Tarkir: Dragonstorm spoiler season has finally come to a close, and there are a lot of powerful cards in the set to look forward to. This may be designed primarily as a flashy set with cool but clunky Dragons, but there are a number of cards that look poised to have an impact across multiple formats.
As we get ready for the set’s official release, we thought it would be worth going over what we think are the best cards in the set. For these rankings, we will be looking at the cards we feel will make the biggest splash across all major formats.
Obviously, this is all speculative, and comparing a great card for Standard to a Commander staple or a card that seems strongest in Eternal formats is difficult. Nonetheless, we think all of these cards have high potential and are worth shouting out in some capacity. Now, without further ado, here are the MTG best Tarkir: Dragonstorm cards.
Honorable Mention: Mox Jasper
Earning an honorable mention spot on our list, we have Mox Jasper. Mox Jasper is undoubtedly a powerful card in the right shell, but it is extremely narrow. Most Dragons are a bit on the expensive side, and Mox Jasper doesn’t actually help get you there unless you manage to stick an efficient Dragon and it doesn’t die.
In this sense, Mox Jasper may have a difficult time succeeding in Standard. Nonetheless, it’s impossible to write off a Mox given their historic track record for the most part. It does have some nice synergy with Stormscale Scion at helping you build up your Storm count, and perhaps cards like Sarkhan, Dragon Ascendant can help bridge the gap to your expensive cards.
Mox Jasper also works incredibly well with Changelings. At minimum, Mox Jasper will be an automatic inclusion in Dragon Commander decks, but its ceiling makes it impossible to ignore.
#8: United Battlefront
At number eight, we have United Battlefront. United Battlefront is basically a reverse Collected Company, letting you put noncreature permanents into play from the top of your deck. This is certainly more restrictive, and being a sorcery hurts its stock. Regardless, there are some potential homes where this can shine.
In Standard, United Battlefront feels like a great option for Azorius Repurposing Bay decks. You have tons of artifacts to hit, including removal spells like Perilous Snare to help keep you alive. If you ever hit two copies of Simulacrum Synthesizer off this, you’ll be in incredible shape.
Other potent three-drop noncreature permanents like Temporary Lockdown could make United Battlefront a worthwhile inclusion. Having a high density of noncreature permanents to avoid whiffing off United Battlefront isn’t easy, though, hence why it’s this low on the list.
#7: Cori-Steel Cutter
Cori-Steel Cutter is next, and there’s no doubting it provides a very strong effect. Repeatedly playing two spells a turn isn’t difficult, especially in non-Standard formats. The question is: what shells want this effect?
In Standard, Izzet Prowess can make great use of this card. Between cantrips and Plot cards like Slickshot Show-Off that you can Plot, then cast for free to help trigger flurry, Cori-Steel Cutter looks like a solid sideboard card at least. The issue is that most red decks in Standard are less spell-focused thanks to powerhouses such as Manifold Mouse. A Monstrous Rage ban could change that, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Cori-Steel Cutter has a shot at seeing Pioneer play in Izzet Phoenix shells, but it’s unclear if it’s worth replacing any slots that Third Path Iconoclast takes up. In Modern, Cori-Steel Cutter does work well with Mishra’s Bauble, but there isn’t an immediate home for the card there. This card may fall short of expectations, but its multi-format potential means it earns a slot on this list.
#6: Songcrafter Mage
Songcrafter Mage is an interesting card. While it immediately draws comparisons to Snapcaster Mage, its ability to help reduce the cost of the spell you target is big game.
For instance, getting to hit this off of Collected Company, then recast Collected Company by tapping this and paying a single green mana can singlehandedly swing games in your favor. Currently, the best Collected Company deck in Pioneer is Selesnya, where Songcrafter Mage doesn’t fit. Still, this synergy is strong enough to warrant exploration.
Songcrafter Mage is a solid value engine. Even recasting removal spells or Stock Up in Standard could be decent if the mana allows it. The lack of a home for this card right away makes it hard to put it any higher on the list, though.
#5: Voice of Victory
Voice of Victory is next, and this card offers a lot for two mana. The last line gives Grand Abolisher vibes, which already sees some cEDH play. Once you add the Mobilize 2 ability, though, you’ve got a completely different beast.
Many cEDH players were quick to point out how incredible this card is alongside Tymna, the Weaver. After playing this turn two, you can slam Tymna, attack with Voice of Victory, and have each token attack a different player. In a four-player setting, you may be able to draw three cards off Tymna. Thanks to Voice of Victory, your opponents can’t even respond during your turn by killing Tymna, either. The card also has incredible synergy with Najeela, the Blade-Blossom.
As a three-toughness creature, Voice isn’t the easiest to block down. The tokens work well in a sacrifice shell, so maybe if a Raise the Past deck becomes more popular in Standard, Voice will make an impact there, too.
#4: Sunpearl Kirin
Sunpearl Kirin may just be an uncommon, but it’s perfect for Standard. Alongside Nurturing Pixie Sunpearl Kirin should do some real damage.
Having flash also makes Sunpearl Kirin a nuisance for the opponent. You get to leave up Nowhere to Run and Sunpearl Kirin, then react to what the opponent does.
Self-bounce decks are extremely popular. Barring a major ban to the archetype, it’s hard to imagine a scenario where this card doesn’t see lots of play. Self-bounce decks even pop up in Pioneer. Having some extra redundancy is never a bad thing, so expect this card to see ample play.
#3: Elspeth, Storm Slayer
Moving to the other end of the spectrum, Elspeth is a flashy mythic rare Planeswalker with a slew of abilities. The token doubling ability combined with its +1 ability means that Elspeth will be a slam dunk in token decks in Commander.
Elspeth also is an excellent addition to mono-white token decks in Standard that revolve around Caretaker’s Talent. Getting to make four 2/1 fliers by casting Overlord of the Mistmoors is quite scary.
Outside of token decks, Elspeth is good enough to be a finisher for Azorius control decks in Standard. It’s -3 ability protects itself, and once you make enough tokens, its 0 ability lets you end the game in short order. This card is a bit reminiscent of Elsepth, Sun’s Champion, which took over games in old Theros Standard.
#2: Rare Land Cycle
At our number two spot, we decided to group the cycle of mono-colored rare lands. Each one enters untapped if you control a land with one of two specific basic land types, produces a different color, and comes with a solid activated ability.
Some activated abilities are better than others. Mistrise Village making spells like Show and Tell unable to be countered has scary implications in Legacy. Great Arashin City makes 1/1s on the cheap, which should be amazing for Orzhov control and Abzan token decks alike.
Both Kishla Village and Cori Mountain Monastery give you mana sinks in the late game to smooth out your draws. Cori Mountain Monastery even lets you pull ahead on cards if you’re able to play what you exile.
Dalkoven Encampment is the most restrictive of the bunch, but even it can see play in the right shell. These lands are reminiscent of the Castles from Throne of Eldraine. Their abilities are pushed, and if you’re playing a multi-color deck that can reliably have these enter untapped, they provide amazing value.
#1: Ugin, Eye of the Storms
Last but certainly not least, we have Ugin, Eye of the Storms. Ugin is a bomb. Seven mana is a lot, but in a Modern setting with Ugin’s Labyrinth and Kozilek’s Command, getting to seven mana is very realistic.
The payoff is absolutely bonkers. Just for casting this, you get to blow up one of your opponent’s permanents that’s one or more colors. From there, you get a card advantage engine with an ultimate ability that should end the game.
Oh, we forgot to mention that any other colorless spell you play lets you blow up another one of your opponent’s permanents! Colorless Eldrazi players in Modern already make use of Mox Opal and Mishra’s Bauble to maximize Glaring Fleshraker. The thought of following up Ugin with any zero-mana artifact should have them salivating.
Ugin is definitely a narrow card. Regardless, its power is off the charts, so we felt it deserved the title of best Tarkir: Dragonstorm card.
