Get ready for a fiery return to Tarkir! The upcoming Magic: The Gathering set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, ignites on April 11th, and pre-orders are open now. This expansion brings back the iconic clans and powerful dragons of Tarkir, introducing exciting new mechanics and creatures to shake up your deck-building strategies. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I can already anticipate the envious glares from my friends!
What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm
For the uninitiated, Tarkir is a plane dominated by five warring clans battling 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)—boasts a unique playstyle led by a powerful Khan. Wizards of the Coast has begun revealing the new mechanics each clan wields, alongside a breathtaking roster of dragons poised to redefine the meta.
To enhance each clan's unique identity, Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces exclusive mechanics. Jeskai’s Flurry rewards playing a second spell each turn, regardless of whose turn it is. Sultai’s Renew allows exile of graveyard cards to grant counters to surviving creatures. Mardu’s Mobilize summons temporary creatures, reflecting their aggressive swarm tactics. Temur’s Harmonize, similar to Flashback, lets cards be replayed from the graveyard at a reduced cost. Finally, Abzan’s Endure triggers on non-token creature death, providing +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage.
But the real stars of the show are the dragons! Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces Omen and Behold, two new mechanics that significantly expand their power. Omen lets you cast a card as a creature or spell; casting it as a spell shuffles it back into your deck. Behold triggers when you reveal or control a dragon. Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, for instance, generates a Treasure token and triggers Behold. These mechanics, unbound to specific clans, add exciting possibilities to deck construction.
Among the revealed dragons, Betor, Kin to All (2WBG) stands out, triggering effects based on the total toughness of controlled creatures—from drawing cards to untapping creatures or inflicting massive life loss. Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), a colorless planeswalker, is set to become a colorless deck staple, exiling permanents when you cast colorless spells and boasting an incredibly powerful ultimate ability.
Beyond the Final Fantasy crossover, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my most anticipated Magic release of the year. With its April 11th launch date fast approaching, my Scion deck is already primed for a significant upgrade. I eagerly await the potential return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps a spectacular new five-color dragon. Regardless, Tarkir: Dragonstorm promises an epic experience.
