Excitement is brewing in the Magic: The Gathering community as the upcoming set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to release on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set brings players back to the intriguing plane of Tarkir, featuring a dynamic mix of new creatures, iconic characters, and innovative mechanics that are poised to revolutionize deck-building strategies. As an avid fan with a cherished Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating how the new additions will enhance my gameplay and leave my friends in awe of my deck's prowess.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Tarkir is a realm where five clans, each with its distinct colors and playstyles, are embroiled in a relentless conflict against formidable ancient dragons. These 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 led by their respective Khans. Wizards of the Coast has started to unveil the exciting new mechanics these clans will employ, along with teasers of the powerful dragons that will undoubtedly shake up the meta.
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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar
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To ensure that each clan feels unique, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile a specific card from their graveyard to bestow various counters on surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, enables cards to be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure activates whenever a non-token creature perishes, granting +1/+1 counters and other benefits, exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.
Of course, with Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the dragons are not to be outdone, boasting new mechanics called Omen and Behold. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. The catch? If you cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for another chance to be drawn later. If you play it as a creature, that option is no longer available. Behold, conversely, triggers when you reveal a dragon from your hand or already control one on the battlefield. A prime example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who produces a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not confined to specific clans, can appear across multiple colors, adding an exciting layer to deck-building.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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The dragons, however, are the true stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm. A notable highlight is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a formidable force that triggers various effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These effects can 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 at least the card draw effect, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a daunting prospect.
Ugin makes a comeback as well, returning as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is set to be a cornerstone in colorless decks, particularly those focused on Eldrazi, 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, reaching this powerful threshold is achievable if he's properly defended.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Aside from the eagerly awaited Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be my most anticipated Magic release of the year. With less than a month until its launch, much of the set is still shrouded in mystery, but my Scion deck is already primed for a significant upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of an exhilarating new five-color dragon. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be an explosive addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it arrives on April 11.
