Tarkir's Dragonstorm Unveiled in Magic: The Gathering Preview

Get ready for an exhilarating return to the plane of Tarkir with the upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to launch on April 11 and available for pre-order now. As a dedicated Magic enthusiast with a prized Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm buzzing with anticipation for the new creatures, familiar faces, and innovative mechanics this set promises to deliver. My friends are in for a surprise when I unleash the new additions to my deck!

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to the scene, Tarkir is a world where five clans constantly battle ancient dragons. Each clan—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)—is led by a Khan and boasts a unique playstyle. Wizards of the Coast has begun to unveil the exciting new mechanics these clans will employ, but the real excitement lies in the powerful dragons they've teased, which are sure to shake up the game.

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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster Box

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Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster

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

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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 - Mardu Surge

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

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics tied to their three-color identities. Jeskai's Flurry rewards playing a second spell in a turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai's Renew lets players exile a specific card from their graveyard to grant various counters to surviving creatures. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that vanish at the end of the turn, bolstering their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, allows cards to be replayed from the graveyard for a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers when a non-token creature dies, placing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as seen with Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who spawns a 2/2 flying Spirit token or grants additional counters.

Given that this is Tarkir: Dragonstorm, the dragons are also getting new abilities. Enter Omen and Behold, two fresh mechanics that expand their arsenal. Omen works similarly to Adventure cards, allowing you to cast the card as a creature or as an instant or sorcery. The catch? If you cast it as a spell, it shuffles back into your deck, giving you another chance to draw it later. If you play it as a creature, that option is gone. Behold triggers when you reveal a dragon from your hand or already control one on the battlefield. An example is Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon being played and triggers Behold. Since these mechanics aren't tied to a specific clan, they can appear across multiple colors, making them particularly interesting for deck-building.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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But let's not forget—the main event here is the dragons. One standout so far is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a powerhouse that triggers different effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These range from drawing a card to untapping all your creatures or even forcing opponents to lose half their life. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily hits at least the extra card draw trigger, and with heavyweights like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon in play, the life loss effect becomes a terrifying reality.

Ugin is back too, once again as a colorless planeswalker. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7) is poised to become a staple in colorless decks, especially Eldrazi builds, thanks to his passive ability that exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell. His -11 ability is downright absurd: 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 properly defended.

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

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Aside from the Final Fantasy crossover set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most anticipated Magic release this year. With just under a month until launch, most of the set remains under wraps, but my Scion deck is already due for a serious upgrade. I’m holding out hope for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps an exciting new five-color dragon. Either way, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a blast when it lands on April 11.