Unveiling 5 New Tarkir Cards: Dragonstorm in Magic: The Gathering

While Magic: The Gathering's high-profile crossovers with franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been turning heads recently, the next set in the pipeline, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to bring players back to the beloved plane of Tarkir. We're excited to give you an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are poised to make a significant impact at the draft table next month. You can now preorder the expansion on Amazon.

Explore the gallery below to see all five cards, and continue reading for insights from Wizards of the Coast on their design and the set's overarching theme.

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

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These five cards form a "cycle," each connected by common design elements across Magic's color spectrum. They are all inexpensive, common-rarity creatures featuring abilities linked to one of Tarkir’s three-color clans, as well as an ability that converts mana into a color from their respective clan.

"Three-color limited environments require robust mana fixing across all rarities," explains Adam Prosak, Senior Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast. "We aimed to ensure various decks could access mana fixing, so we developed multiple designs focused on resolving mana issues. These creatures allow you to advance your board presence while simultaneously developing your mana, unlike other designs, such as tapped lands, which only provide mana and can put you at a disadvantage."

Preorder MTG Tarkir: Dragonstorm Cards

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box

$164.70 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster Box

$299.88 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster

$24.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks

$224.95 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor

$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker

$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen

$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge

$44.99 at Amazon

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar

$44.99 at Amazon

Lauren Bond, Senior Worldbuilding Designer, notes that while the mechanical design took precedence in this cycle, common cards are vital for showcasing a set's world. "These cards highlight the distinctiveness of the clans since their last appearance. From the action-oriented Jeskai monks to the Temur magic-users known as Whispers, the protective Naga of the Sultai, the diverse military roles in Mardu, and the Abzan clerics rejuvenating lost kin trees, each clan's unique identity is brought to the forefront."

Some recent Magic sets have faced criticism for leaning too heavily on tropes or thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting established planes. Tarkir: Dragonstorm stands out with its straightforward approach to revisiting Tarkir. Forrest Schehl, Senior Worldbuilding Art Director, acknowledges the importance of such feedback to Wizards of the Coast but emphasizes that the core concept for Tarkir was established well before the release of sets like Murders at Karlov Manor. "Our goal was to blend Dragons and Clans in a fresh way on Tarkir, with Dragonstorms playing a pivotal role in our design. Lauren and I felt the pressure to do justice to this beloved plane from the outset, ensuring we crafted an authentic and meaningful next chapter."

Tarkir: Dragonstorm is now available for preorder, with the set set to launch in both physical and digital formats on April 11. In-store prerelease events will begin on April 4. For more in-depth insights, continue reading the full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.