The excitement is building for Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts as the new Tarkir: Dragonstorm set is set to launch on April 11, now available for pre-order. As a fan whose prized possession is a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how the new additions from this set will enhance my gameplay and likely make my friends rethink their strategies.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir, the setting for this thrilling set, is a plane where five clans, each defined by unique color combinations and led by a Khan, constantly vie for power amidst ancient dragons. These clans include 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). Wizards of the Coast has started unveiling the set's new mechanics and has given us tantalizing glimpses of the dragons that are sure to dominate the battlefield.

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Wizards has crafted exclusive mechanics for each clan, ensuring a distinct playstyle for each. Jeskai's Flurry mechanic rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, enhancing their tactical flexibility. Sultai's Renew allows players to exile cards from their graveyard to grant various counters to creatures, adding a strategic layer to graveyard management. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures that bolster their aggressive tactics, disappearing at the end of the turn. Temur's Harmonize, reminiscent of Flashback, lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost by tapping creatures. Finally, Abzan's Endure triggers when non-token creatures die, granting +1/+1 counters and other benefits, as exemplified by Anafenza, Undying Lineage, who can spawn a 2/2 flying Spirit token or provide additional counters.

True to its name, Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces new mechanics specifically for dragons. Omen allows a card to be cast as a creature or as an instant/sorcery, with the spell version shuffling back into the deck for a potential redraw. Behold triggers when a dragon is revealed from your hand or controlled on the battlefield, as seen with Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, who generates a Treasure token upon entering the battlefield and benefits from Behold. These mechanics, not tied to specific clans, add versatility and excitement to deck-building across multiple colors.

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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The dragons in Tarkir: Dragonstorm are poised to be the set's highlight. A standout is Betor, Kin to All (2WBG), a formidable dragon that triggers various effects at the end of your turn based on the total toughness of creatures you control. These effects can 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 triggers at least the card draw, and with powerful allies like Utvara Hellkite or Ancient Gold Dragon, the life loss effect can become a game-changer.

Ugin also returns as a colorless planeswalker, Ugin, Eye of the Storms (7), poised to be a staple in colorless decks, especially those featuring Eldrazi. His passive ability exiles target permanents whenever you cast a colorless spell, and his -11 ability allows you to search your library for any number of colorless non-land cards, exile them, and cast them for free until end of turn. With seven starting loyalty and a +2 ability, Ugin can reach this ultimate ability quickly if adequately protected.

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, much 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 an exhilarating addition to Magic: The Gathering when it hits shelves on April 11.