Excitement is brewing in the world of Magic: The Gathering as Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the latest set, gears up for its April 11 release, with pre-orders now open. This set transports players back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where five clans clash with ancient dragons. As an avid player with a cherished Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see what new cards I can add to my arsenal, much to the dismay of my friends.
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
For those new to Tarkir, it's a realm where the 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) vie for supremacy. Each clan, led by a Khan, brings a unique playstyle to the table. Wizards of the Coast has started to reveal the innovative mechanics these clans will employ, along with the mighty dragons poised to shake up the game.
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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics tailored to their three-color identities. The Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards casting a second spell in any turn, while the Sultai's Renew allows players to exile cards from their graveyard for various creature enhancements. The Mardu's Mobilize creates fleeting creatures to bolster their aggressive strategies. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost. And finally, the Abzan's Endure activates when a non-token creature dies, bestowing +1/+1 counters and other advantages, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.
Of course, in Tarkir: Dragonstorm, dragons are the stars of the show. They're equipped with new mechanics such as Omen and Behold. Omen functions like Adventure cards, allowing you to cast a card either as a creature or an instant/sorcery, with the former option becoming unavailable once used. Behold activates when you reveal a dragon from your hand or control one on the battlefield, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon play and triggers Behold. These mechanics, not limited to specific clans, add exciting layers to deck-building.
MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art
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The dragons are undoubtedly the highlight, with Betor, Kin to All (2WBG) standing out. This powerful dragon triggers effects based on your creatures' total toughness, ranging from card draw to untapping creatures or even forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily activates its card draw, and when paired with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss becomes a formidable threat.
Ugin returns as a colorless planeswalker with Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), a potential staple in colorless and Eldrazi decks. His ability to exile permanents when casting colorless spells, coupled with a -11 ultimate that lets you search and cast any number of colorless non-land cards from your library, makes him a game-changer. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, he can quickly reach his devastating ultimate if well-protected.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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Beyond the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most eagerly awaited Magic release this year. With just under a month until its launch, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is ready for a significant upgrade. I'm hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps the introduction of a thrilling new five-color dragon. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises to be an exhilarating addition to Magic: The Gathering when it hits shelves on April 11.
