Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

Excitement is brewing in the Magic: The Gathering community as the upcoming set, *Tarkir: Dragonstorm*, is set to launch on April 11, with pre-orders now available. This set promises to whisk players back to the dynamic plane of Tarkir, where five clans clash with ancient dragons. As an avid fan whose cherished possession is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how the new additions will enhance my gameplay and, frankly, give my friends a run for their money.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

If you're new to the world of Tarkir, you'll find it's a realm dominated by five clans, each with its own unique colors and playstyle: 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). Each clan is led by a Khan and is embroiled in an ongoing battle with the ancient dragons of Tarkir. Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the exciting new mechanics these clans will use, along with tantalizing glimpses of the powerful dragons that are sure to make a splash in the game.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. Jeskai’s Flurry rewards you for casting a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai’s Renew allows you to exile a card from your graveyard to bestow various counters on your creatures. Mardu’s Mobilize generates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur’s Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets you replay cards from your graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Lastly, Abzan’s Endure activates whenever a non-token creature dies, distributing +1/+1 counters and other bonuses, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can create a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grant additional counters.

Of course, with *Tarkir: Dragonstorm*, the spotlight is firmly on the dragons, who are getting new mechanics to play with. Enter Omen and Behold, two innovative mechanics that will expand their arsenal. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card either as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. If you cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck, giving you another chance to draw it. If you choose to play it as a creature, that option is no longer available. Behold, meanwhile, activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or have one on the battlefield. For instance, Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, produces a Treasure token upon being played and can trigger Behold. Since these mechanics aren't limited to a specific clan, they can be integrated across multiple colors, making them exceptionally intriguing for deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

The dragons are undoubtedly the highlight of *Tarkir: Dragonstorm*. One particularly notable 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 making opponents lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily hits the card draw trigger, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect becomes a formidable threat.

Ugin also makes a return, this time as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is set to become a staple in colorless decks, particularly those focusing on Eldrazi, thanks to his ability to exile target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is nothing short of game-changing: you can 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 that powerful -11 threshold becomes a feasible goal with the right strategy.

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

Aside from the highly anticipated Final Fantasy crossover set, *Tarkir: Dragonstorm* is shaping up to be one of the most exciting Magic releases this year. With just under a month until the launch, much of the set remains shrouded in mystery, but my Scion deck is already primed for a significant upgrade. I'm particularly 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* is poised to deliver a thrilling experience when it hits shelves on April 11.