Decoding Tarkir Clan Colors: A Comprehensive Guide to the Five Factions

The plane of Tarkir, a world shaped by conflict and dominated by powerful clans, offers a rich tapestry of cultures and ideologies. Central to understanding Tarkir is grasping the significance of its clan colors. Each clan is defined not only by its unique philosophy but also by a specific color combination in Magic: The Gathering, influencing their strategies, creatures, and overall identity. This guide will delve into the intricacies of each of the five clans, exploring how their respective Tarkir clan colors shape their distinct characteristics and playstyles.

The History of Tarkir and its Clans

Tarkir’s history is one of constant struggle and adaptation. Originally, the plane was ruled by dragons, but the cunning human clans eventually drove them to near extinction. This event profoundly shaped the cultural landscape, with each clan developing its own unique path to power and survival. The five clans—Abzan, Jeskai, Sultai, Mardu, and Temur—each embody different values and utilize distinct strategies, all reflected in their Tarkir clan colors.

The Abzan Houses (White, Black, Green)

The Abzan Houses, represented by the colors White, Black, and Green, value endurance and family. They are known for their siege warfare and their ability to weather any storm. Their philosophy centers around the strength of the family unit and the importance of tradition. The Tarkir clan colors of the Abzan reflect their resilience, their pragmatism, and their connection to the natural world. White represents their focus on structure and community, Black symbolizes their acceptance of death and the necessity of sacrifice, and Green represents their connection to the land and their ability to adapt to changing circumstances.

Abzan armies often feature creatures with the Outlast mechanic, allowing them to grow stronger over time. They are adept at attrition warfare, slowly grinding down their opponents through superior resilience and strategic positioning. The Tarkir clan colors allow the Abzan to utilize a wide range of strategies, from controlling the board with powerful creatures to disrupting their opponent’s plans with removal spells.

The Jeskai Way (Blue, White, Red)

The Jeskai Way, encompassing the colors Blue, White, and Red, emphasizes enlightenment through rigorous training and self-discipline. They are masters of martial arts and value knowledge above all else. Their monasteries are centers of learning and meditation, where students strive to achieve physical and mental perfection. The Tarkir clan colors of the Jeskai reflect their pursuit of knowledge, their commitment to justice, and their fiery spirit. Blue represents their intellectual curiosity and their mastery of magic, White symbolizes their dedication to order and their commitment to upholding justice, and Red represents their passion and their willingness to take risks.

The Jeskai are known for their prowess in combat, utilizing creatures with the Prowess mechanic, which rewards them for casting noncreature spells. They are adept at controlling the flow of battle, using counterspells and removal spells to disrupt their opponent’s plans. Their Tarkir clan colors give them access to a wide range of tools, allowing them to adapt to any situation and outmaneuver their opponents.

The Sultai Brood (Black, Green, Blue)

The Sultai Brood, represented by the colors Black, Green, and Blue, value ruthlessness and power. They are masters of necromancy and command legions of undead servants. Their philosophy centers around the idea that power is the only thing that matters, and they are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals. The Tarkir clan colors of the Sultai reflect their ambition, their cunning, and their disregard for morality. Black represents their pursuit of power and their willingness to sacrifice anything to achieve it, Green symbolizes their connection to the natural world and their ability to manipulate life and death, and Blue represents their intellectual prowess and their mastery of forbidden knowledge.

The Sultai often utilize creatures with the Delve mechanic, allowing them to cast powerful spells by exiling cards from their graveyard. They are adept at controlling the board with removal spells and reanimating powerful creatures from their graveyard. Their Tarkir clan colors allow them to generate card advantage and overwhelm their opponents with a relentless wave of undead servants.

The Mardu Horde (Red, White, Black)

The Mardu Horde, encompassing the colors Red, White, and Black, emphasizes speed and aggression. They are a nomadic warband that thrives on raiding and conquest. Their philosophy centers around the glory of battle and the pursuit of victory at any cost. The Tarkir clan colors of the Mardu reflect their ferocity, their discipline, and their willingness to sacrifice everything for their cause. Red represents their passion and their love of battle, White symbolizes their code of honor and their commitment to their warband, and Black represents their ruthlessness and their willingness to do whatever it takes to win.

The Mardu are known for their aggressive strategies, utilizing creatures with the Raid mechanic, which rewards them for attacking each turn. They are adept at overwhelming their opponents with a relentless assault of fast, efficient creatures. Their Tarkir clan colors give them access to a wide range of aggressive tools, allowing them to quickly close out games and leave their opponents reeling.

The Temur Frontier (Green, Blue, Red)

The Temur Frontier, represented by the colors Green, Blue, and Red, value savagery and adaptability. They are a nomadic tribe that lives in the harsh wilderness of Tarkir, respecting the power of nature and the strength of the individual. Their philosophy centers around the idea that only the strong survive, and they are constantly testing themselves against the elements. The Tarkir clan colors of the Temur reflect their connection to nature, their intellectual curiosity, and their fiery spirit. Green represents their connection to the natural world and their respect for its power, Blue symbolizes their intellectual curiosity and their willingness to explore the unknown, and Red represents their passion and their willingness to embrace the wild.

The Temur often utilize creatures with the Ferocious mechanic, which rewards them for controlling a creature with power 4 or greater. They are adept at controlling the board with powerful creatures and disrupting their opponent’s plans with counterspells and removal spells. Their Tarkir clan colors allow them to adapt to any situation and overwhelm their opponents with a combination of brute force and cunning strategy.

The Impact of the Dragonlords

The timeline of Tarkir was irrevocably altered when Sarkhan Vol traveled back in time and saved Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. This act led to the dragons reclaiming their dominance over the plane, reshaping the clans into dragon-worshipping factions. While the core identities of the clans remained, their strategies and philosophies shifted to align with their respective dragonlords. Understanding the original Tarkir clan colors is crucial for appreciating the depth of the plane’s lore and the consequences of Sarkhan’s actions.

Analyzing the Color Combinations

Each of the Tarkir clan colors offers unique strengths and weaknesses. The wedge color combinations (three colors with one color absent from the allied pairs) provide a diverse range of strategic options. Understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each color combination is essential for building effective decks and mastering the plane of Tarkir. The interplay between the colors within each clan allows for complex and nuanced gameplay, making Tarkir a fascinating setting for Magic: The Gathering.

For instance, the Abzan’s White, Black, and Green combination allows for resilient creatures, efficient removal, and powerful late-game threats. The Jeskai’s Blue, White, and Red combination focuses on controlling the board with spells and overwhelming opponents with agile attackers. The Sultai’s Black, Green, and Blue combination excels at graveyard manipulation and generating card advantage. The Mardu’s Red, White, and Black combination is all about aggressive strategies and overwhelming opponents with speed. Finally, the Temur’s Green, Blue, and Red combination combines powerful creatures with disruptive spells to control the board and dominate the late game.

Deckbuilding Strategies Based on Tarkir Clan Colors

When building a deck based on one of the Tarkir clan colors, it’s important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of the color combination. Focus on cards that synergize well with the clan’s mechanic and overall strategy. For example, an Abzan deck might focus on creatures with the Outlast mechanic and cards that support a long, grindy game. A Jeskai deck might focus on noncreature spells that trigger the Prowess mechanic and cards that control the flow of battle. A Sultai deck might focus on cards that fill the graveyard and reanimate powerful creatures. A Mardu deck might focus on cheap, aggressive creatures and cards that reward attacking. A Temur deck might focus on powerful creatures and cards that disrupt the opponent’s plans.

Experiment with different combinations of cards and strategies to find what works best for you. The Tarkir clan colors offer a wide range of possibilities, so don’t be afraid to try new things. Remember to consider the current metagame and adapt your deck accordingly.

Conclusion: Mastering the Colors of Tarkir

Understanding the Tarkir clan colors is essential for mastering the plane and building effective decks. Each clan offers a unique playstyle and a distinct set of strategic options. By understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each color combination, you can build decks that are both powerful and fun to play. Whether you prefer the resilience of the Abzan, the cunning of the Jeskai, the ruthlessness of the Sultai, the aggression of the Mardu, or the savagery of the Temur, there is a clan for you on the plane of Tarkir. Dive deep into the lore, experiment with different strategies, and discover the power of the Tarkir clan colors. [See also: Building a Five-Color Commander Deck]