<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Ozai" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Ozai</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CRyuichi+Sakuma%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryuichi Sakuma</a></em></p>
<h2>Dawn of the Final Week</h2>
<p>Hello, and welcome back to this mini-series! Here, I would've said let's open another seven packs. However, there's a problem with that. This article would come out on the 26th, and everyone would be out on holidays for that week, let alone before. So, to make things easier on us (also, perhaps to the misery of the editors), we're opening the other half of the box here. Yup, we're going through 12 packs!</p>
<p>Also, as this is the last pack-opening part of the mini-series, I will reveal my true intentions. However, if you're a sleuth, and have been paying attention, you might've figured it out by now.</p>
<p>Shall we begin?</p>
<h3>Day Thirteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ozai|jtla|24"></div></div>
<p>Well, well, well. We begin with a banger: The Phoenix King himself! Except, this is Ozai when we first saw him, shadowed out like some menacing figure in the shadows. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ozai, the Phoenix King" href="#" target="_blank">Ozai, the Phoenix King</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strong card, do not sleep on this iteration. Paying that steep six-mana cost is easier than you think, especially when you sacrifice a big enough creature. Or lots of firebending? Both?</p>
<p>In addition, we have some decent removal here, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deadly Precision" href="#" target="_blank">Deadly Precision</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Heartless Act|tla|103" href="#" target="_blank">Heartless Act</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that'll be sure to rip out your heartstrings. I never mentioned the card earlier, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Callous Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Callous Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't a bad card to sacrifice, mostly because you get to crack the Clue out of it.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, half of the deck has been misprinted (the backs are very smeared with ink), but I won't take action for it. Misprints can be valuable to have.</p>
<h3>Day Fourteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebending|jtla|29"></div></div>
<p>Speaking of the Fire Nation (all hail), we get our first pack centered on firebending itself. With two rares, no less! The first of these is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firebender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Firebender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which does a nice <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isshin, Two Heavens as One" href="#" target="_blank">Isshin, Two Heavens as One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> impression once fully charged. The token that you get from the enchantment can help you get there, too.</p>
<p>Secondly, I must make a confession. When I first read <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reckless Blaze" href="#" target="_blank">Reckless Blaze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, I thought it targeted one creature, never realizing it was a wipe until I looked at the card again. This is especially good against those pesky token decks, which tends to flood the board fast. Even better, you get a red mana for each of your creatures killed this way, meaning more spells for you to cast!</p>
<h3>Day Fifteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Iroh|jtla|30"></div></div>
<p>Yeesh, what's with all the red decks? Is the Fire Nation coming out in force or something? This time, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Iroh, Dragon of the West" href="#" target="_blank">Iroh, Dragon of the West</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who's actually really good with earthbending. That scenario is like a make-your-own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radha, Heir to Keld" href="#" target="_blank">Radha, Heir to Keld</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but in multiples. He'll also help bolster the smaller creatures with his mentor ability. However, he only triggers at the beginning of combat, not when you attack, which is a mistake I tend to make.</p>
<p>We also get two solid reprints in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolt Bend|tle|163" href="#" target="_blank">Bolt Bend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Confluence|tle|165" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Confluence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The former is nice if you don't want to shell out your lunch money on a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Swat" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Swat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. In addition, Confluence is actually a neat spell to have. Wipe boards, soften opponents, blow up troublesome artifacts, or maybe some combination! That cycle is a favorite of mine for good reason.</p>
<p>Now, can we pull some blue, pretty please?</p>
<h3>Day Sixteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hei Bai|jtla|6"></div></div>
<p>Welp, and so begins the duplicates...except this is actually another variant. I won't spend too much time on duplicates, but we did pull the other version as our very first pack. To begin, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Curious Farm Animals" href="#" target="_blank">Curious Farm Animals</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is essentially targeted removal stapled to a dinner plate full of food. We blow up something, and gain some life. Simple.</p>
<p>We also get our first wipe in white with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Destined Confrontation" href="#" target="_blank">Destined Confrontation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is akin to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Slaughter the Strong" href="#" target="_blank">Slaughter the Strong</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Outside of those, nothing much else. Next!</p>
<h3>Day Seventeen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rebelling"></div></div>
<p>...and we're back with red yet again. Le sigh. That said, we do get a good rare in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smellerbee, Rebel Fighter" href="#" target="_blank">Smellerbee, Rebel Fighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, who wheels our hand equal to the number of attacking creatures. Neat card draw if we're planning to go wide. This deck actually makes me wonder about the secondary theme to red in this set as a whole. We obviously have firebending, but what would be a good fit for the other? Aggro? Stompy, like green? What do you think?</p>
<h3>Day Eighteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azula|jtla|19"></div></div>
<p>Ok, time for a creepypasta story. Weeks ago, I had an intrusive thought that didn't go away. The thought essentially declared that I pulled both Toph and Azula. Considering I pulled the former last week, and now I pull Azula... creepy stuff.</p>
<p>Anyway, I find <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azula, Ruthless Firebender" href="#" target="_blank">Azula, Ruthless Firebender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> the trickiest to accrue experience counters for within an <em>ATLA</em>-only premise, since it relies on you to run certain cards to hit as many opponents as you can. We do get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Deal|tle|161" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Deal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so that helps. At the very least, we can discard cards ourselves to get a counter per turn, but that isn't saying much.</p>
<p>I'll admit I also underestimated <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lo and Li, Twin Tutors" href="#" target="_blank">Lo and Li, Twin Tutors</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the same context. I'd say there's a fair chance we'll be running enough Lesson cards to make them work. Also, they can tutor for Azula herself. Flavor!</p>
<h3>Day Nineteen</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Learning|jtla|44"></div></div>
<p>Darn. I was hoping for the version that had <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Guru Pathik" href="#" target="_blank">Guru Pathik</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but here we are. That said, we do get to see <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master&#039;s Guidance" href="#" target="_blank">Master&#039;s Guidance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> again, and I already shared my impressions of the card last week. Having a second one might be useful...but I digress. We also get a nice recursion card in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="True Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">True Ancestry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is nice, being a Lesson card and all. Beyond these, nothing much else to it.</p>
<h3>Day Twenty</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kyoshi|jtla|43"></div></div>
<p>Oooh boy, the other green mythic pack. Weird how I got the mythic packs for both green and black. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Kyoshi, Earthbender" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Kyoshi, Earthbender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerhouse...if we can reach that enormously steep mana cost. Beware that she will draw removal the moment her pseudo-hexproof shield is down, so be ready to protect her. Turning our lands into 8/8 monstrosities is nothing to scoff at, especially when she untaps that land, and said monstrosities have haste.</p>
<p>The rare, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tectonic Split" href="#" target="_blank">Tectonic Split</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> carries a hefty price, but we could sacrifice our weaker earthbended lands to it, so they'd come back onto our board tapped. Neat way to bypass it.</p>
<p>Another nifty card I was hoping to pull is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Allies at Last" href="#" target="_blank">Allies at Last</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, because it doesn't have you fight your opponent's creature, but deal damage to it instead.</p>
<h3>Day Twenty-One</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Warriors|jtla|9"></div></div>
<p>This, to me, is one of the weaker rare themes to pull. Yes, we get <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suki, Kyoshi Captain" href="#" target="_blank">Suki, Kyoshi Captain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but Warriors aren't a prominent enough type to make a mark unless you venture outside of the set. That said, Suki's better off in the 99 of Warrior decks. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Valorous Stance|tle|154" href="#" target="_blank">Valorous Stance</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is nice, and will be put to good use.</p>
<h3>Day Twenty-Two</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthbending|jtla|42"></div></div>
<p>After opening the Toph theme, and now this one, there's one thing that's really starting to get on my nerves. There was talk of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthbending Student" href="#" target="_blank">Earthbending Student</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being found in <em>Jumpstart </em>packs, and that the lists we got were incorrect. However, I've yet to see it. If I pull the other variant of this theme, and don't find it, then this would confirm that the card can indeed only be found in Collector Boosters.</p>
<p>Speaking of the Toph theme, both <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Solid Ground" href="#" target="_blank">Solid Ground</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tale of Katara and Toph" href="#" target="_blank">Tale of Katara and Toph</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> make a reappearance, which is nice to see.</p>
<h3>Day Twenty-Three</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter" src="https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/d/7/d75fe114-2d1f-4bff-8e5f-20375a600e16.jpg?1762683609" alt="Soaring (Avatar: The Last Airbender Jumpstart Front Cards #15)" width="260" height="362" /></p>
<p>It's about time we got another blue theme. We have a couple of standouts here. The first is the reprint of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search|tle|159" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is a nice card to have. The other is the rare for this pack, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yue, the Moon Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Yue, the Moon Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Being able to cast any noncreature spell for that waterbending cost is a strong ability, especially for something expensive and worth casting for free (somewhat).</p>
<h3>Day Twenty-Four</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gliding|jtla|5"></div></div>
<p>We arrive on our Christmas Eve pack, and we go out with a wimper. Like the Warriors theme before it, there isn't too much to glean from this pack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspired Insurgent" href="#" target="_blank">Inspired Insurgent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one thing, and our rare, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tale of Momo" href="#" target="_blank">Tale of Momo</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't bad. But we're not getting much else out of this pack, save for that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Glider Staff" href="#" target="_blank">Glider Staff</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h3>The Final Review</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chaos Wrap"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Evil Presents"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gifts Given"></div></div>
<p>Blue! You were the chosen one! You were supposed to have more representation, not less!</p>
<p>Anyway, besides the obvious drought of blue themes (ba dum tiss), we do get several more mythic rare themes, like Kyoshi and Azula. Despite its major misprinting, the Ozai deck is the standout for this article. I've warmed up to this iteration since I saw it in action a couple of times. Like I said, six mana is easy to achieve, especially when you take his triggered ability into account.</p>
<p>I won't say much else at this point, because it's time to reveal my hand.</p>
<h3>The Endgame Revealed</h3>
<p>As you read through this article, and the previous two, I'm sure you picked up some heavy hints along the way. You might've even figured it out before you reached this point. Why was I so focused on the hybrid legends? The focus on Commander more then Limited? Well, I have two words for you:</p>
<p>Commander Jumpstart.</p>
<p>You read that right. We'll be breaking apart our pulls, adding stuff from outside <em>ATLA Jumpstart</em>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commence the Endgame" href="#" target="_blank">Commence the Endgame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Return next time, where we assemble half-decks, designed with Commander in mind. As a bonus, every card in them will be from <em>ATLA</em>, so that'll give you something to look forward to.</p>
<p>In the meantime, stay safe, and Happy Holidays!</p>


avatar jumpstart commanders

Building an Advent Calendar Commander Deck With Avatar Jumpstart - Part Three