While Magic: The Gathering's high-profile crossovers with franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been grabbing headlines, the next set in the pipeline, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to make a significant impact. This set brings us back to the beloved plane of Tarkir, and we're excited to offer an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are likely to become staples at draft tables next month. The expansion 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 what's known as a "cycle," sharing a common design theme 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 from 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 ensure many decks could access mana fixing, so we developed numerous designs to address mana issues. These creatures enable you to build your board while simultaneously developing your mana - unlike tapped lands, which only generate 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 notes 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. In this case, they highlight the evolution of the clans since their last appearance. "The passionate, action-oriented monks of the Jeskai, the Whispers employing Temur magic, Nagas in the Sultai as guardians (and avengers) of the jungle, Mardu's military prowess including supporting roles (and the variety in dragon forms!), and Abzan clerics working to regrow the lost kin trees."
Some recent Magic sets have faced criticism for relying too heavily on tropes or thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting previous planes. This makes Tarkir: Dragonstorm stand out with its straightforward return to Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges the importance of such feedback to Wizards of the Coast, but emphasizes that "the top-level pitch for Tarkir was established well before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged."
"We wanted to blend Dragons and Clans in a novel way for Tarkir, with the 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 cherished plane with authenticity and depth."
Tarkir: Dragonstorm is now available for preorder, with the set slated for release in both physical and digital formats on April 11, and in-store prerelease events beginning on April 4. Continue reading for the complete interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.
