Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering

Get ready for an epic return to the plane of Tarkir with the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to launch on April 11 and now available for pre-order. As a dedicated fan with a cherished Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm buzzing with anticipation over what new cards will enhance my collection and possibly drive my friends up the wall with envy.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to the scene, Tarkir 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)—constantly vie for dominance against ancient dragons. Each clan is led by a Khan and boasts a unique playstyle. Wizards of the Coast is rolling out the new mechanics that will define these clans, but the real show-stealers are the powerful dragons poised to reshape the game.

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Wizards has crafted unique mechanics for each clan to ensure they stand out. Jeskai’s Flurry rewards players for casting a second spell in any turn, while Sultai’s Renew lets you exile a card from your graveyard to bolster your creatures with various counters. Mardu’s Mobilize conjures temporary creatures to fuel their aggressive strategy, and Temur’s Harmonize, echoing Flashback, allows you to replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost. Abzan’s Endure activates upon a non-token creature's death, granting +1/+1 counters and other perks, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who either spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or adds extra counters.

But let's not forget the stars of Tarkir: Dragonstorm—the dragons. They're getting new mechanics too, with Omen and Behold adding to their destructive power. Omen allows you to cast a card as either a creature or an instant/sorcery, with the spell version shuffling back into your deck for another chance. Behold triggers upon revealing or controlling a dragon, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token and activates Behold. These mechanics are not clan-specific, opening up a world of possibilities in deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

The dragons are the highlight of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, and one standout is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG). This formidable dragon triggers various effects at the end of your turn based on your creatures' total toughness, from card draw to untapping all your creatures or even forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor ensures at least one effect triggers, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, its potential to devastate opponents is immense.

Ugin, the colorless planeswalker, also makes a comeback with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7). A must-have for colorless decks, especially Eldrazi builds, Ugin's passive ability 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, Ugin can reach this threshold quickly if protected well.

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

Excitement is building for Tarkir: Dragonstorm, which, aside from the Final Fantasy crossover set, is my most anticipated Magic release this year. With just under a month until its release, much of the set is still a mystery, but my Scion deck is ready for an upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai or the introduction of a thrilling new five-color dragon. Whatever the case, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is set to be a thrilling addition to the Magic: The Gathering universe when it launches on April 11.