Magic: The Gathering is set to launch its intriguing new set, Tarkir: Dragonstorm, with Prerelease events kicking off soon. This time, the format departs from the traditional norm. Rather than each player receiving a uniform Prerelease Pack, participants can select from five unique, themed packs, each representing one of the five clans from Tarkir. Each pack contains five booster packs, plus a specialized clan-themed booster with cards aligned to the color identity of the chosen clan.
Players have the option to dive deeper into one of Tarkir’s five clans and leverage the unique mechanics introduced in Tarkir: Dragonstorm. Alternatively, players might consider crafting their decks around a two-color combination, which may present weaker individual mechanics but ensure a more stable mana base. With the Prerelease events commencing on April 4, it would be prudent to familiarize yourself with the various Draft archetypes ahead of time, as the unrevealed cards can impact gameplay significantly.
10. Abzan Endure Offers Flexible Strategies
Jeskai Decks Utilize Green, Black, and White Mana
The Abzan archetype in Tarkir: Dragonstorm integrates the new Endure mechanic, featured on various creature cards with a numbered effect. When you activate an Endure ability, you can either place that number of +1/+1 counters on the creature or summon a white Spirit token representing the same power and toughness.
Focusing on bolstering your creatures’ strength, the Abzan Endure strategy thrives on abilities that work in conjunction with the counters gained through Endure. For instance, the card Synchronized Charge bestows vigilance and trample to all your creatures with counters for a turn. The Warden of the Grove is particularly synergistic in this setup, providing +1/+1 counters to itself while allowing other creatures to Endure upon entering the battlefield.
9. Jeskai Flurry Emphasizes Spellcasting
Jeskai Decks Draw on Red, Blue, and White Mana
Unlike Abzan’s Endure, the Jeskai Flurry mechanic operates on a broader range of effects triggered by casting your second spell during the same turn. For instance, the Jeskai Devotee receives a temporary power boost after casting that second spell. To optimize your Flurry effects, consider utilizing cheaper spells that facilitate multiple casts in a single turn.
Cards specifically tied to the Jeskai clan often hint at synergy with this archetype, even if they don’t conform to the traditional color trio. Additionally, certain spells allow you to regain mana after casting, offering tactical flexibility. The Iridescent Tiger, for example, becomes a cost-efficient play, providing substantial mana on casting. Also, the Meticulous Artisan benefits from a Prowess ability in a spell-focused Jeskai deck, generating treasure that can be leveraged for future plays.
8. Sultai Renew Utilizes Your Graveyard for Strength
Sultai Decks Incorporate Green, Blue, and Black Mana
The Sultai Renew mechanic presents a strategic advantage by allowing players to repurpose cards from the graveyard. Each Renew effect varies, typically involving exiling the card from the graveyard to place counters on your creatures. For example, when using Sage of the Fang, you can add a +1/+1 counter that subsequently doubles on a target creature, enhancing its combat viability.
While some counters enhance toughness, others confer impactful abilities. The Qarsi Revenant grants powerful abilities like Flying, Deathtouch, and Lifelink, elevating its threat status. Additionally, cards such as the redesign of the Rakshasa, Rot-Curse Rakshasa, hinder your opponent’s creatures, inflicting Decayed status and significantly reducing their effectiveness.
7. Mardu Mobilize Facilitates Extra Creature Generation
Mardu Decks Leverage Red, Black, and White Mana
The Mardu archetype thrives on the Mobilize mechanic, entailing the generation of 1/1 red Warrior creature tokens whenever a creature with this ability attacks. Although these tokens are sacrificed at the end of your turn, they provide a significant boost to your offensive capabilities. The Avenger of the Fallen can unleash a particularly strong Mobilize effect during the late game.
While some prominent cards might seem crucial, relying on a singular rare for your strategy may not yield the best results. Versatility is key during a Prerelease event; aim to build around colors with multiple occurrences of cards rather than dependent on an isolated strong card.
Finding synergy with your temporary tokens is also viable; for instance, Barrensteppe Siege prompts your opponent to sacrifice their creatures with each Mobilize activation, while cards like Unrooted Ancestor benefit from the sacrifices as well, allowing you to activate further effects efficiently.
6. Temur Harmonize Aims at Spell Recursion
Temur Decks Employ Red, Blue, and Green Mana
The new Harmonize ability within the Temur strategy allows players to recast spells from their graveyards, often at a lesser cost. Harmonize provides an alternate casting cost option using creature taps to fulfill the generic mana requirement. For instance, casting Mammoth Bellow to generate a 5-power Elephant can allow you to use that same Elephant to recast it later for only three mana.
An example of Harmonize’s strategic potential is highlighted in Nature’s Rhythm. First casting it to summon a high-power creature can facilitate further casting opportunities when paying the Harmonize price. Cards like Wild Ride, which enhance creature stats, can also be strategically employed to aid in covering Harmonize costs while improving your overall battle stance.
5. Sacrifice Mechanic Provides Gains
White and Black Cards Offer Bonuses for Sacrificing Creatures
Due to the complementary colors shared among Tarkir’s clans, it is easy to build effective Draft strategies around two-color combinations. An excellent case is the black and white synergy utilizing cards like Worthy Cost, which enables you to sacrifice a creature to trigger advantageous effects.
Mobilize cards from the Mardu clan, such as Dalkovan Packbeasts, become key players as their tokens turn into beneficial fodder for sacrifice. Cards with Endure from Abzan also create additional tokens to continue the cycle of sacrifice. Notably, creatures like Anafenza, Unyielding Lineage generate additional tokens upon the sacrifice of non-token creatures, maintaining battlefield presence while simultaneously reaping benefits from sacrifice effects.
4. Two-Spells Strategy Enhances Pressure
Build Around Flurry with Red and Blue
Examining the Flurry cards in Tarkir: Dragonstorm reveals that only a handful necessitate the inclusion of white mana, allowing for a feasible red and blue themed deck. You can also implement Prowess creatures, such as Cori-Steel Cutter, which gain bonuses for each noncreature spell cast.
Additionally, options exist for Harmonize cards strictly within red and blue, like Winternight Stories. Harnessing Harmonize capabilities provides further opportunities to generate additional turns with spells and reap rewards from your Flurry mechanics. Efficient spells, such as Channeled Dragonfire, contribute to your goals of multiple casts, even if achieving its Harmonize cost remains challenging.
3. Strategic Counter Buffs for Creatures
Black and Green Cards Bestow Beneficial Counters
Heavily themed around counters that enhance creature strength, a black and green build can seamlessly incorporate cards from multiple Tarkir clans. Renew abilities present in Sultai cards, such as Champion of Dusan, offer excellent opportunities for empowering creatures, while also utilizing cards like Rot-Curse Rakshasa, which may disrupt opponents’ strategies.
Utilizing Endure cards from Abzan, like Dusyut Earthcarver, is another effective way to amplify strength through counters. The additional creatures resulting from Endure effects can dynamically interact with your counter strategies. Cards such as Attuned Hunter, which is visually characteristic of a Temur design, synergize well with both Sultai’s Renew and Temur’s Harmonize genres, bolstering gameplay options revolving around graveyard mechanics.
2. Go-Wide Token Strategies to Bypass Blockers
Red and White Strategies Excelling in Token Generation
A deck built around creating wide board states through token generation can leverage cards from numerous clans. The objective of this draft archetype focuses on overwhelming the opponent’s defenses with low-cost token creatures. The Descendant of Storms can generate abilities to pay for Endure while continuously attacking, potentially becoming a difficult threat to counter if you’re fortunate enough to obtain a powerful Elspeth Planeswalker in this set.
The Shock Brigade activates Mobilize, providing additional unit strength with its Menace ability, while Frontline Rush serves as a versatile option for augmenting token counts or capitalizing on an expansive board state. Securing multiple copies of these uncommons could greatly benefit a red-and-white tokens deck.
1. Cards Leaving the Graveyard Provide Extra Resources
Blue and Green Offer Multiple Graveyard Interactions
Both Temur and Sultai showcase blue and green cards that can help utilize the mechanics surrounding cards departed from the graveyard effectively. You can maximize this synergy by including a selection of cards allowing additional plays based on cards leaving the graveyard. For instance, Kishla Skimmer provides card draw opportunities each time a card exits your graveyard.
Moreover, blue and green factions also hold mechanisms to remove cards from your graveyard, with the Auroral Procession returning a card to your hand. This action triggers any leaves-your-graveyard effects, concurrently granting an extra play to execute. The Kishla Trawlers adds depth by exiling one card while bringing another back to your hand, creating dual graveyard interactions.
If you’re seeking further assistance for your Tarkir: Dragonstorm Prerelease endeavors, visit Magic’s official guide. This complements what’s outlined here, equipping you with valuable insights to optimize your deck-building strategy. For those new to the Magic: The Gathering Limited format, such guides will serve as a solid starting point to enhance your gaming experience.
Source: Magic: The Gathering