Last updated on May 6, 2025
Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant | Illustration by Billy Christian
Khans of Tarkir is a hall-of-famer MTG set in the hearts and minds of many Magic players. I mean, how can you not love the Magic set that reprinted fetch lands and gave us Siege Rhino? Though when I say Khans, I mean that set specifically, not the whole Tarkir block. Fate Reforged and Dragons of Tarkir were not well received, so the nostalgia factor mainly applies to KTK.
Let's look at the Tarkir: Dragonstorm‘s blend of new mechanics and cards, many of which call back to the original Tarkir cards.
Hope you enjoy the thrill of a storm chase, Tarkir: Dragonstorm is wild.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm Basic Information
Call the Spirit Dragons | Illustration by Liiga Smilshkalne
Set Details
| Set Symbol |  |
| Set Code | TDM, TDC (Commander) |
| Hashtag | #MTGTarkir |
| Number of Cards | 261 (81 Commons, 100 Uncommons, 60 Rares, 20 Mythics) |
| Rarities | Common, Uncommon, Rare, Mythic |
| Mechanics | Behold, Endure, Flurry, Harmonize, Hybrid Mana, Mobilize, Omen, Renew |
Important Dates
| Previews Start | February 21, 2025 |
| Full Gallery Available | Now! |
| Available on Draftsim's Draft Simulator? | Right now! |
| Prerelease Weekend | April 4-6, 2025 |
| Release on MTG Arena/Magic Online | April 8, 2025 |
| Available on Arena Tutor? | April 8, 2025 |
| Paper Release Date | April 11, 2025 |
About the Set: The Story
Sarkhan's Resolve | Illustration by Billy Christian
Tarkir was a war-torn world ravaged by conflict between competing 3-color clans. During the events of Fate Reforged, the second set in the Tarkir block, planeswalker Sarkhan Vol traveled back in time and changed the history of Tarkir, altering the timeline into what we saw in Dragons of Tarkir. Here, the once-extinct dragons of the plane now ruled Tarkir, with the Dragonlords in charge of 2-color factions. We saw how the lives of some of the Khans and other characters were changed, like how Zurgo HelmsmasherZurgo Helmsmasher, once the fierce leader of the Mardu clan, instead became the lowly Zurgo Bellstriker, cowering under the rule of Dragonlord Kolaghan.
The lore of Tarkir: Dragonstorm dives deeper with Sarkhan's actions and is a bit of a “return to form.” The clans reinstate themselves as the main focus of the setting. Dragon spirits work in tandem with the clans. The wisdom of Elspeth helps guide one group of allies' actions, and the warring escalates.
Hollowmurk Siege | Illustration by Antonio José Manzanedo
Khans of Tarkir revolved around 3-color clans which are sometimes called “wedges” and consist of a base color and its two enemy color pairs:
Dragons of Tarkir shifted the focus towards 2-color pairs, with a Dragonlord representative of each of the five “guilds” named after their respective Dragonlord:
So, we return to the war-torn clan-and-dragon-blended revamp of Tarkir. It's a hybrid world that leans towards the clan-related and history side of the world.
Set Mechanics
Stormshriek Feral | Illustration by Joshua Raphael
Behold
Behold is a keyword action that you can take to add an effect to a card. To behold an object, you either choose it on the battlefield, or reveal it from your hand. In the case of Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant, you can behold a dragon when it enters. By revealing a dragon from your hand or simply controlling a dragon as Sarkhan enters, you get a treasure token.
Behold cards could reference other types, but not in this set. The effects of this monocolor common cycle of interaction spells vary, and in each case it's a decent small reward for you to build dragons into your deck.
Endure
Endure holds a lot of similarity with fabricate, with a couple of key differences. Tarkir is a spirit and dragon themed world, so there's no servo artifacts like fabricate cards and endure can trigger on events other than entering the battlefield. Big improvement on bolster if you ask me. Check out the value on Warden of the Grove and Inspirited Vanguard which highlight strong points in this Abzan mechanic.
Flurry
A small category of cards already exist that care about you casting a second spell in a given turn. Tarkir: Dragonstorm expands that with flurry cards in Taigam, Master Opportunist and other Jeskai cards. You don't need to be a spellslinger to pull off big double spell turns.
There are no other suspend cards in this set, but plot stays in Standard's rotation at least through 2026. You might also recognize the text on Malcolm, the Eyes, Storm of Saruman, or Jori En, Ruin Diver.
Harmonize
Harmonize is like an inverse delve/convoke baby on sorceries. The powerful cost reduction and flashback of card means a lot in terms of card advantage and makes harmonize cards dangerous from the graveyard.
Hybrid Mana
In the balance of a 3-color set, hybrid mana cards return to offer incentive for a cheaper cost if you fixed your mana well, and a functional card if you settle for paying on Gurgmag Nightwatch. At least there's flexibility in that you're able to pay the single pip costs and only the if you need to.
Mobilize
The rush is real with mobilize cards. Dragonback Lancer at common indicates there's legs to this aggressive strategy that burns for sacrifice payoffs. The rate on Lancer is good and the effect is powerful whether you keep the token beyond a turn or not. The ambush alongside Zurgo, Thunder's Decree and Bone-Cairn Butcher is downright nasty and reminds me of the hurt from cards like Najeela, the Blade-Blossom and Urabrask's Forge.
Omen
What's the difference between an omen and an adventure? If you cast the omen nonpermanent part of a card, instead of exile and the ability to play the permanent right away, you shuffle the omen back into your library. Until I get my card draw engine humming smoothly, call this more of a modal spell than an adventure.
Renew
Renew is like a modified, sorcery-speed flashback in which you get a second use out of a creature, except Magic R&D got to play with what it costs, and give it unique effects. The Agent of Kotis, shows blue's version of scavenge and this time it isn't necessarily tied to a creature's power. OK, but shouldn't “renew” have been about holding onto items from the library?
Official Tarkir: Dragonstorm Card Gallery
White
Blue
Black
Red
Green
Multicolor
Colorless
Lands
Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander
Alchemy: Tarkir
Alchemy: Tarkir is available on Arena for these formats:
Notable Cards
Mox Jasper is a powerful card and excellent reason to play dragons. Here's why this headliner rocks, it is a great card that calls for you add other good cards to your deck.
Outside of Tarkir: Dragonstorm, one of the earliest dragons you can put down is a Slumbering Dragon and there's a surprising number of dragons at a mana value of 2 like Sprite Dragon, Scaled Nurturer, and Korlessa, Scale Singer. This isn't the last time you'll hear about Mox Jasper, so I'll leave you with this thought: The need to control a certain type of permanent never stopped Mox Opal from becoming an incredible card.
The sieges are multicolor enchantments that offer you two clan choices when they enter and flavorfully force you to pick sides for the conflict. Barrensteppe Siege, Windcrag Siege, Windcrag Siege, Hollowmurk Siege, and Windcrag Siege each have powerful modes, and the fact that you have a choice among them makes them great.
Ugin, Eye of the Storms is Ugin's third planeswalker card and remains as colorless as ever. With cast triggers, and three strong loyalty abilities, this Ugin shows off heavy firepower that can stop storms and opponents.
Ancestral Vision is an amazing suspend card that brings to mind the venerable Ancestral Recall, and Vision plays with time like Tarkir's storyline so this a neat inclusion in its first Commander printing.
Dismantling Wave hits home harder since its first printing in Commander 2020. Quite an answer if your creatures naturally have the upper hand.
Blade of Selves celebrates table-wide aggression and is responsible for a silly number of infinite combos with myriad at the helm. Hero of Bladehold loves the wide board in a different way and its battle cry is at peak use with mobilize.
Special Guests
Strangely, the only Special Guests slated for Tarkir: Dragonstorm are sorceries and these strange and super expensive lands that don't tap for mana, fetch lands. These cards are among the rarest you can open from a play booster or collector booster pack, there's even alternate art on the collector booster dragonscale foils. I was not expecting a call back to Ikoria with the ultimatums, but here's the guest list:
- Eerie Ultimatum
- Emergent Ultimatum
- Emergent Ultimatum
- Inspired Ultimatum
- Ruinous Ultimatum
- Arid Mesa
- Marsh Flats
- Misty Rainforest
- Scalding Tarn
- Verdant Catacombs
Available Products
Storm Watch: Play boosters and Collector boosters are available for this set. There are also five Commander precons, one for each 3-color clan as well as a Bundle.
Play Boosters
The Tarkir: Dragonstorm play booster box is your ticket to Drafts at home and plenty of amazing pulls. Each pack has at least one foil and a chance at an art card or double-sided token.
- FIGHT DRAGONS WITH DRAGONS—Return to Tarkir for an epic battle between dragons and clans; discover which clan fits your playstyle with distinct three-color gameplay, and add draconic power to your collection
- BEST BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic: The Gathering has to offer; they're perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open
- A DRAGON’S HOARD OF TARKIR TREASURES—Each Play Booster contains 1–4 cards of rarity Rare or higher, including the possibility of a Special Guest Mythic Rare from Magic’s history featuring new Borderless art
- SHINING FOIL IN EVERY PACK—Every booster also includes at least 1 shining Traditional Foil card of any rarity; in 20% of packs you’ll add an additional shiny card to your hoard with a Traditional Foil Land
- MAY CONTAIN ART CARDS—Found only in Play Boosters, some packs contain an Art card showcasing a piece of art from the Tarkir: Dragonstorm set and may even feature a foil signature from the artist
Commander Decks
The bundle of all five Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander decks lets you pick your clan, and if your playgroup has overlap you might need to get an extra individual deck. Here are the five:
- Abzan Armor — Play defenders, turn toughness into power
- Mardu Surge — Make attacker tokens, sacrifice them for value
- Jeskai Striker — Cast extra spells, flurry spell effects
- Sultai Arisen — Fill the graveyard, return with zombie druids
- Temur Roar — Ramp mana, summon dragons
These are beloved strategies that many are already familiar with snatch up the power creep and the 10 new cards each.
- GET ALL 5 TARKIR: DRAGONSTORM COMMANDER DECKS—This bundle includes all 5 decks, with 1 Abzan Armor (White-Black-Green), 1 Jeskai Striker (Blue-Red-White), 1 Sultai Arisen (Black-Green-Blue), 1 Mardu Surge (Red-White-Black), and 1 Temur Roar (Green-Blue-Red)
- FIGHT DRAGONS WITH DRAGONS—Return to Tarkir for an epic battle between dragons and clans; discover which clan fits your playstyle with distinct three-color gameplay, and add draconic power to your collection
- BATTLE ALONGSIDE YOUR CLAN—The five clans of Tarkir are back, each with their own vibrant culture and immersive gameplay; find your clan and join the fight with a playstyle that fits you
- FOIL BORDERLESS COMMANDERS—Every Tarkir: Dragonstorm Commander Deck contains 2 Traditional Foil Legendary Creature cards featuring gorgeous Borderless art, including each clan’s Mythic Spirit Dragon
- 50 NEW COMMANDER CARDS—Each deck introduces 10 never-before-seen Commander cards to Magic: The Gathering; with this bundle of all 5 decks, you’ll add all 50 new cards to your collection.
Collector Boosters
You don't have to love dragons to know the brightest ones will appear in Tarkir: Dragonstorm collector boosters. You can break a serialized card, and are guaranteed at least five rares or mythics in each 15-card pack. These are treasures worth hoarding in your best EDH deck box.
- FIGHT DRAGONS WITH DRAGONS—Return to Tarkir for an epic battle between dragons and clans; discover which clan fits your playstyle with distinct three-color gameplay, and add draconic power to your collection
- MAY CONTAIN A SERIALIZED CARD—Collector Boosters are the only packs that may contain a Serialized Headliner card featuring exclusive alternate art and a double rainbow foil treatment, with only 500 printed
- COLLECTOR BOOSTER-EXCLUSIVE FOILS—Exclusively in Collector Boosters, you may also find a card with a special foil treatment introduced for the very first time in Tarkir: Dragonstorm
- A DRAGON’S HOARD OF TARKIR TREASURES—Collector Boosters are the ultimate way to add the most coveted cards to your hoard, with tons of shiny foils, special card treatments, and unique treasures in every pack
- 6 ALT-BORDER CARDS—Battle your friends in style with a grand total of 6 alternate-border cards in every pack
Bundle
Tarkir: Dragonstorm bundles guarantee dragons among the nine play boosters. Stock your land stash with full art basics, get that 20-sided spindown die, the foil promo, and of course, that unique box art.
- FIGHT DRAGONS WITH DRAGONS—Return to Tarkir for an epic battle between dragons and clans; discover which clan fits your playstyle with distinct three-color gameplay, and add draconic power to your collection
- A DRAGON’S HOARD OF TARKIR TREASURES—Get a Bundle full of treasures to add to your hoard, with Tarkir: Dragonstorm cards and exclusive play accessories
- SPECIAL ALTERNATE-ART CARD—Every Bundle comes with 1 promo card featuring Bundle-exclusive alternate art and a shiny Traditional Foil treatment
- 9 BOOSTERS FOR PLAYING WITH FRIENDS—Perfect for building decks, playing Limited games, and tons of fun to open, this Bundle includes 9 Play Boosters, with at least 1 Traditional Foil card and the possibility of multiple Rares in every pack
- 10 FULL-ART LANDS—Build decks ready to unleash draconic destruction with 15 Traditional Foil and 15 nonfoil Basic Land cards from the set, including 10 Full-Art Lands (5 foil, 5 nonfoil)
Prerelease Kits
Notably, the Tarkir: Dragonstorm prereleases required you to choose a seeded booster that aligned with one clan to give you a better chance of building your deck in those colors. You still got five other play boosters, a promo and 20-sided die, perfect for use at the set's first events.
Wrap Up
Dracogenesis | Illustration by Kai Carpenter
It is like we took the most wild section of Aetherdrift‘s Muraganda, multiplied by three and added dragons to get to this set. Enjoy this Magic original IP before the space odyssey set, Edge of Eternities, because otherwise, it’s the biggest Universes Beyond year yet with Final Fantasy, Spider-Man, and Avatar: the Last Airbender, so let's ride this storm!
Do you have any fiery hot Tarkir: Dragonstorm war stories? What are the dragons in this set missing? Is time-travel is overhyped? Let me know in the comments or over in the Draftsim Discord, and keep an eye on your weather!
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2 Comments
Given the battle art looks like Abzan vs Sultai and Barrensteppe Siege is Abzan vs Mardu; My theory is that we will get a full guild cycle of dual colored sieges, two for each clan, and the colors are the shared two colors of the two clans of the card (WB for Barrensteppe and BG for the art depicted).
Though I would like battles, I do not believe that there is enough evidence given Barrensteppe Siege’s reveal.
The return of Sieges as enchantments does in fact kill the speculation on battles, though MaRo has confirmed battles are a part of set that’s currently in design!
I think your theory about the Tarkir Dragonstorm Sieges is spot-on.
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