While Magic: The Gathering's high-profile collaborations with Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been grabbing headlines, the upcoming set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to make its own mark. This expansion takes us back to the enchanting plane of Tarkir, and we're excited to share an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are sure to be hot picks at draft tables next month. You can now preorder this eagerly awaited expansion on Amazon.
Take a moment to browse through the gallery below to explore these five cards, and continue reading to learn more about their design and the overarching theme of the set from Wizards of the Coast.
Magic: The Gathering - 5 New Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm
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These five cards form what is known as a "cycle," each sharing a common design element across all of Magic's colors. They are all cost-effective, common-rarity creatures, featuring an ability linked to one of Tarkir's three-color clans, and another that allows you to convert mana into a color from that clan.
Wizards of the Coast Senior Game Designer Adam Prosak sheds light on the design philosophy behind these cards, stating, "Three-color limited environments require substantial mana fixing at all rarity levels. Our goal was to ensure many decks could benefit from this mana fixing, leading us to create several designs focused on solving mana issues. These creatures enable players to develop their board presence while simultaneously addressing their mana needs—a dual advantage over designs like tapped lands, which only provide mana at the cost of falling 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 AmazonSenior Worldbuilding Designer Lauren Bond explains that while the mechanical aspect was the initial focus for this cycle, common cards often serve as a platform to showcase the world of a set. She highlights how these cards reflect the evolution of Tarkir's clans since their last appearance: "The passionate, action-oriented monks of the Jeskai, the Temur's use of Whispers magic, Nagas in the Sultai acting as protectors and avengers of the jungle, the Mardu's military prowess with supporting roles (and the variety in dragon forms!), and the Abzan clerics working to regrow the lost kin trees."
Recent Magic sets have faced criticism for leaning too heavily on tropes or thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting previous planes. However, Tarkir: Dragonstorm stands out with its focused and authentic return to Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges this feedback and emphasizes that the vision for Tarkir was set well before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets. He states, "Our top-level pitch for Tarkir was to blend Dragons and Clans in a fresh way, with the Dragonstorms being central to the plane's identity. From the outset, Lauren and I felt the pressure to do justice to this beloved plane, aiming to build its next chapter with authenticity and depth."Tarkir: Dragonstorm is available for preorder now, with a scheduled release in both physical and digital formats on April 11. In-store prerelease events will begin on April 4. Continue reading for our full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.
