Tarkir: Dragonstorm released on 4/8 to online platforms, so I’ll be breaking down each card to help you get accquainted! Much like it’s predecessor, TDM is a “wedge” set, that encourages you to play one of the supported color combinations; Abzan, Jeskai, Mardu, Sultai, or Temur. While 1-2 color decks are supported, the most powerful cards are often three colors, so you will be incentivized to support them.
5.0: Disgustingly powerful and basically unbeatable. Either answer it the turn it comes down or just pack up your cards. (Gruff Triplets, Virtue of Persistence, The Eternal Wanderer)
4.5: Incredible bomb that still gives your opponent a slim chance. (Virtue of Loyalty, Imodane's Recruiter, Realm-Scorcher Hellkite)
4.0: Great rare or the absolute best uncommons and removal. (Faunsbane Troll, Gumdrop Poisoner, Talion’s Messenger)
3.5: Great role filler or removal that you never cut. (Candy Grapple, Hearth Elemental, Torch the Tower)
3.0: Good playable that I’m basically never cutting. (Shrouded Shepherd, Spellscorn Coven, Sharae of Numbing Depths)
2.5: Decent playable and the bar I hope nearly every card in my deck to reach. (Evolving Wilds, Archon's Glory, Flick a Coin)
2.0: Mediocre filler that normally is your 20-23rd card(s). (Mintstrosity, Ice Out, Grabby Giant)
1.5: Replaceable, overall bad filler. Could also be decent sideboard cards. (Titanic Growth, Scarecrow Guide, Territorial Witchstalker)
1.0: Bad filler. Gets cut most of the time. (Dark Tutelage, Kindled Heroism, Impact Tremors)
0.5: Very unhappy to main deck this, but maybe it has fringe sideboard applications. Cards that “could” be situationally decent, but bad in most situations. (Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, Mana Flare)
0.0: Unplayable in every possible situation. They rarely print cards this bad these days. (Hew the Entwood, One with Nothing)
Monuments
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
All of these are fantastic. They fix mana by finding a land while offering creatures later. They are kind of like a 2-for-1 in terms of value. All of them are great, with the Abzan monument being a little worse, as it does have requirements to impact the board in a meaningful way.
Boulderborn Dragon
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This guy is a bit better than he looks, due to the synergies with the Dragonstorm enchantments, Dragonstorm Forecaster, among other dragon synergies.
Dragonfire Blade
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
This is really, really underwhelming in this set. The format is extremely mana intensive, very rarely do you want to spend the mana required to equip this for a small buff.
Dragonstorm Globe
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This can be decent if you need fixing or have 5+ dragons in your deck.
Embermouth Sentinel
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
This can work if your decks mana is terrible, otherwise, I’d avoid it.
Jade-Cast Sentinel
Rating: 1.0 // 5.0
I’d rather lose to my library than put this in a deck.
Mox Jasper
Rating: 0.0 // 5.0
None of the dragons are cheap enough to be able to activate this early.
Ugin, Eye of the Storms
Rating: 4.0 // 5.0
This protects itself by killing a creature the turn it comes down. The loyalty is so ridiculously high, that it’s incredibly difficult to kill without a direct removal spell. This might be the best card in the set.
Gainlands
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
These are very important to make your deck function. Most decks are 3+ colors, and if you don’t have the mana to support it, your deck can’t function.
Clanlands
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
These are fantastic at fixing mana bases, as well as enabling splashes. You should likely be taking these more aggressively than you currently do. Stop waiting until pack 3 and hoping you the exact one you’re looking for. Yes, I’m talking to you.
Cori Mountain Monastery
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This can help in the late game when you’re out of cards.
Dalkovan Encampment
Rating: 2.5 // 5.0
A very low opportunity cost for a powerful ability in any deck.
Evolving Wilds
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
Ol’ reliable. It can be a bit awkward with splashes, because it requires you to put in a basic land of that type, even if you have a few ways of producing it via tap lands.
Great Arashin City
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This is decent enough, though not incredibly impactful.
Kishla Village
Rating: 2.0 // 5.0
This can help in the late game, when you’re out of cards in hand.
Mistrise Village
Rating: 0.5 // 5.0
The opportunity cost of this land ETB’ing tapped, is far too high for the ability it provides.
Maelstrom of the Spirit Dragon
Rating: 1.5 // 5.0
It’s rare that your mana will be so perfect that you can afford a colorless land in your deck. But the ability to search up a dragon is very powerful.
That’s it! I’ll be writing up a draft guide for the set next, so stay tuned, and don’t let the dragon drag-on.
Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!
