"5 New Tarkir Cards Unveiled: Dragonstorm Set in Magic: The Gathering"

While the buzz around Final Fantasy and Spider-Man crossovers in Magic: The Gathering continues to captivate fans, the excitement for the upcoming set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is palpable. This set brings us back to the beloved plane of Tarkir, and we're thrilled to offer an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are poised to make a significant impact at the draft table next month. You can preorder the expansion right now on Amazon.

Flip through the gallery below to see all five cards, and continue reading for insights from Wizards of the Coast on their design and the overarching 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 sharing a common design theme across Magic’s five colors. They are all inexpensive, common-rarity creatures with abilities linked to one of Tarkir's three-color clans, as well as an ability that converts mana into a color associated with that clan.

"Three-color limited environments require substantial mana fixing across all rarities," explains Adam Prosak, Senior Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast. "Our goal was to ensure that many decks could access mana fixing, so we designed numerous cards to address this issue. These creatures enable players to develop their board while simultaneously solving mana problems - unlike tapped lands, which only provide 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 highlights that while the mechanical design led the way for this cycle, common cards often serve as a canvas to illustrate the world of the set. In this case, they emphasize the distinct evolution of the clans since players last encountered them. "We aimed to showcase the Jeskai's action-oriented monks, the Temur's use of Whispers magic, the protective and vengeful Nagas within the Sultai, the diverse military roles of the Mardu - including the varied forms of dragons - and the Abzan clerics' efforts to restore their lost kin trees."

One critique of recent Magic sets has been their reliance on thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting established planes. However, Tarkir: Dragonstorm distinguishes itself with a direct and authentic return to Tarkir. Forrest Schehl, Senior Worldbuilding Art Director, acknowledges this feedback but notes that "the top-level pitch for Tarkir was set long before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged. We aimed to merge Dragons and Clans in a fresh way, with Dragonstorms playing a crucial role in shaping our 'return-to' approach. From the start, Lauren and I felt the pressure to authentically expand this beloved plane's narrative."

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. For a deeper dive into the set, continue reading the full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.