"5 New Tarkir Cards Revealed: Dragonstorm Set Previewed"

While Magic: The Gathering's high-profile crossovers with franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been grabbing headlines, the next eagerly awaited set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to take center stage. This set transports players back to the rich and immersive plane of Tarkir. We're thrilled to offer an exclusive sneak peek at five standout cards that are sure to make waves at draft tables next month. You can secure your copy by preordering the expansion now 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 overall vision for the set.

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

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These five cards form what's known as a "cycle," each belonging to one of Magic's colors and sharing a common design thread. They are all affordable, common-rarity creatures, each featuring an ability linked to one of Tarkir's three-color clans, along with another that converts mana into a color from that clan.

"Three-color limited environments require ample mana fixing at various rarities," explains Adam Prosak, Senior Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast. "We aimed to make mana fixing accessible to a wide range of decks, so we developed numerous designs to address mana issues. These creatures are unique because they allow players to build their board presence while simultaneously improving their mana situation, unlike tapped lands which only produce mana and can put you at a disadvantage."

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 emphasizes that while the mechanical aspect was the initial focus for this cycle, common cards often serve as a canvas to depict the world of a set. "We highlight the distinctiveness of these clans compared to their previous iterations," she notes. "The Jeskai's passionate, action-oriented monks, the Temur's use of whispers in their magic, the Sultai's naga protectors and avengers of the jungle, the Mardu's military prowess and supporting roles (demonstrating that dragons come in various forms), and the Abzan clerics working to regrow their lost kin trees."

Some recent Magic sets have faced criticism for leaning too heavily on tropes or thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting familiar planes. However, Tarkir: Dragonstorm stands out with its straightforward approach to returning to Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges the importance of such feedback to Wizards of the Coast. "The top-level pitch for Tarkir was set well before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged," he states. "We wanted to blend Dragons and Clans in a novel way for Tarkir, with Dragonstorms playing a pivotal role in shaping our approach to this 'return-to'. Lauren and I felt the pressure to get it right from the start, aiming to craft the next chapter of this beloved plane with authenticity and depth."

Tarkir: Dragonstorm is available for preorder now, with the set slated for release in both physical and digital formats on April 11. In-store prerelease events will begin on April 4. Dive deeper into the set with our full interview featuring Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.