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While Magic: The Gathering's high-profile crossovers with Final Fantasy and Spider-Man have been grabbing headlines, the next set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, is poised to make a significant impact. This set returns us to Magic's own plane of Tarkir, and we're excited to offer an exclusive sneak peek at five cards that are sure to be staples at the draft table next month. The expansion is now available for preorder on Amazon.
Scroll 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 theme of the set.
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These five cards form a "cycle," each sharing common design elements across Magic's colors. They are all budget-friendly, common-rarity creatures that not only fit into one of Tarkir's three-color clans but also offer an ability to convert mana into a color from that clan.
"Three-color limited environments require extensive mana fixing across all rarities," explains Wizards of the Coast Senior Game Designer Adam Prosak. "We aimed to ensure that a variety of decks could access mana fixing, so we developed numerous designs to address these needs. These creatures are unique because they allow you to build your board while simultaneously improving your mana situation—unlike tapped lands, which only provide mana and can put you at a disadvantage."
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0$44.99 at AmazonSenior Worldbuilding Designer Lauren Bond highlights that while the mechanics were the primary focus for this cycle, common cards often serve as a canvas to depict the set's world. "These cards showcase the distinctiveness of the clans from their last appearance," she says. "From the action-oriented Jeskai monks, the Temur's use of Whispers magic, the protective Naga of the Sultai, the Mardu's military prowess and varied dragon forms, to the Abzan clerics working to regrow lost kin trees, each card tells a story."
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 for its straightforward return to Tarkir. Senior Worldbuilding Art Director Forrest Schehl acknowledges the importance of such feedback to WOTC. "The top-level pitch for Tarkir was set long before the release of Murders at Karlov Manor and subsequent sets, and it remained unchanged," he states. "We aimed to blend Dragons and Clans in a unique way, with Dragonstorms playing a pivotal role in our approach to this 'return-to'. Lauren and I felt the pressure to get it right from the start, striving to authentically expand on this beloved plane's narrative."Tarkir: Dragonstorm is available for preorder now, with a scheduled release in both paper and digital formats on April 11, and in-store prerelease events starting on April 4. For a deeper dive, continue reading our full interview with Wizards of the Coast's Adam Prosak, Lauren Bond, and Forrest Schehl.