Introduction
Magic: The Gathering’s Tarkir: Dragonstorm is the much-anticipated return to the plane of Tarkir, and it’s already generating massive buzz among both competitive players and collectors. Announced as a “best of both worlds” revisit to Tarkir’s famous clans and dragons, this set has quickly become widely discussed across the community. In this blog post, we’ll break down what makes Tarkir: Dragonstorm stand out – from the powerhouse cards shaking up competitive play to the chase collectibles sending collectors into a frenzy. We’ll also touch on the set’s new mechanics and rich lore significance. Whether you’re a serious player eyeing the next meta-defining card or a collector hunting for treasures, Tarkir: Dragonstorm has something for you.
Standout Cards and Competitive Impact
Ugin, Eye of the Storms is a headline mythic from Tarkir: Dragonstorm, offering game-warping power. This mighty Planeswalker can exile opposing permanents whenever you cast colorless spells, making him a must-answer threat in any game.
One card that’s on everyone’s lips is Ugin, Eye of the Storms. This new 7-mana Planeswalker Ugin lives up to his legendary reputation with a suite of devastating abilities. Upon casting Ugin (or any other colorless spell while he’s in play), you exile an opposing colored permanent – a “machine-gun” removal effect that can wipe out enemy threats turn after turn. His +2 ability draws a card and gains life, his 0 generates {C}{C}{C} ramp, and his -11 ultimate lets you cast any number of colorless cards from your deck for free, usually sealing the game. It’s no surprise competitive players are already brewing ramp decks around Ugin; a colorless control shell on MTG Arena has boasted an absurd win rate in early testing. In formats like Standard and Pioneer, Ugin, Eye of the Storms is poised to be a late-game bomb that “must be answered” or he will take over the game. Even in Modern and Legacy circles, there’s chatter about using Ugin in Tron-style decks – when a card above 4 mana is considered in Legacy, you know it truly can win the game on its own.
Ugin may be the flashiest mythic, but Tarkir: Dragonstorm offers plenty of other standouts that cater to competitive-minded players. A prime example is Voice of Victory, a Jeskai-aligned creature that has quickly climbed preorder charts. Voice of Victory is “inexpensive, provides good stats, counters spells and creates Warrior tokens on attack” – basically everything an aggressive tempo deck could want. This single card can pressure opponents while also disrupting their gameplan, making it a hot pick for Standard and even Pioneer decks. Another buzzworthy inclusion is Tempest Hawk, a humble common that nonetheless broke into the Top 5 sellers due to a quirky rule – you can run as many copies as you want in a deck. Unlimited copies of a cheap evasive creature opens up wild combo potential (Commander players are already brewing Relentless Rats-style decks with it). On the defensive side, Dragon Sniper is being called a “sleeper” card: for just one mana, it’s “the perfect blocker” with vigilance, reach, and deathtouch. In other words, this little 1-drop can hold off huge dragons or other threats indefinitely, which gives control and midrange decks a new tool to survive aggressive onslaughts.
Not to be outdone, Mox Jasper is another game-changing card straddling the line between competitive play and sheer novelty. As the first new Mox in years, Mox Jasper is a 0-cost legendary artifact that taps for one mana of any color – but with a fiery caveat: “Activate only if you control a Dragon.”. In a dedicated Dragon deck, Mox Jasper essentially acts as a free accelerant akin to Mox Amber or Lotus Petal, helping you power out big threats faster. Standard and Commander dragon decks are itching to slot this in; imagine casting a 5-drop dragon on turn 3 by pairing this Mox with an early dragon whelp. While it’s not a staple for every deck (non-Dragon decks get no benefit), its power ceiling in the right strategy is undeniable. All these standout cards – from Ugin and Mox Jasper to efficient beaters like Voice of Victory – ensure that Tarkir: Dragonstorm will leave a lasting mark on competitive metas. Players are already testing new archetypes (Jeskai Flurry tempo, Mardu Tokens, Sultai graveyard midrange, and more) built around these powerful new tools.
New Mechanics and Wedge Clan Strategies
Beyond individual cards, Tarkir: Dragonstorm introduces several new mechanics that redefine each of the plane’s iconic clans. Each clan (three-color “wedge” faction) gets its own signature mechanic or ability, reflecting their unique battle tactics. Here’s a quick rundown of the mechanics making waves, and how they shape gameplay:
- Jeskai (Blue-Red-White) – Flurry: The Jeskai monks unleash flurry, an ability word that rewards casting a second spell each turn. Cards with “Flurry” typically grant a bonus whenever you cast your second spell in a turn – for example, a Jeskai creature might get +1/+1 or copy a spell if you’ve already cast one spell before it. This encourages spell-heavy, tempo playstyles. We’ve seen Jeskai “Flurry” decks in early Standard streams chaining cheap cantrips and creatures to trigger powerful effects on attack. If you enjoy classic Prowess or Storm-like play, Flurry brings that vibe to Tarkir in a balanced way.
- Mardu (Red-White-Black) – Mobilize: The warlike Mardu employ mobilize, a keyword ability that instantly summons extra attackers. Mobilize creates 1/1 Warrior creature tokens that come into play tapped and attacking whenever certain conditions are met (often when the creature with mobilize attacks or enters the battlefield). Essentially, mobilize lets you flood the battlefield with disposable attackers to overwhelm the enemy. These token Warriors only stick around briefly – typically they’re sacrificed at end of combat – but they hit hard in the moment. Aggro decks love this mechanic, as it provides free damage and synergizes with any effects that boost your whole team. Expect Mardu “go-wide” strategies to leverage mobilize for sudden, explosive swings.
- Abzan (White-Black-Green) – Endure: The resilient Abzan have endure, a keyword action that gives you a choice of how a creature survives or is commemorated. When a creature endures (always with a number X), you choose either to bolster it with X +1/+1 counters or to create an X/X Spirit token. In practice, cards with Endure might trigger upon dying or as an activated ability, letting Abzan players decide between making the creature itself stronger (if it “endures” the hardship) or letting its spirit live on as a token. This fits the Abzan theme of ancestors and survival – you either make your warrior tougher or send their spirit to fight on. Strategically, Endure adds flexibility: you can go tall (bigger creatures) or wide (additional creatures) depending on the board state. Abzan midrange decks will enjoy adjusting their gameplan on the fly – e.g. an Endure 2 creature can either become a larger threat or leave behind a 2/2 spirit after a trade.
- Temur (Green-Blue-Red) – Harmonize: The wild Temur clan gains harmonize, a keyword ability that lets spells echo from the grave. Harmonize is essentially a form of flashback or retrace – it allows you to cast a spell from your graveyard by paying its harmonize cost, and you can even tap creatures to help pay that cost. In other words, Harmonize cards can be replayed later, often by tapping a creature (symbolizing channeling the clan’s spiritual bond with nature) as part of the payment. This mechanic effectively gives you extra value out of your cards – a card with Harmonize might be used once from hand, then used again from the graveyard for a second effect. Temur decks will leverage this for grindy value; for example, a Harmonize spell could be an elemental attack that you can recur by tapping a shaman you control. The ability to “reuse” spells makes removal and tricks much stronger in longer games, so keep an eye on Temur’s graveyard synergies.
- Sultai (Blue-Black-Green) – Renew: The scheming Sultai introduce an ability word called renew. Renew appears on Sultai cards as activated abilities that can only be activated from the graveyard. Think of Renew as a creature’s last gasp or a spell’s lingering effect – from your graveyard, you pay a cost (exiling the card as part of the cost) to “renew” it, gaining some effect like returning another card, placing counters, or draining life. All renew abilities exile the card with renew upon use (so it’s a one-shot deal) and can only be activated at sorcery speed. For example, a Sultai creature with “Renew – {2}{G}: Put two +1/+1 counters on target creature” can be activated from your graveyard after that creature dies, turning its memory into a boon for the survivors. Renew plays into the clan’s graveyard mastery – expect Sultai decks to deliberately mill themselves or trade off creatures, then cash them in from the grave for extra value. This mechanic gives Sultai a grindy, inevitable feel, befitting their necromantic flavor.
- “Behold a Dragon” – Draconic Synergy: Lastly, Behold a Dragon is a new keyword action seen on various cards (not tied to a single clan, but rather to the dragon theme). When a card says “Behold a Dragon – [effect]”, it typically means if you reveal a Dragon card from your hand (or control a Dragon), you get an extra effect. It’s akin to showing the dragon’s presence to empower your spells. For instance, a sorcery might deal 3 damage to a creature, but “Behold a Dragon” and it will deal 5 damage instead (as if a dragon’s might is added). This action rewards decks that play lots of Dragons, allowing even non-dragon cards to scale up in power when dragons are around. It’s a flavorful way Tarkir: Dragonstorm links its myriad spells to the almighty dragons. In gameplay, it pushes you to include enough Dragons in your deck to consistently “turn on” these bonuses. Combined with mechanics like Mobilize and Renew, building around the Dragon creature type can yield huge dividends in this set.
With these mechanics, each clan in Tarkir: Dragonstorm feels fresh yet familiar. Competitive players are already mapping these abilities to deck archetypes – Jeskai “Flurry” prowess decks, Mardu tokens with Mobilize, Abzan +1/+1 counter aggro using Endure, grindy Temur ramp with Harmonize, and value Sultai graveyard decks via Renew. The interplay of these mechanics also makes draft and sealed highly dynamic, as every wedge has a distinct gameplan. If you’re diving into this set, understanding Flurry, Mobilize, Endure, Harmonize, and Renew will be key to mastering the battlefield. And don’t forget to behold those dragons – almost every strategy here gets better when a Dragon is in the mix!
Collector Highlights and Value Treasures
It’s not just players who are excited – collectors are going wild over Tarkir: Dragonstorm’s rich array of special cards and treatments. Wizards of the Coast clearly designed this set as a dragon’s hoard of collectibles, and the early trends show immense interest in these items:
- Dragonscale Foil Fetch Lands – Perhaps the biggest news for collectors (and Modern players) is the return of the fetch lands in this set as premium reprints. Iconic lands like Scalding Tarn and Misty Rainforest appear as Special Guest cards in Dragonscale Foil, a new foil treatment featuring a dragon-scale pattern. These coveted fetch lands are back as extremely rare pulls. Fetch lands haven’t been Standard-legal in ages (and these aren’t legal in Standard either, as they’re in a special subset), but their inclusion here is purely to excite collectors and reprint staples for eternal formats. The Dragonscale Foil finish gives them a unique shine – imagine the blue-red glow of a Scalding Tarn overlaid with a faint scale texture. According to Wizards, these foil fetches will be quite scarce (early info suggests around a 1% drop rate in Collector Boosters), which has driven up preorder prices. If you crack one, you’ve found a gem. Fetch lands are already valuable, and these special editions are likely to command premium prices on the secondary market. Simply put, fetches are back – not for Standard play, but as ultra-rare collector centerpieces.
- Ghostfire Showcase Cards – Another visually stunning feature is the set of Ghostfire showcase cards, which tap into Ugin’s signature magic. In Tarkir lore, Ugin’s “ghostfire” is an invisible, colorless flame – and here it’s represented by an eerie monochrome card frame with blue-orange ghostly art. There are 10 Ghostfire cards in total, and they appear only in Collector Boosters (some in a special Halo foil version). These showcase cards “bring Ugin’s enigmatic powers to the Magic card frame” with a truly unique look. Notably, Ugin, Eye of the Storms has a Ghostfire showcase variant, and it has instantly become the chase card of the set. In the Halo Ghostfire foil treatment, Ugin’s card is visually jaw-dropping – and extremely scarce. As a result, pre-sales for Ghostfire Ugin have skyrocketed (one Halo Ghostfire Ugin was reportedly pre-selling over $400 on the secondary market!). That’s an astounding price tier usually reserved for the most premium of cards. Collectors who love rare variants and art collectors who appreciate MTG’s frames are both after these. Even non-foil Ghostfire cards look fantastic, with art depicting Tarkir’s battles in a muted, spirit-world palette. Keep an eye out for other Ghostfire cards like Skirmish Rhino or All-Out Assault – while Ugin is the marquee, the entire cycle is a treat for collectors, and only the lucky (or deep-pocketed) will complete a Ghostfire set.
- Serialized Mox Jasper – Wizards of the Coast added a special jewel to this hoard: Mox Jasper, complete with serialized editions. Mox Jasper is not only a powerful card (as discussed above) but also a collector’s item by design. In Collector Boosters, you have a shot at opening one of 500 serialized copies of Mox Jasper, printed in an old-school retro frame with a serial number stamped on it. They even brought in Dan Frazier – the artist behind the original Moxen – to illustrate this retro-frame version, making it truly feel like part of Magic’s history. Each serialized Mox is numbered 1 to 500, making every single one unique. These kinds of chase cards have been incredibly sought-after in recent sets (serialized cards from The Brothers’ War and MOM: Aftermath, for example, fetched huge prices). We can expect the serialized Mox Jasper to be one of the most expensive pulls in Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Even the non-serialized version is desired – after all, it’s a Mox in name and function – but the retro, numbered edition is the ultimate prize. For context, previous serialized cards often sell for hundreds or more depending on the number and character; with Mox Jasper’s significance, these will likely start high. Collectors love the intersection of nostalgia and rarity, and Mox Jasper checks both boxes. As Wizards put it, “you could even seize a piece of Magic history” if you open this card. Indeed, owning a serialized Mox Jasper will feel like owning a piece of the Power Nine legacy, especially with that classic frame and Dan Frazier art.
- Full-Art Lands and Alternate Frames – Rounding out the collectible goodies, Tarkir: Dragonstorm features gorgeous full-art basic lands and a slew of alternate frames for its legends and dragons. The basic lands, called “Dragon’s Presence” lands, each showcase a scenic Tarkir landscape with the shadow or silhouette of a dragon looming overhead. The art is both beautiful and thematic (e.g. a tranquil monastery with Ojutai’s shadow flying over the snow). These full-art lands appear in all boosters and are a treat for players who love to bling out their decks with unique lands. There’s also a special set of “Dragon’s Eye” showcase basic lands (showing the view through a dragon’s eyes) in some products. For the multi-colored cards, Wizards delivered borderless clan showcase frames for key legendary creatures and even borderless sagas and sieges that depict pivotal moments in Tarkir’s history. Collectors who enjoy binder page displays will have plenty to chase: each clan’s leader (like Narset, Zurgo, etc.) has a special frame version, and even new sagas like Frostcliff Siege and planeswalkers like Elspeth, Storm Slayer have borderless art treatments. While these may not reach the price heights of Ghostfire or Mox Jasper, they add a lot of flavor and value to the set’s presentation. Opening a booster, you might find a Draconic frame variant of a dragon that looks like it’s etched in scales, or a reversible double-faced “dragon portrait” card (there’s a cycle of reversible cards depicting dragon forms on each side, which double as mini posters). All these extras ensure Tarkir: Dragonstorm is not only fun to play, but also exciting to open. Every pack has a chance at something flashy – be it a beloved fetchland reprint, a showcase legend, or even the ultra-rare serialized Mox.
In summary, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is a collector’s dream. The combination of valuable reprints (fetches, Craterhoof Behemoth in commander decks, etc.), unique new cards (a new Mox!), and stunning showcase treatments has made this set a hot commodity. Early sales reflect this: some singles from the set are among the best-selling cards this season, not just for their play value but for their collectability. Whether you’re chasing that Ghostfire Ugin to crown your collection or simply enjoy cracking packs hoping for something shiny, this set delivers. Just as the tagline suggests, you can “claim a trove of relics for your clan” in Tarkir: Dragonstorm – and some of those relics might be among the most treasured Magic cards of 2025.
Lore and Story Significance
For Vorthos players and lore enthusiasts, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is a monumental set. It doesn’t just mechanically marry the two previous Tarkir timelines – it concludes a major story arc that’s been brewing ever since Sarkhan Vol meddled with time years ago. In this set’s story, dragons are pouring out through magical “dragonstorms” all over Tarkir. The world is literally under siege by dragons, with tempestuous storm portals tearing open the skies. Each thunderous wing flap from the dragon broods is said to rip through the Omenpaths, threatening to spread the chaos beyond Tarkir and into the wider Multiverse. In response, the five resurgent clans of Tarkir – the Abzan, Jeskai, Sultai, Mardu, and Temur – have united to strike back against this draconic threat. This is a huge deal in Tarkir’s lore: previously, we saw one timeline where the clans ruled (Khans of Tarkir) and another where dragons reigned (Dragons of Tarkir). Now, in Tarkir: Dragonstorm, both exist at once, leading to an epic conflict and alliance. Fans have been eager to see how beloved characters and factions would interact when both realities collide, and this set delivers on that promise.
Many familiar Tarkir legends return with new roles. Narset – once a Khan in one timeline and a master monk in another – appears here as the Jeskai Waymaster, a legendary creature leading the Jeskai to balance through the storm. Zurgo, who was a ferocious warlord in one timeline and a humbled bell-striker in the other, is back wielding Thunder’s Decree as a leader for the Mardu. We see new faces like Felothar of the Abzan and Kotis of the Sultai, as well as callbacks to old ones (the set even includes mono-colored legendary cards for past characters like Anafenza, Sidisi, and Surrak to honor Tarkir’s history). This blending of histories has been very exciting for long-time players. As Wizards stated, they aimed to combine the best elements of the Khans and Dragons eras as a solution to fans’ divided preferences – meaning we get clans and dragonlords in one setting. The storyline reflects this: it’s not a one-sided victory for either dragons or humans, but a climactic struggle where both sides have moments to shine. The outcome of this war (which unfolds in the set’s story articles and cards with Story Spotlight markings) will determine Tarkir’s future. Will the clans reclaim their world, or will the Dragon tempests reshape Tarkir forever? The stakes even reach beyond one plane, given those omenpath-tearing storms.
From a flavor perspective, Tarkir: Dragonstorm reignites the plane’s core themes of war and fate. The cards’ flavor texts are rich with this lore. For instance, Mox Jasper’s lore quote by Sarkhan reads: “Rage. Greed. Arrogance. People only accuse dragons of what they fear in themselves.” – encapsulating the set’s notion that dragons and humans are mirrors of each other’s desires. The new Saga cards depict pivotal events like “Rediscover the Way” (likely referencing Sarkhan’s journey to save Ugin), and even the reprinted Siege cards (like a new Frostcliff Siege) show battles where clan strongholds withstand dragon assaults. The artwork throughout the set, from basic lands to showcases, also tells the story: you see clans rallying under banners, dragons raining fire, and spirit dragons (Ugin included) influencing the fray from behind the scenes.
For players invested in Magic’s ongoing story, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is particularly significant because it ties into the Multiverse events post-March of the Machine. The mention of Omenpaths being ripped open suggests connections to the wider Magic storyline of planar portals. It implies Tarkir’s conflict could spill into other planes (or that heroes from outside might intervene?). And with Ugin involved, one can’t help but wonder how this resolves – Ugin is famously one of the oldest beings and a guardian against interplanar threats. The Dragonstorm Arc concluding might mean an ancient threat is contained or a balance is finally restored on Tarkir.
In short, the lore of Tarkir: Dragonstorm is as grand and stormy as the name suggests. It provides closure to Tarkir’s divided fate while delivering the high fantasy action of clans versus dragons that fans have wanted to see. If you love Magic’s story, this set is a must-experience. Each pack you open might not only have a powerful card, but also a little snippet of how the war is unfolding – be it through flavor text, art, or mechanics that reinforce the narrative (every time you “Behold a Dragon”, you’re reenacting the awe Tarkir’s people feel under the dragonstorms). Tarkir: Dragonstorm proves that sets can be both mechanically exciting and narratively satisfying, bringing a beloved plane’s tale to a thunderous climax.
Conclusion
Tarkir: Dragonstorm is shaping up to be a landmark Magic set in 2025, offering a rare mix of competitive depth, collectible value, and rich storytelling. For competitive MTG players, this expansion delivers new toys that are already shaking up formats – from the meta-warping Ugin planeswalker and efficient creatures like Voice of Victory, to innovative mechanics like Flurry and Mobilize that enable fresh archetypes. The early data and community discussions show that many Tarkir: Dragonstorm cards are making their way into top Standard and Commander decks, and even prompting brewers to test the waters in Modern. There’s a sense that this set has injected new life (or should we say fire?) into the meta, much like the original Tarkir block did years ago.
For collectors and fans of MTG bling, Tarkir: Dragonstorm might be downright legendary. The set is jam-packed with highly sought-after reprints and special editions – fetch land reprints in stunning Dragonscale foils, an ultra-rare serialized Mox, and gorgeous Ghostfire showcase treatments that rank among the most beautiful Magic cards printed this year. It’s the kind of set where opening just one booster can feel like cracking a treasure chest: you could pull a $10 sleeper rare or a $300 collectible card. That thrill has driven Tarkir: Dragonstorm product sales briskly, and many stores are running special events (like collector booster drafts and clan-themed tournaments) to celebrate the launch.
Perhaps most impressively, Wizards of the Coast managed to cater to multiple audiences at once. The set’s design philosophy of blending “the best of both worlds” is evident not only in the lore (clans + dragons), but in its appeal to both players and collectors. If you’re a spikes-and-grind competitive player, you’ll find efficient cards and synergies that reward skillful play. If you’re an enthusiast who loves the art, story, and collecting aspect, you’ll find Tarkir: Dragonstorm brimming with flavor and rare finds that celebrate Magic’s history (with callbacks via reprints and art cameos) and its future (innovative card designs).
In the end, MTG Tarkir: Dragonstorm has ignited a spark – or rather, a dragon’s flame – in the community. It’s trending on every front: top cards lists, finance watchlists, Reddit and forum discussions, and YouTube reviews are all abuzz about what the set brings. As players crack packs and sleeve up new decks, and collectors hunt for that elusive ghostfire foil, one thing is certain: Tarkir’s dragons have stormed back into the spotlight, and Magic players couldn’t be happier. Whether you’re joining a prerelease to “fight dragons with dragons” or scouring online listings for a deal on that Mox, this set offers an experience that lives up to the Tarkir name. Get ready to join your clan, break the storm, and perhaps claim a piece of MTG history for yourself with Tarkir: Dragonstorm!