Tarkir: Dragonstorm's debut on MTG Arena is just around the corner, and as with every new set coming out, you can't miss our usual guide to the limited archetypes, which takes care of giving an overview of how the set is structured.
We've already talked in depth about the 7 new mechanics introduced with this new set, but in case you missed it, don't worry, because you can catch up below, and they'll be mentioned again anyway.
Tarkir: Dragonstorm's theme is centered on 5 tricolor clans, each of which has its own mechanic that characterizes it.
- Abzan (white, black, green) – Endure (+1/+1 counters or N/N Spirit token)
- Jeskai (white, blue, red) – Flurry (a trigger on the second spell)
- Sultai (blue, black, green) – Renew (exile this card from the graveyard for some kind of counter)
- Mardu (white, black, red) – Mobilize (1/1 Warrior tokens to sacrifice at end of turn)
- Temur (blue, red, green) – Harmonize (tap a creature to reduce the cost and cast this spell from the graveyard)
Although these are the only 5 tricolors supported, that's not all, because we can also extend the archetypes to the 5 color pairs of enemy colors. The reason why enemy colors are archetypes, while allied ones are not, is that these are the only ones that are shared by two clans, so you can benefit from the characteristics and abilities of both.
- Orzhov (white, black) – Sacrifice (Endure + Mobilize)
- Izzet (blue, red) – Two Spells (Flurry + Harmonize)
- Golgari (black, green) – Counters (Endure + Renew)
- Boros (white, red) – Go Wide Tokens (Mobilize + Flurry)
- Simic (blue, green) – Leaves the Graveyard (Harmonize + Renew)
This design makes it particularly significant in draft, where you should generally start by picking cards from an enemy color pair rather than immediately choosing an allied color pair or a tricolor clan. In the latter case, in fact, you would immediately force the colors since this direction can only lead to a single clan, while the enemy colors will leave you more room for maneuver, giving you the possibility of directing yourself towards 3 different archetypes during the course of the draft.
For example, starting a draft with black-green cards can land you in Abzan, Sultai, or Golgari itself, while starting with white-green can land you only in Abzan, since Selesnya is not a supported archetype.
Abzan: Endure
Cards:
Sandsteppe Citadel, Descendant of Storms, Krumar Initiate, Abzan Devotee, Fortress Kin-Guard, Ainok Wayfarer, Abzan Monument, Stalwart Successor, Starry-Eyed Skyrider, Yathan Tombguard, Unrooted Ancestor, Kin-Tree Nurturer, Host of the Hereafter, Sandskitter Outrider, Trade Route Envoy, Loxodon Battle Priest, Inspirited Vanguard, Disruptive Stormbrood, Purging Stormbrood, Dusyut Earthcarver, Gurmag Rakshasa, Reputable Merchant.
Description:
Abzan features the Endure mechanic, which lets you choose between bulking up your creatures or adding extra board presence, depending on your needs.
This ability fits perfectly into both the Orzhov sacrifice strategy, by creating Spirit tokens, and the Golgari counters strategy, by adding +1/+1 counters, thus giving great versatility to the archetype.
What matters is making value, as demonstrated by its two uncommon signposts, Armament Dragon and Skirmish Rhino, which, in addition to being two big threats, have an annoying entry trigger.
Combo:
- Stalwart Successor + Duty Beyond Death / Loxodon Battle Priest + Yathan Tombuard = Stalwart Successor doubles the +1/+1 counters that Duty Beyond Death puts on each creature you control. Plus, you can use Yathan Tombuard to draw many cards!
- Abzan Monument + Skirmish Rhino / Hardened Tactician / Dalkovan Packbeasts / Krotiq Nestguard = On curve, you can play Abzan Monument to get the right land, play one of these big-toughness creatures on turn 3, and sacrifice the artifact on turn 4 to create a 4/4 Spirit token without spending further cards.
- Inspirited Vanguard + Starry-Eyed Skyrider = Vanguard endures 2 both when entering and attacking, and the flying Starry-Eyed Skyrider can make it evasive so it triggers every turn. The fun part is that since this also gives flying to attacking tokens, the Spirits that Vanguard endures also become flying!
Jeskai: Flurry
Cards:
Mystic Monastery, Humbling Elder, Fleeting Effigy, Wingspan Stride, Devoted Duelist, Jeskai Devotee, Frontline Rush, Reverberating Summons, Jeskai Monument, Cori Mountain Stalwart, Poised Practitioner, Highspire Bell-Ringer, Wingblade Disciple, Effortless Master, Wayspeaker Bodyguard, Equilibrium Adept, Runescale Stormbrood, Rally the Monastery, Narset's Rebuke, Iridescent Tiger, Focus the Mind, Twinmaw Stormbrood, Monastery Messenger.
Description:
Jeskai cares about casting two spells in a turn, something we've seen before but now takes the Flurry keyword.
To achieve this, it is important to focus on low-cost spells, effects that reduce the cost of mana or that give extra mana, and draw spells or cards that can be replayed so as to never run out of gas and have all the instances of Flurry trigger continuously.
By doing this, you could get to cast even more than two spells per turn, and cards like the signpost Jeskai Brushmaster benefit, which, with prowess and double strike, can become a real win condition!
Combo:
- Jeskai Brushmaster + Lightfoot Technique + Wild Ride = The Jeskai signpost can be really good, but it isn't evasive and can take a removal spell. Lightfoot Technique solves both of these problems and lets you attack the opponent for 8 damage... or 16 if you just add Wild Ride into the process!
- Iridescent Tiger + Jeskai Shrinekeeper = You can have a compelling turn with the Cat + the Dragon as a follow-up, also triggering Flurry.
- Wayspeaker Bodyguard + Reverberating Summons / Jeskai Monument= Bodyguard lets you return a permanent with a cost of up to 2 to your hand, which in Jeskai might not be so easy to get. You can then return previously sacrificed permanents to make value.
Sultai: Renew
Cards:
Opulent Palace, Alchemist's Assistant, Sultai Devotee, Agent of Kotis, Kishla Skimmer, Veteran Ice Climber, Ainok Wayfarer, Corroding Dragonstorm, Sultai Monument, Sage of the Fang, Champion of Dusan, Attuned Hunter, Kishla Trawlers, Sibsig Appraiser, Essence Anchor, Aegis Sculptor, Rainveil Rejuvenator, Sagu Pummeler, Cruel Truths, Constrictor Sage, Adorned Crocodile, Disruptive Stormbrood, Whirlwing Stormbrood, Gurmag Rakshasa, Gurmag Nightwatch.
Description:
Sultai is based on the Renew mechanic, using the graveyard as a resource to make your creatures stronger. By exiling a dead, milled, or discarded creature from your graveyard, you add some kind of counters around, and this design allows it to perfectly enable both the Golgari counters and Simic leaves the graveyard archetypes.
The exiled creature usually provides some clue as to what kind of counter its Renew ability will provide, such as Kheru Goldkeeper, which, as a flying Dragon, will additionally give a flying counter.
Combo:
- Veteran Ice Climber + Whirlwing Stormbrood + Yathan Tombguard = You can turn the unblockable Veteran Ice Climber into a 4/6 with Dynamic Soar and start dealing serious damage and milling your opponent. You can even add Yathan Tombguard and draw cards in the process!
- Inspirited Vanguard + Wingspan Stride / Kheru Goldkeeper = Similar to Abzan, you can make Inspirited Vanguard evasive so that it triggers Endure 2 every time it attacks.
- Essence Anchor + Aegis Sculptor = On curve, you can cast both of them on turns 3 and 4. Surveil 1 refills the graveyard, while Aegis Sculptor exiles 2 cards and grows at least once every two turns, simultaneously allowing Essence Anchor to put a 2/2 Zombie token!
Mardu: Mobilize
Cards:
Nomad Outpost, Mardu Devotee, Desperate Measures, Shock Brigade, Shocking Sharpshooter, Furious Forebear, Bearer of Glory, Coordinated Maneuver, Stormbeacon Blade, Mardu Monument, Dalkovan Packbeasts, Nightblade Brigade, Zurgo's Vanguard, Starry-Eyed Skyrider, Seize Opportunity, Unsparing Boltcaster, Dragonback Lancer, Marshal of the Lost, Salt Road Skirmish, Venerated Stormsinger, War Effort, Purging Stormbrood, Salt Road Packbeast, Twinmaw Stormbrood, Reigning Victor.
Description:
Mardu is probably the most aggressive of the clans and is characterized by Mobilize, which temporarily creates hordes of attacking Warrior tokens so as to push as much damage as possible.
I said “temporarily” because unfortunately you have to sacrifice them at the end of the turn, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of them! For example, you can buff them to do more damage, you can give them abilities, sacrifice them for value, and trigger enter-and-leave-the-battlefield abilities.
An example is also given by Bone-Cairn Butcher, the signpost with Mobilize, which provides deathtouch to all attacking tokens so that they tend to deal direct damage to the opponent and push aggression.
Combo:
- Worthy Cost / Desperate Measures / Sunpearl Kirin + 1/1 Warrior token + Furious Forebear = A natural combo designed for this archetype. Since Mobilize tokens are temporary, you can optimize them with one of the listed spells for value. Tokens that sacrifice themselves then trigger Furious Forebear over and over again.
- Underfoot Underdogs + Dalkovan Packbeasts + Shocking Sharpshooter / Venerated Stormsinger / War Effort = Dalkovan Packbeasts is the uncommon card with the major Mobilize and can be made unblockable by the Goblin to attack every turn. Add one or more payoffs to this to have a nice barrage of damage every turn!
- Rescue Leopard + Hundred-Battle Veteran + Purging Stormbrood = On curve, you play the Leopard to attack, discard, and play Hundred-Battle Veteran from the graveyard on turn 4. It enters with a finality counter on it, but that can be deleted by playing Purging Stormbrood the following turn.
Temur: Harmonize
Cards:
Frontier Bivouac, Spectral Denial, Unending Whisper, Channeled Dragonfire, Wild Ride, Temur Devotee, Synchronized Charge, Glacial Dragonhunt, Traveling Botanist, Ainok Wayfarer, Veteran Ice Climber, Ureni's Rebuff, Sunset Strikemaster, Temur Monument, Sibsig Appraiser, Rescue Leopard, Attuned Hunter, Krotiq Nestguard, Roamer's Routine, Snowmelt Stag, Summit Intimidator, Rainveil Rejuvenator, Trade Route Envoy, Runescale Stormbrood, Whirlwing Stormbrood, Temur Tawnyback.
Description:
Temur has always been the archetype of big creatures and is represented this time by Harmonize, which allows you to cast spells from your graveyard, tapping a creature to reduce that spell's mana cost. This reduction is based on the creature's power, so the bigger it is, the bigger the discount!
Harmonize enables both Simic's leaves-the-graveyard and Izzet's two-spells strategies, since it works from the graveyard and makes the spells extremely cheap so they can be cast in multiples.
Mammoth Bellow is the signpost with this ability, with the feature of making a 5/5 Elephant that will then pay its own Harmonize the following turn, doubling the token for just 3 more mana.
Combo:
- Dragonbroods' Relic + Iridescent Tiger = Relic can summon a very powerful Dragon, but it wants all the colors of mana. You don't have to play five colors, though, because Iridescent Tiger solves the problem!
- Equilibrium Adept + Synchronized Charge + Dragonclaw Strike = On curve, you cast Equilibrium Adept on turn 4. The following turn, with 5 mana, you play Synchronized Charge + Dragonclaw Strike, activating Flurry, doing removal, and attacking for 16 damage with trample!
- Rainveil Rejuvenator + Fire-Rim Form = The Druid gives mana based on its power, so you can just power it up to have extra mana every turn, great for casting Temur's big creatures!
Orzhov: Sacrifice
Cards:
Scoured Barrens, Sandsteppe Citadel, Nomad Outpost, Descendant of Storms, Desperate Measures, Worthy Cost, Unburied Earthcarver, Furious Forebear, Kin-Tree Nurturer, Fortress Kin-Guard, Sunpearl Kirin, Duty Beyond Death, Dalkovan Packbeasts, Nightblade Brigade, Unrooted Ancestor, Wayspeaker Bodyguard, Dragonback Lancer, Teeming Dragonstorm, Salt Road Skirmish, Venerated Stormsinger, Adorned Crocodile, Purging Stormbrood, Salt Road Packbeast.
Description:
Black-white is based on the sacrifice strategy, using creatures and especially tokens as a resource by sacrificing them to make value with spells and abilities.
It can benefit both from Spirit tokens created with Endure and from Warriors with Mobilize, which are thus valued since they would be sacrificed at the end of the turn anyway.
There are plenty of payoffs, such as Duty Beyond Death, Unburied Earthcarver, and Unrooted Ancestor, although the most desired is probably Hardened Tactician, which, in addition to having an excellent body, allows you to swap Mobilize tokens for cards.
Combo:
- Hardened Tactician + Dalkovan Packbeasts = Hardened Tactician is ideal with Mobilize, and Dalkovan Packbeasts alone gives you 3 tokens to sacrifice to draw up to 3 extra cards per turn!
- Marshal of the Lost + Starry-Eyed Skyrider = Marshal of the Lost boosts an attacker nicely, but there's a risk that he might die in combat. Starry-Eyed Skyrider can make him evasive, and the Orc can perhaps return the favor by boosting his mate!
- Krumar Initiate + Alchemist's Assistant = Krumar Initiate can create real monsters in the late game, except that each of them costs life based on how big they are. You can create a Spirit token big enough not to die and give it lifelink. This way, each turn it will gain life that can then be invested in a new Endure by Krumar Initiate.
Izzet: Two Spells
Cards:
Swiftwater Cliffs, Mystic Monastery, Frontier Bivouac, Fleeting Effigy, Humbling Elder, Channeled Dragonfire, Wingspan Stride, Wild Ride, Devoted Duelist, Sunset Strikemaster, Reverberating Summons, Roiling Dragonstorm, Highspire Bell-Ringer, Sibsig Appraiser, Wingblade Disciple, Unsparing Boltcaster, Equilibrium Adept, Meticulous Artisan, Focus the Mind, Narset's Rebuke, Stormshriek Feral, Runescale Stormbrood, Dirgur Island Dragon, Bewildering Blizzard.
Description:
Blue-red, like Jeskai, is characterized by the spellslinger strategy, which aims to cast two spells in one turn to unlock buffs and trigger abilities.
Many Izzet cards, in fact, also have the Flurry mechanic, which is associated with Harmonize that makes the spells replay as discounted.
Glacial Dragonhunt even lets you send your spells with Harmonize directly to the graveyard, while Effortless Master, Wingblade Disciple, and Equilibrium Adept are excellent payoffs for the archetype.
Combo:
- Runescale Stormbrood + Wild Ride = The Dragon resembles a much larger Slickshot Show-Off, but without haste. You can fix that by casting it with an extra mana for Wild Ride, dealing lots of damage in the sky. You can also add various cheap spells, like Unending Whisper, to make a game plan in Kiln Fiend style!
- Snowmelt Stag + Wingspan Stride = For 4 mana, Snowmelt Stag is a fragile 5/2 on your turn. It only takes 1 more mana to make it evasive and attack for 6 flying damage per turn!
- Equilibrium Adept + Fire-Rim Form = Equilibrium Adept is a 2/4 with a triggerable double strike, and a simple Fire-Rim Form is enough to make it deal 8 damage per turn.
Golgari: Counters
Cards:
Jungle Hollow, Sandsteppe Citadel, Opulent Palace, Snakeskin Veil, Unburied Earthcarver, Alchemist's Assistant, Delta Bloodflies, Formation Breaker, Ainok Wayfarer, Synchronized Charge, Aggressive Negotiations, Yathan Tombguard, Attuned Hunter, Sage of the Fang, Champion of Dusan, Knockout Maneuver, Dragonstorm Globe, Hundred-Battle Veteran, Sandskitter Outrider, Sagu Pummeler, Trade Route Envoy, Inspirited Vanguard, Disruptive Stormbrood, Dusyut Earthcarver, Feral Deathgorger.
Description:
Black-green has what I feel is the deepest card pool among the color pairs, and it focuses on counters of various kinds that are distributed among the creatures you control, thus bulking them up and giving them abilities.
These counters can come from both Endure and Renew, and in a short time they can transform your entire board into a truly difficult army to break down.
You have very solid payoffs like Attuned Hunter, Sage of the Fang, and Yathan Tombguard, but most importantly, both signposts, Stalwart Successor and Host of the Hereafter, are capable of overwhelming the opponent with a huge amount of counters!
Combo:
- Dragon Sniper / Sultai Devotee / Nightblade Brigade + Piercing Exhale / Knockout Maneuver = Classic Golgari combo for limited. By enabling a creature with deathtouch to deal damage, you can destroy any enemy creature!
- Host of the Hereafter + Unrooted Ancestor / Unburied Earthcarver = Host of the Hereafter is one of the best cards for this archetype that allows you to not lose the counters when a creature dies, moving them to another creature so as to sum them and always have them around. With a sacrifice engine, you can even do it at instant speed, making any interaction a nightmare for the opponent.
- Formation Breaker + Sage of the Fang = The Beast can't be blocked by creatures with less power than it, so just make it grow enough to make it unblockable! As a follow-up on curve, you can cast Sage of the Fang, giving it the first +1/+1 counter and making it attack as a 4/4. Over the course of the game, you can then add more counters, then use the Sage's Renew ability to double them all.
Boros: Go Wide Tokens
Cards:
Wind-Scarred Crag, Nomad Outpost, Mystic Monastery, Descendant of Storms, Bearer of Glory, Fortress Kin-Guard, Shock Brigade, Shocking Sharpshooter, Sunset Strikemaster, Stormbeacon Blade, Duty Beyond Death, Coordinated Maneuver, Starry-Eyed Skyrider, Dalkovan Packbeasts, Seize Opportunity, Underfoot Underdogs, Zurgo's Vanguard, Rally the Monastery, Teeming Dragonstorm, War Effort, Riling Dawnbreaker, Salt Road Packbeast, Twinmaw Stormbrood.
Description:
White-red is based on Go Wide, aiming to generate a very large board full of tokens and small creatures, which can then be powered up or give benefits based on their numbers.
You have access to Mobilize's temporary 1/1 Warrior tokens, but the white also lets you create Endure's Spirit tokens, not to mention that those cheap aggro spells can also activate the occasional Flurry abilities present.
An example of this is Cori Mountain Stalwart, who uses Flurry to cast a small Lightning Helix on the opponent to add pressure, as does Frontline Rush by adding creatures or greatly buffing one in particular!
Combo:
- Dalkovan Packbeasts + Stormbeacon Blade = Equipping Stormbeacon Blade to Dalkovan Packbeasts gives you a 3/4 vigilance that creates 3 tokens and draws 1 card when it attacks.
- Stormshriek Feral / Rescue Leopard + Furious Forebear = Since Furious Forebear can return to hand from the death of any token with Mobilize, it is a great one to discard for value.
- Bearer of Glory + Rebellious Strike / Fire-Rim Form = Bearer of Glory, in addition to pumping up the team, has first strike when it attacks, and so it becomes incredible if its power increases.
Simic: Leaves the Graveyard
Cards:
Thornwood Falls, Frontier Bivouac, Opulent Palace, Unending Whisper, Veteran Ice Climber, Traveling Botanist, Ainok Wayfarer, Agent of Kotis, Ureni's Rebuff, Synchronized Charge, Heritage Reclamation, Attuned Hunter, Sage of the Fang, Champion of Dusan, Kishla Trawlers, Sibsig Appraiser, Roamer's Routine, Essence Anchor, Aegis Sculptor, Rainveil Rejuvenator, Sagu Pummeler, Jade-Cast Sentinel, Rite of Renewal, Constrictor Sage, Whirlwing Stormbrood.
Description:
Blue-green cares about filling your graveyard and rewards you when a card leaves it.
Renew and Harmonize are the two shared clan mechanics that allow you to enable this strategy, while the mill and surveil abilities that are scattered around are among the main ways to quickly send cards to the graveyard.
Attuned Hunter, Kishla Trawlers, and Essence Anchor are some of the payoffs of this strategy, although the most representative remains its signpost Kishla Skimmer, which draws an additional card per turn.
Combo:
- Kishla Trawlers + Ureni's Rebuff / Auroral Procession = Infinite loop to trigger leaves the graveyard, maybe with the addition of Kishla Skimmer or Essence Anchor as a payoff! Cast Kishla Trawlers and take Ureni's Rebuff back from the graveyard. With the latter, take the creature back into your hand and repeat the process. You can also use Auroral Procession, but you have to make sure that Kishla Trawlers dies somehow.
- Jade-Cast Sentinel + Kishla Skimmer / Attuned Hunter / Essence Anchor = Jade-Cast Sentinel can trigger leaves the graveyard each turn just by moving a card to the bottom of your library.
- Attuned Hunter + Heritage Reclamation = With Attuned Hunter, you can use the versatility of Heritage Reclamation and turn it into a combat trick with stereos! In combat you can remove one of your cards from the graveyard, draw a card, and boost Attuned Hunter!
That's all for today! Tarkir: Dragonstorm limited promises to be really interesting and different from the last ones, with many mechanics and different color combinations, so that even the same archetype can be built in different ways. Have fun, choose your clan, and may the might of the dragons be with you!
