Excitement is building as we gear up for the release of the latest Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to launch on April 11 and available for pre-order now. This set transports players back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where ancient dragons and the five clans clash in an epic struggle. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new cards and mechanics that will undoubtedly enhance my gameplay and, perhaps, stir up some friendly rivalry among my fellow players.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
For those new to Tarkir, it's a world divided among five clans, each with its own distinct colors and strategies. The Abzan Houses (White, Black, Green) focus on endurance and growth, the Jeskai Way (Blue, Red, White) on mastery and speed, the Mardu Horde (Red, White, Black) on aggressive tactics, the Sultai Brood (Black, Green, Blue) on manipulation and decay, and the Temur Frontier (Green, Blue, Red) on raw power and harmony with nature. Wizards of the Coast has started revealing the new mechanics these clans will use, alongside some awe-inspiring dragons that are sure to shake up the meta.
Each clan boasts unique mechanics tailored to their color identity. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards casting a second spell in a turn, enhancing their spell-slinging prowess. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a card from their graveyard to grant counters to their creatures, supporting their theme of decay and rebirth. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at turn's end, perfect for their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur's Harmonize lets you replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost, echoing the power of Flashback. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers when non-token creatures die, providing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as seen with the formidable Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can either spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grant additional counters.
The dragons of Tarkir are not to be outdone, with new mechanics like Omen and Behold expanding their influence. Omen allows you to cast a card as either a creature or an instant/sorcery, with the card shuffling back into your deck if used as a spell. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or have one on the battlefield, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played. These mechanics are not clan-specific, offering flexibility and excitement across various deck builds.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
Among the dragons, Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), stands out with its ability to trigger different effects based on the total toughness of creatures you control at the end of your turn. From card draw to untapping all your creatures or forcing opponents to lose half their life, Betor's versatility is a game-changer, especially when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon.
Ugin also makes a return as a colorless planeswalker, Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), likely to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly Eldrazi builds. His ability to exile permanents when casting colorless spells, combined with a -11 ability allowing you to search your library for colorless non-land cards and cast them for free, makes him a formidable force on the battlefield.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
As the most anticipated Magic release of the year, aside from the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to deliver thrilling gameplay and strategic depth. With less than a month until its release, I'm eagerly awaiting the chance to upgrade my Scion deck. The potential return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or the introduction of a new five-color dragon, adds to the excitement. Tarkir: Dragonstorm is poised to be an unforgettable experience when it hits the shelves on April 11.
