While Magic: The Gathering has been capturing attention with its high-profile collaborations with iconic franchises like Final Fantasy and Spider-Man, the upcoming set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is set to bring fans back to the beloved plane of Tarkir. We're excited to offer an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are poised to make a significant impact at draft tables next month. Tarkir: Dragonstorm 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
6 Images
These five cards form 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 allows you to convert mana into a color from that clan.
"Three-color limited environments require ample mana fixing at various rarities," explains Wizards of the Coast Senior Game Designer Adam Prosak. "We aimed to ensure that many decks could access mana fixing, so we developed several designs to address mana issues. These creatures are unique because they allow you to play cards while simultaneously improving your mana - unlike other designs like tapped lands, which solely focus on mana and often 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 highlights that while the mechanics were the initial focus for this cycle, common cards often serve as a canvas to depict the world of the set. In Tarkir: Dragonstorm, this means illustrating the evolution of the clans since their last appearance. "We showcase the Jeskai's passionate, action-oriented monks, the Temur's use of Whispers magic, the Sultai's Nagas as guardians (and avengers) of the jungle, the Mardu's military prowess with supporting roles (and the variety of dragons), and the Abzan clerics' efforts to regrow the lost kin trees."
Some fans have criticized recent Magic sets for leaning too heavily on tropes or thematic gimmicks, even when revisiting familiar planes. This makes Dragonstorm stand out with its direct and authentic return to Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges the importance of such feedback to Wizards of the Coast, but clarifies that "the core concept for Tarkir was set well before Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets were released, and it remained unchanged afterward."
"We wanted to merge Dragons and Clans in a fresh way that hadn't been done on Tarkir before, with the Dragonstorms playing a central role in our approach to this 'return-to'. Lauren and I felt the pressure to do it right from the start, and we were committed to crafting 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 our full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.
