Ugin, Eye of the Storms – Tarkin: Dragonstorm
Date Reviewed: March 28, 2025
Ratings:
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.75
Limited: 4.25
Multiplayer: 4.13
Commander [EDH]: 4.38
Ratings are based on a 1 to 5 scale. 1 is bad. 3 is average. 5 is great.
Reviews Below:
It’s rather ironic – Ugin, one of the planeswalkers who fought the Eldrazi in ages past, getting a new card that plays like an Eldrazi giant. Right down to having a cast trigger rather than a entry trigger. But you may as well take advantage of it, and the fact is that just like Ugin’s past cards, this is a very good play for any deck that can make enough mana. His +2 makes the fact that you managed to cast a seven-mana spell even more demoralizing for your opponents; actually, his 0 will often be more so, because in a deck with spells that can use three colorless mana, it’s basically reducing his cost by almost half. And he starts with 7 loyalty, so it’s usually quite safe to use it! It’s said that he who fights monsters should see to it that he does not become one, but let’s be honest: Ugin provided multiple insanely powerful curve-enders for ramp decks long before he took up Eldrazi abilities, and his new card just cements his concept.
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 4.5
Limited: 4 (much of Tarkir: Dragonstorm is the literal opposite of colorless, but he’s still good if he’s the only such spell in your deck)
Multiplayer: 4
Commander [EDH]: 4
rawr
Turns out that some forever prisons aren’t forever, and Ugin returns after Jace manages to do what he does best. The spirit dragon and genesis of Tarkir’s many swoopy friends has been locked away for the story’s last six years, but he’s back with quite the card this time out.
Let’s start with his main attraction: that removal effect. Nearly unconditional exile on cast is quite the bonus when you see what’s stuck to it, and Ugin rewards more colorless spells with more exine. Seven mana has long been hugely relevant in some formats for a colorless cards in particular, and while this has bling spots, it’s still quite powerful and repeatable. Remember that this stiggers off of every colorless spell, and if you’re playing this, this probably isn’t alone.
His other abilities are also quite good, especially considering his starting loyalty. That 0 can let you cast more things on his entry turn to wipe out more permanents, and that +2 is never bad for a bit of extra gas (and putting him at 9 loyalty, quite high to work through). His ultimate is certainly flashy and attainable, but I feel like that’s more ht eside show; still, if you can resolve it, chances are the game is over.
Ugin’s vicious, though he really wants a particular deck to shine. Still, he’s generic enough to be a solid include in any deck, and I feel like he’ll be a chase card for Tarkir Dragonstorm.
Constructed: 4.5
Casual: 5
Limited: 4.5 (won’t win games alone, but it’s removal and card advantage together)
Multiplayer: 4.25
Commander [EDH]: 4.75
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