Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula | Art by Fahmi Fauzi

There's a lot of fearsome villains in the Avatar: The Last Airbender TV series, but none are as unpredictable as Azula. She's the daughter of Fire Lord Ozai, sister of Prince Zuko, and she's well known for bringing a level of evil to the show that can't be matched.

When it comes to how her final form was captured on the card Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula, she'll be bringing that same kind of chaos to a Commander table. So, join me Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as I go over a full deck tech for this legend, that'll only run you $60 (based on TCGPlayer prices).

Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula

The strategy for a deck built around Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula seemed straight forward at first: move to combat, copy spells, and win. However, it turns out there's a whole lot of complexity to this commander.

When piloting this deck, you'll need to manage your mana and sequencing in order to ensure your combat step is as destructive for your opponents as possible.

With that in mind, let's get started today by taking a look at just how many spells you can cast at instant speed in order to copy them and take over the game.

Key Cards for Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula

Instants to Multiply

• Frantic SearchFrantic Search: When it comes to decks that are centered around copying spells, this card is a must-have. Once you untap your lands with the copied version of this spell, you can tap them again to float even more mana, which will then be untapped when the original spell resolves, making this a pseudo ramp spell, as well as a great way to reset your hand.
• Big ScoreBig Score: Since this spell specifies that you discard a card as an additional cost to cast it, copying the card won't force you to discard anything, since you're not technically casting the copy. That makes this a four-mana draw four, and create four Treasure tokens during combat.
• SnapSnap: This has a similar effect to Frantic Search, where if you copy it, you can still float mana before untapping your lands again. Which just adds even more upside to this already crafty removal spell.

• StarstormStarstorm: Every deck needs ways to wipe the board, and this spell giving you the option of being cast and copied during combat, after damage is already dealt, makes it a really tricky inclusion.
• Commune with LavaCommune with Lava: Gaining access to a huge chunk of cards off the top of your library during combat could be exactly what you need to finish out a game. Who knows, maybe you'll spike a few powerful spells that'll help you continue your copy spree.
• ElectrodominanceElectrodominance: Dealing a whole lot of damage at instant speed is great, especially when you get to copy the value of X while this is on the stack, but this card hides another wild interaction. When you cast a spell from your hand without paying its mana cost, it'll ignore timing restrictions, which means you'll also copy whatever card you cast for free here.

• Prismari CommandPrismari Command: Copying modal spells is always great, since you can double up on your favorite modes. It's important to note that the copy will always use the same modes you chose on the original spell. As an example, you could deal two damage to any target, and create a Treasure token, then do both of those effects again.
• Rakdos CharmRakdos Charm: This is one of the most played Charms in the format, and for good reason, because it can totally decimate some popular archetypes. Then when you think about copying it, things become even more deadly, especially if you're facing some creature heavy decks at the table.
• Siege SmashSiege Smash: Since Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula's effect is a triggered ability, you'll still get a copy of this spell, even though it has split second. Which makes this card great for giving two targets a stat buff, or removing two artifacts without giving your opponents time to respond.

Fiendish Flash Spells

• Torrential GearhulkTorrential Gearhulk: Casting this creature during combat can be incredibly impactful on a game. Making a copy of it not only adds another body to the board, but it also lets you cast two instants from your graveyard, which'll then be copied by Azula.
• Mocking DoppelgangerMocking Doppelganger: Adding a clone effect will help give you access to more abilities to play with, which makes this card even more powerful when you copy it. Not only do you get two opportunities to clone your opponents' threats, but you also get to goad whatever these creatures target.
• Mysterious StrangerMysterious Stranger: Here's another creature that hits the board and brings a whole lot of spells with it. Sure, there's a little bit of randomness added to the process, but that won't stop you from making some incredibly wild plays after everything resolves.

• Crackling SpellslingerCrackling Spellslinger: This deck already feels like a storm list, so why not add the real deal to the mix? Something to note, is that even if you make a copy of this creature, your next instant or sorcery won't have storm twice, since the copy won't see itself as being cast. Which isn't too much of a drawback, since storm is already an extremely powerful mechanic.
• Lost in the MazeLost in the Maze: Flashing this enchantment in can help you tap down some problematic creatures, which is nice of course. However, it also has the added benefit of giving your tapped creatures hexproof, which can help save your attacking commander in a pinch.
• Eaten by PiranhasEaten by Piranhas: I'm a big fan of this kind of removal, since turning off all the abilities of a creature is sometimes better than taking it off the board entirely. Then, you add the fact that you can copy it, and its power level just goes up.

• Valley FloodcallerValley Floodcaller: We've talked a lot about cards that can already be cast at instant speed, but there's still plenty of spells that are stuck at sorcery speed in the deck. This little Otter giving your noncreature cards flash can make for a truly powerful combat step, since the rest of the table won't know what's coming their way.
• Leyline of AnticipationLeyline of Anticipation: If you've ever started the game with this enchantment on the battlefield, you'll know just how good it makes you feel. As early as turn one, you get to play a land and just pass your turn. Which means that everything you do is a secret, until the time is right.

Copy Matters

• Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus: Once you head into combat and start copying some spells, you don't want to be left empty handed in your second main phase. That's why drawing a card when you cast and copy something is just so powerful when it's paired with this commander.
• Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist: Since Azula only makes red mana when she attacks, you'll want to have access to different colors when you need it. Treasure tokens are a great way to not only ramp you, but it'll also ensure that you can cast exactly what you need to.
• Sedgemoor WitchSedgemoor Witch: This deck will likely make you public enemy number one at the table... So, having some Pest tokens on your board, that can help with blocking and gain you some life will be beneficial for keeping you out of kill range.

• Increasing VengeanceIncreasing Vengeance: Now there's a very unfair way and a slightly less unfair way to use this card in the deck. Technically speaking, if you first cast this targeting another instant during combat, you can then target the original Increasing Vengeance with the copy that Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula adds to the stack an infinite number of times (assuming that you always target the original Increasing Vengeance with the copy). However, if you don't want to start that loop, you could just cast this in order to copy another spell with both the original as well as Azula's copy, which definitely makes for an impactful interaction on its own.
• TwinfernoTwinferno: While not as busted as the last card on the list, this spell can still put in a lot of work for you. If you copy Twinferno, you'll be able to copy the next instant or sorcery you cast on the turn twice. Also, you can always give your commander double strike, just in case you need to punch through with combat damage.
• Errant, Street ArtistErrant, Street Artist: At first glance, this creature doesn't make too much sense, but let me explain. Since you're not casting the spells you copy, Errant can be tapped to copy a copied spell, making this a great card to get out get on the first turn of game.

Ramp

• Nightscape FamiliarNightscape Familiar: Making your cards cost one generic mana less is pretty powerful in this deck, since you'll be looking to chain multiple spells together in one turn. That makes a card like this go from only reducing one mana during a turn, to reducing every spell you jam into a combat step.
• Stormcatch MentorStormcatch Mentor: This creature has a lot of things going for it: Not only does it make your instant and sorcery spells cheaper, but it also has prowess and haste. All of those things together puts you in a good spot to sling a whole lot of spells, while also dealing a lot of combat damage.
• Goblin ElectromancerGoblin Electromancer: Here's an absolute classic card that still finds a home in a lot of decks. Even though this creature doesn't have multiple keywords, lowering the cost of all your instant and sorcery spells as early as turn two means that you'll be ready to pop off when the time is right.

• Desperate RitualDesperate Ritual: Since Azula makes two red mana when she attacks, you can utilize that right away to cast this spell, which turns two mana into six. That's a lot of fuel for the rest of the red spells in your hand.
• Dark RitualDark Ritual: Even though you can't cast this with firebending mana, the fact that spending one black to make six is just insane. Utilizing all of that mana to assist with emptying your hand will be what your big combat steps need.
• Cormela, Glamour ThiefCormela, Glamour Thief: If you do happen to have too much mana of a single color, using only one of it to feed into Cormela's tap effect will ensure that you have access to all three of your colors when you need it. Plus, if she dies, you'll get to return a valuable spell right back to your hand.

We also have each Guild Signet in this deck, since it'll be important to filter Azula's red firebending mana into different colors.

Fire Lord Azula Budget Commander Deck List

In Closing

There you have it, a full 99 built around Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula. I hope this list helped focus your own ideas for this commander, while also getting you excited to take over your future game nights!

If you want to see more budget Avatar content, please check out my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where I've covered most of the cards in this set and just how powerful they can be in the Commander format.