Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender | Art by Tetsuko

Magic’s foray into Nickelodeon kicks off properly with Avatar: The Last Airbender. I watched the show as a pre-teen and teenager and enthusiastically loved it and its sequel show. I’ve followed the comics and even the novels about Kyoshi, which brings me here today.

Kyoshi's characterization in the show was gripping, as a firm, fair, no-nonsense Avatar who was willing to do what it took to maintain peace. The books expanded upon this, showing her earlier, shakier days as she came to grips with her role as Avatar and her relationship with Rangi, a Fire Nation lieutenant.

So when I saw Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender previewed, well, I couldn’t help but want to brew around her.

What Does Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender Do?

Avatar Kyoshi, Earthbender is an eight-mana 6/6 that has hexproof during her controller’s turn. At the beginning of combat, she earthbends 8.

Earthbending is one of Avatar: The Last Airbender’s new mechanics, which lets you turn a land into a 0/0 and then put X +1/+1 counters, where X is the earthbending value. The neat trick about earthbending that makes it much more playable than something like Battle For Zendikar’s awaken is that when a land animated by earthbending would die or be put into exile, it returns to the battlefield.

Kyoshi’s earthbend 8 is the highest value for the keyword in the set, making for a very exciting mythic rare. She’s basically chucking mountains at that point.

There are, at time of writing, eleven commanders for earthbending, seven of which are also mono-green. Bennie Smith already dug into some of the sideways tricks that earthbending provides here. It’s a great read, and I definitely borrowed a couple of picks.

Avatar Kyoshi stands out to me by virtue of being high mana value, immediately impactful, and earthbending every turn. This list is going to lean into those differences and leverage them to ensure that, while this is definitely an earthbending deck, it will have its own special twist.

With that noted, let’s get into the core.

Key Cards for Avatar Kyoshi

This deck has three key needs: ramp, protection, and earthbending synergies. Ramp and protection are straightforward. Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender is an eight-drop, and that’s an obscene cost for a commander; this Kyoshi is hanging with Avacyn, Angel of HopeAvacyn, Angel of Hope and Ghalta, Stampede TyrantGhalta, Stampede Tyrant.

This deck is justifiably running seventeen ramp spells. Since it’s mono-green, we get better versions of CultivateCultivate, like Nissa's PilgrimageNissa's Pilgrimage. Special shout-out to cards that sacrifice a land as a cost - if it’s a land animated by earthbending, we get to bring it back to the field. I know two-mana ramp spells are normally king in commander, but unless we’re getting at least two lands out of the deck, it’s just not going to be good enough for getting our commander down in time.

Mono-green means we get to use Emerald MedallionEmerald Medallion - when you cast Skyshroud ClaimSkyshroud Claim into Kodama's ReachKodama's Reach on turn three thanks to that, you might just enter the Avatar state…

Protection is similarly necessary; casting Kyoshi twice in one game is doable for a heavy ramp deck, but a third time is going to be backbreaking. Better to hold up a one-mana instant like Defend the RiderDefend the Rider to keep her safe.

There are some two-mana spells in this slot, but they need to be pulling double duty for double the mana cost. The flavorfully appropriate Origin of MetalbendingOrigin of Metalbending can be spot protection or a NaturalizeNaturalize in a pinch.

Earthbending has multiple “hooks” on which to hang some synergies. It animates lands and then brings them back to the battlefield should they be removed – combined with the absurd amount of ramp, there’s already the strong backbone of a Landfall deck. Let’s start there.

Landfall has been a popular theme since original Zendikar block coined the term in 2009. This deck is running nine landfall payoffs, including steadfast resource-based staples like Tireless ProvisionerTireless Provisioner and Tireless TrackerTireless Tracker or board presence heavy hitters like Avenger of ZendikarAvenger of Zendikar.

We also get to run Toph, Earthbending MasterToph, Earthbending Master, a scaling earthbending reward and one of the very few repeatable earthbenders.

What a delightful opportunity to make use of Embodiment of InsightEmbodiment of Insight, a card that, in this deck, can give our lands a temporary power boost and the ability to attack and tap for mana. Righteous.

To really rev things up, play Nissa, WorldwakerNissa, Worldwaker or Nissa, Who Shakes the WorldNissa, Who Shakes the World - Kyoshi and Nissa would have gotten along well as fellow lesbians who could drop large, animated tracts of land on a person.

Finally: Ashaya, Soul of the WildAshaya, Soul of the Wild lets your nontoken creatures trigger landfall and lets you earthbend the creatures, turning them into 8/8s and - just as important - allows them to survive removal.

The other major hook of earthbending is the fact that it produces +1/+1 counters, another popular theme in green decks. For Toph, the Blind BanditToph, the Blind Bandit or Bumi, Eclectic EarthbenderBumi, Eclectic Earthbender decks, Hardened ScalesHardened Scales is a must-grab due to wanting to earthbend often. Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender, however, is much more about going tall.

There are a few different counter doublers running around these days, the most obvious slam dunk being The Earth CrystalThe Earth Crystal, but Branching EvolutionBranching Evolution is really clean at three mana. With the commander on board, TerrasymbiosisTerrasymbiosis can draw eight cards each turn (it’s a may, so no risk of decking).

This isn’t a major subtheme in the deck, just a general synergy being lightly used. Other decks with this commander may lean into it more!

How Does the Deck Win?

Chaining ramp spells is a pretty good strategy. This deck is absolutely going to try to rev up for the first few turns. Dropping an early value engine like Horizon ExplorerHorizon Explorer, the Tireless twins, or Endless AtlasEndless Atlas will help keep the deck churning along until we can start casting the commander or other big threats.

Ideal opening hands have at least three lands and two ramp spells. Run it from there and feel the mana flow.

Getting the commander down and protecting her with a Snakeskin VeilSnakeskin Veil or something similar is priority number one. Priority number two is making sure to refill the hand because the deck will spend a lot of time gathering mana by spending cards.

Fortunately, this commander makes big creatures every turn, and green loves to draw cards equal to power. Life's LegacyLife's Legacy is a great option in a pinch due to its low mana value, even if it forces us to sacrifice the creature. The usual suspects are here, of course: Rishkar's ExpertiseRishkar's Expertise, Soul's MajestySoul's Majesty, and Season of GatheringSeason of Gathering.

Unfortunately, earthbending doesn’t result in an enters trigger, so Elemental BondElemental Bond and friends don’t work.

From there, we want to make sure our lands can attack, block, and hold up mana, so Wilderness ReclamationWilderness Reclamation is choice.

From there, it’s a matter of using our mix of counter synergies, land creature synergies, and big power to crush the opponents. Powering out a hasty 8/8 (or 10/10 with vigilance thanks to Sylvan AdvocateSylvan Advocate or 16/16 thanks to a counter doubler…) every turn is going to incrementally drop life totals. All that mana lying around can be used for an occasional haymaker like Majestic GenesisMajestic Genesis (which takes advantage of the commander’s high mana value) or mana sinks like Bonders' EnclaveBonders' Enclave to keep the action rolling.

With that, let’s look at the list.

Avatar Kyoshi, Earthbender Commander Deck List

Conclusion

Attacking with your lands is an ancient tradition in Magic at this point, thanks to creature lands like Treetop VillageTreetop Village and animating effects (Awakening of Vitu-GhaziAwakening of Vitu-Ghazi being one of the splashiest). Earthbending is an ideal mechanic in that regard: a new tweak on something old, which helps it feel fresh and exciting.

Avatar Kyoshi, EarthbenderAvatar Kyoshi, Earthbender is a fantastically fun commander for all the Tommy/Tammy players out there, though I think she has enough weird interactions for the Johnny/Jenny types to perk up when she hits the table.

As usual, I have a tendency for going a bit Stone Soup with my deckbuild, choosing to run multiple subthemes rather than lean too heavily in any one direction. This commander could easily run tables as a massive source of +1/+1 counters or weird trickshots by going all-in on the earthbending land combos. Which is more exciting to you?

In the meantime, have fun dropping your pods like Kyoshi dropped Chin the Conqueror.

More Avatar: