The upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to release on April 11 and is now available for pre-order. This set transports players back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where five clans battle ancient dragons. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eagerly anticipating the new cards that will undoubtedly enhance my collection and leave my friends envious of the new additions.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Tarkir is divided into five clans, each with unique playstyles and led by a Khan: 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). Wizards of the Coast has started revealing the new mechanics that will define these clans, along with some of the formidable dragons set to dominate the battlefield.
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### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor
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### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker
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### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen
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### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar
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Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics for each clan to ensure they feel distinct. 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 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, supporting their aggressive strategy. Temur's Harmonize, similar to Flashback, lets cards be replayed from the graveyard for a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan's Endure triggers whenever a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as demonstrated by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.
In Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are receiving exciting new mechanics: Omen and Behold. Omen allows a card to be cast as a creature or as an instant or sorcery, similar to Adventure cards. If cast as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck for another chance to draw it later; if played as a creature, that option is lost. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield. For instance, Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. These mechanics are not limited to specific clans, adding versatility to deck-building across multiple colors.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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The dragons are the highlight of this set. A standout card is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), which triggers various effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control, ranging from drawing a card to untapping all your creatures or even making opponents lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily triggers at least the card draw, and with powerhouses like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss becomes a formidable threat.
Ugin also makes a return as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is set to be a staple in colorless decks, especially those with Eldrazi, thanks to his passive ability that exiles target permanents when you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is game-changing: search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, then cast them for free until end of turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, he can reach that threshold quickly if well-protected.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Excluding the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is one of my most anticipated Magic releases this year. With just under a month until its launch, much of the set is still under wraps, but my Scion deck is already poised for a significant upgrade. I'm hoping for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps an exciting new five-color dragon. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be an exhilarating addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it launches on April 11.
