Khans of Tarkir block

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Khans of Tarkir block
 
 

The Khans of Tarkir block consists of the large expansion Khans of Tarkir (), the small expansion Fate Reforged () and a final large set Dragons of Tarkir (). It is the 21st block in Magic: The Gathering history. The block was released over 2014–2015.[1] Khans of Tarkir block is the last of the three-set blocks.[2]

Sets

Description

Warning!

On September 9, 2013, Wizards of the Coast filed for a trademark for "Warlords of Khanar". For licensing reasons, this turned out to be renamed as Khans of Tarkir.[3] Each of the clans in the block is loosely based on a different Asian culture (architecture, clothing and so on).[4] The Mardu are based on the Mongol hordes, the Jeskai are based on the Chinese Shaolin Monks, the Abzan are based on the Ottoman Turks, the Sultai are based on the Khmer Empire and the Temur are based on shamanistic Siberian culture.

The Khans of Tarkir block has a unique draft structure: the second (small) set is drafted with both large sets, but the large sets are never drafted together.[5][6] The draft structure is the first thing from which the first set was built.[7] All three sets feature Morph or Morph-like mechanic.

There will be a change in rotation structure in view of Standard too, once Theros block and Magic 2015 are being rotated out in September 2015. The Khans of Tarkir and Fate Reforged will be treated as an independent block in the new 3-block rotation, while the second large set in this block and Magic Origins will be treated as another. As a result of that, the prior two sets will be rotated out in Spring 2016, while the latter two will be rotated out in Autumn 2016.

Although Khans of Tarkir is a wedge set, it was explicitly denied that the whole block would be wedge oriented. Instead, the block was to be all about change, and contained a time traveling element.[8]</ref> As Sarkhan Vol traveled from the present Khans of Tarkir to the past (Fate Reforged) he changed the time stream by rescuing Ugin. He returned in an alternate present (Dragons of Tarkir).[9] The second does not contain three-color gold cards. The color identity of the cards is instead marked by the use of hybrid ability activation cost. The last set focused on Two-Color Dragon Broods.

It was said that there are elements in the storyline that may play out over a long time in other blocks.[4]

Mega cycles

The Khans of Tarkir block has two mega cycles.

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Dragons
Wardscale Dragon (Fate Reforged) Mindscour Dragon (Fate Reforged) Noxious Dragon (Fate Reforged) Shockmaw Dragon (Fate Reforged) Destructor Dragon (Fate Reforged)
{W}{U} {U}{B} {B}{R} {R}{G} {G}{W}
Cunning Breezedancer (Dragons of Tarkir) Ruthless Deathfang (Dragons of Tarkir) Swift Warkite (Dragons of Tarkir) Savage Ventmaw (Dragons of Tarkir) Enduring Scalelord (Dragons of Tarkir)
Uncommon 4/4 Dragons with flying for 6 mana
Cycle name
Golems
Witness of the Ages (Khans of Tarkir) Pilgrim of the Fires (Fate Reforged) Custodian of the Trove (Dragons of Tarkir)
Three golem artifact creatures that can be found across the three sets of the Tarkir block, probably corresponding to the same character among the different timelines.

Intra block references

The block features several cards that reference cards from the other sets.

  • The basic lands from each set depict the same place at different point in the timeline
  • The Khans/Fate Reforged life-gain taplands depict the same place at different points in the timeline.
  • The Khans fetch lands depict the corpses of the Dragonlords featured in Fate Reforged and Dragons of Tarkir.
  • The Khans from Khans of Tarkir have alternates in Dragons of Tarkir

Pairs

Combo

Renowned Weaponsmith from Fate Reforged combos with either Heart-Piercer Bow from Khans or Vial of Dragonfire from Dragons.

Theme decks

References

External links