Weather the Storm, A Guide to Tarkir: Dragonstorm
Here there be Dragons! An ancient mapping term once used to identify unexplored areas where monsters of unspeakable power lived. Well lucky for us we’re just headed back to Tarkir, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t monsters! In fact this new release is chocked full of you guessed it Dragons! Tarkir is a being ravaged by dragonstorms, where dragons are crossing over to other planes thanks to the Omenpaths and laying siege to all in their path. The five clans of Tarkir have been reborn in new and powerful ways since their last defeat, now they must set aside their differences to try and align in an effort to stop the dragonstorms. Each clan brings their unique mechanic and some planar mechanics as well to the fight!
This new set in this old wizard’s opinion is just what the Doctor ordered 
{NO Not You!} to bring us the players back to the heart and feel of Magic the Gathering lore. So what can we expect from Tarkir: Dragonstorm in terms of new and returning mechanics, cool cards and wow factor? Let’s dip our wings and do a fly by of Tarkir: Dragonstorm…
Set Mechanics:
ENDURE
Endure is a keyword action that creatures take. It's followed by a number. As a creature endures N, you choose to either put N +1/+1 counters on that creature or create an N/N white Spirit creature token. If an endure ability resolves while the creature isn't on the battlefield, you'll simply create the Spirit token.
FLURRY
Flurry is an ability word, and each flurry ability has a different effect. Each flurry ability is a triggered ability that triggers whenever you cast your second spell in a turn. It doesn't matter what happened to the first spell. It may have resolved or been countered. It may even still be on the stack! The flurry ability will resolve before the spell that caused it to trigger.
Note that flurry abilities can trigger only once each turn, and creatures with flurry abilities have to be under your control to see that spell being cast. They don't have to see the first spell, though. If Devoted Duelist is your second spell in a turn, it won't trigger itself, but it can be your first spell, as long as it resolves before you cast your second.
HARMONIZE
Harmonize allows you to cast a card from your graveyard by paying its harmonize cost rather than paying its mana cost. In addition, if you cast it this way, you may tap an untapped creature you control as an additional cost to cast that spell. If you do, the total amount of mana you pay is reduced by that creature's power. For example, if you cast Roamer's Routine from your graveyard and also tap a creature you control with power 3, you'll pay only 
.
The cost reduction applies only to the generic mana in the cost, so even if you tapped a creature with power 15, you'd still pay 
to cast Roamer's Routine from your graveyard. The Temur might suggest better things to do with a creature with that much power, but you do you. You don't have to tap a creature if you don't want to (or can't), in which case you'll just pay the full harmonize cost.
RENEW
Renew is an ability word, and each renew ability has a different effect, although they have some things in common. All renew abilities include exiling the card with renew as part of the activation cost, and all of them can be activated only as a sorcery. All renew effects also involve putting counters on creatures—often +1/+1 counters, sometimes others. Sometimes there are additional effects. It's a bountiful variety, something the Sultai would truly appreciate.
MOBILIZE
The number after mobilize indicates how many tapped and attacking 1/1 red Warrior creature tokens you'll create as the ability resolves. Once mobilize triggers, it doesn't matter what happens to the creature that attacked. You'll create the tokens even if that creature is no longer on the battlefield as the ability resolves, and you'll sacrifice the tokens at the beginning of the next end step even if that creature isn't around at that time.
Like other creatures that enter tapped and attacking, the tokens are never declared as attackers, so they won't trigger any "whenever a creature attacks" abilities.
OMENS
Some Dragon cards in the set have their own personal Omen: an instant or sorcery on lower left of the card, similar to Adventure spells. Omens have their own name, type line (complete with the new subtype Omen), mana cost, and rules text. The Dragon's abilities are on the right side of its text box. The Dragon's name, mana cost, type line, and power/toughness are in their usual positions.
As you're casting an Omen card, you choose which part you're casting, the creature spell or the Omen. For example, if you cast Dirgur Island Dragon, it behaves exactly like any other creature spell. It goes on the stack and can be responded to. You hope it resolves, hits the battlefield, and terrorizes your opponent's puny creatures. You know, the usual. If you take this route, you can just ignore everything pertaining to the Omen on the card. But what fun is that?
If you cast a card as an Omen spell, in this case Skimming Strike, only use the Omen's characteristics. You pay 
, and it'll be an instant spell with mana value 2. As an Omen resolves, you follow its instructions, then you shuffle the Omen card into your library. Note that the shuffling part happens only if the Omen resolves. If it's countered or otherwise fails to resolve, you won't shuffle it into your library. It'll probably just end up in your graveyard.
If an Omen card is in your graveyard, hand, or library, it has only the characteristics of the creature card. Ignore the Omen and all its text. If an effect allowed you to search your library for a creature card, you could find Dirgur Island Dragon. But if you were searching for an instant card, you couldn't find Skimming Strike. The same is true for the creature on the battlefield. Dirgur Island Dragon's mana value is 6, for example.
BEHOLD
Several cards in the set ask you to behold a Dragon, often as an additional cost to cast a spell. To behold a Dragon, you can either choose a Dragon you control—you know, just point at it—or reveal a Dragon card from your hand. Some spells may have an additional effect if a Dragon was beheld. This applies no matter which manner of beholding you chose, and it applies no matter what happened to the Dragon or Dragon card in question.
MONOCOLOURED HYBRID MANA
Each clan has a three-color identity, so to make casting your cards a little easier, some cards offer you some flexibility in the form of monocolor hybrid mana symbols, sometimes called "twobrid" mana. In case you haven't seen them before, here's a quick look at some of their peculiarities.
You can pay for twobrid mana either by paying the color of mana indicated or by paying 
. For example, to cast Gurmag Nightwatch, you could pay 
or a few other options. No matter how you pay for each individual symbol, that symbol contributes 2 to the card's mana value, so Gurmag Nightwatch's mana value is 6 no matter how you pay for it. Similarly, Gurmag Nightwatch is black, green, and blue, even if you didn't pay those colours of mana to cast it.
COOL STUFF
This Set is also overflowing with new card treatments, frames, and full arts! Of particular note is the super-stunning “dragon scale” foil treatment that can be found on some Special Guest cards.
Also really “Eye Popping” in this set are the new basic lands!
Finally, I thought I’d mention the new reversible dragon cards. They feature an adult image of the dragon on one side and a younger “cuter” version on the other side. Hey Dragons can be cute … right??!
TOP CARDS
It’s easy to get lost in all the spoilers and excitement and such, so here’s a quick look at a few chase cards that have emerged from the storms so far!
THE CLANS
Abzan
The hearty Abzan rely on familial bonds and the strength of their communities. Centered in white, black, and green, the Abzan are prepared for any challenge the other clans or Tarkir itself may present. More than anything, they endure.
Jeskai
The disciplined Jeskai move as one, coordinated on a level that other clans can only marvel at. Centered in blue, red, and white, the Jeskai seek unity of thought and undergo rigorous martial training. Overwhelm your opponents with a flurry of spells and be rewarded!
Sultai
The resourceful Sultai never let anything go to waste. Centered in black, green, and blue, the Sultai employ necromancy, espionage, and deep knowledge of Tarkir itself to maintain their power. Don't let death be the end of your creatures' usefulness with renew abilities, activated abilities that can only be activated from the graveyard.
Mardu
The adaptable Mardu are constantly on the move, their agility always giving them an edge. Centered in red, white, and black, the Mardu look to overwhelm their opponents with mobilize. Mobilize is a triggered ability that triggers whenever a creature with the ability attacks.
Temur
The nomadic Temur prioritize living in concert with their environment. Centered in green, blue, and red, the Temur form close bonds with the creatures they work alongside. They can leverage these bonds to redouble their magic with the harmonize ability.
Well that’s it for me Tower Fans. I’ve got to go finish my storm shelter in my backyard… you never know when an Omenpath will open a portal to our plane and a dragonstorm will begin here…. I heard from a solid source it will happen on April 4th 😉 So, get ready, pick your Clan and pick up your own Tarkir:Dragonstorm at Wizard Tower! https://bit.ly/WTTDM
Special thanks and credit given to the following for content on the mechanics, images and clans : Wizards of the Coast.
