While Magic: The Gathering's recent crossovers with iconic franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been grabbing headlines, the next set in the lineup, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to make a significant impact. Returning to Magic’s beloved plane of Tarkir, this set promises to bring exciting new gameplay elements and cards. Here, we offer an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are likely to become staples at draft tables next month. Tarkir: Dragonstorm is now available for preorder on Amazon.
Explore the gallery below to view all five cards, and continue reading for insights from Wizards of the Coast on their design and the overarching theme of the set.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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These five cards form a "cycle," sharing a common design element across each of Magic's colors. They are all affordable, common-rarity creatures with abilities linked to one of Tarkir’s three-color clans, and another feature that converts mana into a color associated with that clan.
Wizards of the Coast Senior Game Designer Adam Prosak explains, “Three-color limited environments require substantial mana fixing at all rarities. We aimed to enable a wide variety of decks to access mana fixing, so we developed several designs focused on resolving mana issues. These creatures not only contribute to your board presence but also help develop your mana simultaneously, unlike tapped lands which only provide mana and can cause you to fall behind.”
Preorder MTG Tarkir: Dragonstorm Cards
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Play Booster Box
0$164.70 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster Box
0$299.88 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Collector Booster
0$24.99 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks
0$224.95 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Abzan Armor
0$44.99 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker
0$44.99 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen
0$44.99 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Mardu Surge
0$44.99 at Amazon
### Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck - Temur Roar
0$44.99 at Amazon
Senior Worldbuilding Designer Lauren Bond highlights that while the mechanical aspect was prioritized in this cycle, common cards often serve as a platform to showcase the set's world. She describes how the clans have evolved since their last appearance: “The passionate, action-oriented monks of the Jeskai, the Whispers using Temur magic, Nagas in the Sultai as protectors (and avengers) of the jungle, Mardu military prowess including supporting roles (and that dragons can come in many shapes and sizes!), and Abzan clerics regrowing the lost kin trees.”
One critique of recent Magic sets has been an overreliance on thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting familiar planes. However, Tarkir: Dragonstorm stands out with its direct approach to revisiting Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl notes that feedback is crucial to Wizards of the Coast, stating, “The top-level pitch for Tarkir was established well before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged afterward. We wanted to combine Dragons and Clans in a unique way for Tarkir, with Dragonstorms playing a pivotal role. The pressure to do justice to this beloved plane was felt from the start, and we were committed to building its next chapter with authenticity and depth.”
Tarkir: Dragonstorm is currently available for preorder, with a scheduled release in both paper and digital formats on April 11. In-store prerelease events will begin on April 4. For a comprehensive discussion, continue reading our full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.
