44.99 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen

$44.99 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge

$44.99 at Amazon

### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar

$44.99 at Amazon

To make each clan stand out, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics that are unique to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards players for casting a second spell during any turn. 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 disappear at the end of the turn, aligning with their aggressive playstyle. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets cards be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers whenever a non-token creature dies, providing +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.

With Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are not to be outdone. They receive new mechanics like Omen and Behold, expanding their already formidable arsenal. Omen allows cards to be cast as either a creature or an instant/sorcery, with the latter shuffling back into the deck for a later draw. Behold triggers 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. These mechanics are not restricted to specific clans, adding versatility to deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

8 Images

The dragons themselves are the stars of the show. One particularly impressive dragon is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), which 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 causing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers at least the card draw effect, and with heavy hitters like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect can be devastating.

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 when you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is game-changing, allowing you to 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, Ugin can reach his ultimate quickly if protected.

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

6 Images

Aside from the much-anticipated Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my top Magic release this year. With just under a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is already in line for a significant upgrade. I'm hoping to see the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of a new five-color dragon. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.