Pauper - Best Cards from Tarkir: Dragonstorm

Tarkir: Dragonstorm (TDM) is here! It will definitely be an interesting set, particularly after the recent bans (Deadly Dispute, Basking Broodscale, and Kuldotha Rebirth).

The format is still adapting to the surprising, as well as experimental, High Tide / Prophetic Prism unbans, something unheard of in the history of Pauper. So, this is the perfect time to test out new cards, builds, and strategies!

Mono-White Aggro Gets Backup

TDM will bring us two fascinating white cards that, I believe, could be quite valuable in Mono-White Aggro lists.

The first one is Fortress Kin-Guard, a 1/2 creature that costs and has Endure 1, which lets you put a +1/+1 counter on it or create a 1/1 Spirit creature token. You can use this ability defensively or aggressively, depending on the game state, but Mono-White will benefit from it in either case, as this deck loves ETB effects.

Salt Road Packbeast is another common that will fit White Aggro incredibly well. It is a 4/3 creature that costs a decent chunk of mana, but it is also very similar to Search Party Captain, which saw play in this type of deck for some time once before. However, Salt Road is clearly better, as it has a sort of Affinity for creatures. It will be incredible with Fortress Kin-Guard, which will fill your board and discount the cost of Salt Road.

New Red Card Draw

Once again, we have an effect similar to Reckless Impulse, but for one extra mana. Nonetheless, one of its modes buffs a creature, which makes it quite versatile. It's a tough call between these two cards.

I believe decks like Ruby Storm can benefit from this versatility, particularly because it draws cards, considering this deck can discount red costs very easily.

The Power of Green

Now, moving on to green, Tarkir brought us a few very interesting abilities that can benefit some specific strategies in this color considerably.

Champion of Dusan is a 4/2 with trample for just 3 mana, which is not that bad for a common in a Standard-focused set, but its greatest strength is its Renew ability. This ability lets you exile this card from the graveyard to put a +1/+1 counter and a trample counter on a creature under your control.

The trample counter is incredibly strong in the right build, and I, personally, believe RG Aggro variations in this format could use this ability rather well. Particularly as this card interacts nicely with Malevolent Rumble, which, in turn, can put it in play straight from the graveyard. Imagine putting a trample counter on Writhing Chrysalis, for instance, or even on Boarding Party.

If we compare this deck with its most likely rival nowadays, Bannerhide Krushok, we can clearly see how this Guardian will probably see play. Both offer more stats to your board, and do something with trample, but one costs one mana more to enter play and only gives you counters. Meanwhile, the other, despite not giving you as many stats, could impact the game a lot more, as it gives you a trample counter for just .

Another green card that stood out a lot to us was Heritage Reclamation, which is nothing more, nothing less, than an upgraded Return to Nature. This card will easily find some space in the meta.

Heritage Reclamation has the same effects as Return to Nature, but its last mode is not only a spot graveyard hate, but also card draw, which makes all the difference in the world.

With this in mind, I believe these two cards can see play in a deck like Gruul Ponza, for instance.

Sagu Wildling is the green Omen in this set, a mechanic that only appears in Dragon cards. If we only look at this cycle of commons, we can barely see some real value, but, if we also look at this green Dragon, we can clearly see some nice strategies with both of them.

5-Land Spy is the current version of Land Spy Deck. The goal behind this strategy is putting Balustrade Spy in play, milling your entire deck from your graveyard, and putting more creatures in play from there. Then, you just have to use Dread Return to bring Lotleth Giant from the graveyard and deal lethal damage to the opponent.

The most well-known version of this deck only used one land, but, apparently, five lands make it more consistent, and, besides Troll of Khazad-dûm and Generous Ent, some lists also use Many Partings to get the other lands. This creates a Food token that you can use later on to get Cauldron Familiar on your battlefield and use it as one of your many sacrifices.

Sagu Wildling could do the same as Many Partings, but the difference is that it is a creature, and you'll shuffle it back into your deck with its Omen. This makes the Spy game plan a lot better.

As usual, Standard sets hardly include cards that truly impact Pauper, but some are good enough to find some space. The new set, Tarkir, has a few great commons that we can explore really well with the right strategies. And, considering the most recent bans, this is the perfect time to try out new stuff in Pauper.

What did you think of this set? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!