The excitement is building as the Magic: The Gathering community gears up for the release of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, set to launch on April 11 and now available for pre-order. This set transports players back to the tumultuous plane of Tarkir, where the five clans and their ancient dragons are set to clash once again. As a proud owner of a Scion of the Ur-Dragon Commander deck, I'm eager to see how the new cards will enhance my gameplay, much to the chagrin of my friends.

What to Expect From Tarkir: Dragonstorm

For those new to Tarkir, this plane is dominated by five clans, each with its distinct color identity and led by a Khan: 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, which are unique to each clan, promising to invigorate deck-building strategies.

Jeskai's Flurry rewards players for casting a second spell in a turn, enhancing their spell-casting prowess. Sultai's Renew mechanic allows players to exile cards from their graveyard to apply counters to their creatures, adding a strategic layer to gameplay. Mardu's Mobilize creates temporary creatures to support their aggressive tactics, while Temur's Harmonize lets players replay cards from the graveyard at a reduced cost. Finally, Abzan's Endure mechanic triggers upon the death of non-token creatures, rewarding players with +1/+1 counters and other benefits.

But it's not just about the clans; Tarkir: Dragonstorm also introduces new mechanics for the dragons with Omen and Behold. Omen allows a card to be played as a creature or as an instant or sorcery, with the unique twist of shuffling back into the deck if cast as a spell. Behold, on the other hand, activates when a dragon is revealed or already on the battlefield, opening up intriguing deck-building possibilities across multiple colors.

The dragons themselves are poised to be the set's highlight. Betor, Kin to All, is a standout with its ability to trigger various effects based on the total toughness of creatures you control, from drawing cards to forcing opponents to lose life. Ugin also returns as a colorless planeswalker, Ugin, Eye of the Storms, whose abilities could make him a staple in colorless decks, especially those featuring Eldrazi.

With less than a month until the launch, much of Tarkir: Dragonstorm remains a mystery, but the anticipation is palpable. As someone eagerly awaiting this set, I'm particularly hopeful for the return of legendary dragons like Atarka and Ojutai, or perhaps a thrilling new five-color dragon. Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be an exhilarating addition to Magic: The Gathering when it arrives on April 11.

Magic: The Gathering Tarkir: Dragonstorm - Product Listings

Play Booster Box - $164.70 at Amazon

Collector Booster Box - $299.88 at Amazon

Collector Booster - $24.99 at Amazon

Commander Deck Bundle - Includes All 5 Decks - $224.95 at Amazon

Commander Deck - Abzan Armor - $44.99 at Amazon

Commander Deck - Jeskai Striker - $44.99 at Amazon

Commander Deck - Sultai Arisen - $44.99 at Amazon

Commander Deck - Mardu Surge - $44.99 at Amazon

Commander Deck - Temur Roar - $44.99 at Amazon

MTG - Tarkir: Dragonstorm Preview - Art

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