Tarkir: Dragonstorm (TDM) Limited Set Review: Black

Tarkir: Dragonstorm will release 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)

Abzan Devotee

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a serviceable mana fixer if you require one.

Adorned Crocodile

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This seems like replaceable top end filler. I do enjoy the fact that it pops out a zombie druid token, which makes me think that the crocodile ate a druid at some point.

Aggressive Negotiations

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I do like these types of hand disruption spells, but the +1/+1 counter feels a bit too underwhelming.

Alchemist’s Assistant

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A lifelink token can end up gaining a ton of life when you slap it on a big dragon. I like this version of Rafiki.

Alesha’s Legacy

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a pretty underwhelming trick. It works a lot better as an offensive trick in Mardu, than a defensive one.

Avenger of the Fallen

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

You don’t really need any creatures in your graveyard for this to be a solid creature. The stat line + deathtouch is a nice bargain for three mana.

Caustic Exhale

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a really efficient piece of removal to take out 1-3 drops easily.

Corroding Dragonstorm

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is definitely a card for decks looking to play the long game. It’s very cheap, so it’s easy to see how casting this a few times within a game will make a big impact during longer matches.

Cruel Truths

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is pretty expensive compared to much older iterations, like Read the Bones.

Delta Bloodflies

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a creature that wants to be in fast decks, but Black is one of the slower colors this set. It’s playable in the right decks, but the floor is pretty low.

Desperate Measures

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This can pick off X/1 creatures efficiently, but is at its best when used during combat on your own creatures.

Dragon’s Prey

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

If you are in a Black wedge with very few black cards, this is really easy to support, unlike its predecessor Murder.

Feral Deathgorger // Dusk Sight

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

The omen half of this card is pretty nice, and the dragon half is a decent defensive creature. Be careful when casting the omen that your target doesn’t die in response.

Gurmag Rakshasa

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

The floor on this creature is a 5/5 menace for 6, but if you get to kill a creature or make a meaningful attack, this can make for a powerful swing.

Hundred-Battle Veteran

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This card is designed for Abzan decks, where it can often be a 6/6 for 4. You also get to cast it twice, and the second time comes with 1/3 counters to get the buff.

Kin-Tree Nurturer

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a pretty weak creature, and will often trade down with 2 drops.

Krumar Initiate

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This reminds me a bit of Phyrexian Processor. I don’t think there will be many instances where you will make this creature bigger, but it will give you something to put on the battlefield during the turns you don’t have any great plays.

Nightblade Brigade

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a decent creature that does a few things well. It seems like it’s best on defense, but it can get in for a couple points here and there.

Purging Stormbrood // Absorb Essence

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

Both halves of this card are pretty solid. The trick saves creatures, helps you win in combat, and can make massive life swings.

Qarsi Revenant

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is a solid threat that comes back again in the form of the three counters.

Rot-Curse Rakshasa

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This creature can definitely be a bit awkward at times, but when it’s good, it’s very good. Putting decay tokens on your opponent’s whole team is incredibly powerful, and it’s not difficult to get him in your graveyard.

Salt Road Skirmish

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is an alright kill spell, and the 1/1 tokens likely won’t be super impactful. Dragon's Prey seems like a superior removal spell.

Sandskitter Outrider

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a decent body for most black decks. Having the option of a 4/3 menace or two 2 power creatures is really nice.

Scavenger Regent // Exude Toxin

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

There will be plenty of games where the omen half won’t line up all that well, so don’t hesitate to play the big dragon on turn 4. If you do get to kill some creatures beforehand, that’s just upside!

Sidisi, Regent of the Mire

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This gets better the more self mill your deck has. It can be an annoying threat the longer the games go, and also helps get your creatures with renew into your graveyard. There’s not a huge downside to put this into most decks.

Sinkhole Surveyor

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

This guy can be phenomenal on turn 2, but won’t be a great top deck in the late game, as there will be big enough blockers to stop it in its tracks.

Strategic Betrayal

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Like most Diabolic Edict effects, this can be a bit awkward at times. But it does do a great job at shutting off renew and harmonize cards in the late game, when this is at it’s weakest.

The Sibsig Ceremony

Rating: 0.0 // 5.0

I can’t picture a limited deck that would want this.

Unburied Earthcarver

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is fine filler if you need two drops, but it likely won’t do too much.

Unrooted Ancestor

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Aside from picking off an attacker, this can do some cool things like fizzling an opponents removal spell, like Twinmaw Stormbrood // Charring Bite.

Venerated Stormsinger

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a great card for Mardu when paired with mobilize creatures. It triggers on each creature death, and turns into a very fast clock. It can be a bit slow/awkward in some of the late game oriented black decks.

Wail of War

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

The -1/-1 option won’t likely be cast too often, so I would go into most games expecting this to be a graveyard recursion spell.

Worthy Cost

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This removal spell isn’t for every black deck. You really want to make sure you have fodder, like mobilize tokens, so you don’t end up 2-for-1’ing your self.

Yathan Tombguard

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This card can go crazy sometimes, especially in Abzan. The floor is a bit low in decks with very few counters.

Top 3 Black Commons:

Black has some solid removal, but is really lacking in the creature department, with most of the creatures around filler level. It doesn’t look like it contributes all too much to Mardu, but has some great defensive qualities for Abzan and Sultai. I’m tackling Red next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!