The iconic Khans and dragons return in Magic: The Gathering’s upcoming set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to release on April 11 and now available for pre-order. This set transports players back to the vibrant plane of Tarkir, introducing powerful new creatures, returning favorites, and innovative mechanics to revolutionize deck-building. Wizards has begun showcasing the set’s contents, and as a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I’m thrilled about the additions that will make my opponents wary.

What’s Coming in Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For newcomers, Tarkir is a battleground for five clans, each clashing with ancient dragons. The clans—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)—are guided by a Khan and boast distinct playstyles. Wizards has started revealing the clans’ new mechanics while highlighting formidable dragons that promise to dominate gameplay.

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To ensure each clan stands out, Wizards crafted unique mechanics exclusive to their three-color identities. Jeskai’s Flurry rewards casting a second spell in any turn. Sultai’s Renew allows exiling a card from the graveyard to add counters to creatures. Mardu’s Mobilize generates fleeting creatures that vanish at turn’s end, amplifying their aggressive swarm strategy. Temur’s Harmonize, akin to Flashback, lets players replay graveyard cards at a lower cost by tapping creatures. Abzan’s Endure activates when a non-token creature dies, distributing +1/+1 counters and other bonuses, as seen with Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who creates a 2/2 flying Spirit token or adds extra counters.

As the name suggests, Tarkir: Dragonstorm shines a spotlight on dragons with new mechanics like Omen and Behold. Omen mirrors Adventure cards, allowing a card to be cast as either a creature or an instant/sorcery. When cast as a spell, it shuffles back into the deck for later use, but casting it as a creature locks in that choice. Behold triggers when revealing a dragon from your hand or controlling one on the battlefield, as demonstrated by Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who creates a Treasure token upon casting and Behold activation. These mechanics, unbound by clan colors, offer versatile deck-building options.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

The dragons steal the show, with Betor, Kin to All (2WBG) leading the charge. This powerhouse triggers varied effects at turn’s end based on your creatures’ total toughness, from drawing cards to untapping creatures or halving opponents’ life totals. With a base toughness of 7, Betor easily activates at least the card draw, and paired with giants like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, its life-draining effect becomes devastating.

Ugin returns as a colorless planeswalker, Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), a must-have for Eldrazi decks. His passive ability exiles permanents when casting colorless spells, and his -11 ability lets you search for and cast any number of colorless non-land cards for free until turn’s end. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, he can hit that ultimate swiftly if protected.

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

Beyond the Final Fantasy crossover, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is my top Magic release this year. With less than a month until its April 11 debut, much of the set remains a mystery, but my Scion deck is primed for a major overhaul. I’m eagerly awaiting the return of legendary dragons like Atarka or Ojutai, or perhaps a thrilling new five-color dragon. Tarkir: Dragonstorm is set to deliver an electrifying experience on launch day.