Iroh, Firebending Instructor Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imprisoned in the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Imprisoned in the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.ryanleeart.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ryan Alexander Lee</a></em></p>
<p>There's just so much exciting stuff coming down the pipeline in the back half of 2025. <em>Edge of Eternities </em>is literally <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/edge-of-eternities-rules-update-vehicles-can-be-commanders" target="_blank" rel="noopener">changing the rules of Commander</a> with its introduction of legendary Spacecrafts. <em>Spider-Man </em>is already coming in September and if the fervor surrounding <em>Final Fantasy</em> is anything to go off of, the discourse surrounding that set is going to be absolutely bonkers.</p>
<p>But the thing I can't stop looking forward to is the <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> (ATLA) release in November. <em>Avatar</em> is a tremendous show that I love dearly, and from the preview of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/magiccon-las-vegas-preview-panel-edge-of-eternities-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Wizards of the Coast</em> showed at MagicCon: Las Vegas</a>, it seems that they're really taking the property and running with it in some incredible ways.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avatar Aang"></div></div>
<p>I wouldn't expect anything less from the franchise. The new <em>Avatar Legends</em> roleplaying game is excellent. And <em>The Legend of Korra: Pro-Bending Arena</em> is a board game whose years-long stranglehold over my friend group is as well-earned as it is hard to explain.</p>
<p>Clearly they don't just hand out the license to anyone willing to pay up for it. ATLA produces exclusively high-quality gaming tie-ins, which has ratcheted up my hype for the set past the point that I can keep quiet about it any longer.</p>
<p>To that end, here are some cards I'd love to see reprinted within the <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> set. I've listed them here from easiest direct translation to stretches so wild that I would be not only shocked, but also appalled, to see them put into the set.</p>
<p><strong>WARNING: Avatar spoilers abound below</strong></p>
<h2>Direct Translation Reprints for <em>Avatar</em></h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imprisoned in the Moon" href="#" target="_blank">Imprisoned in the Moon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imprisoned in the Moon"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Tenth Doctor" href="#" target="_blank">I&#039;m sorry, I&#039;m so sorry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to start us here. But it's the absolutely the first card I thought of to be put into this set. It's just right there.</p>
<p>Obviously Yue, Sokka's love interest from the end of Season 1, becoming a moon spirit is a sledgehammer to the feelings of any person, young or old, who watches <em>Avatar</em>. Their relationship is well written, and her departure from Sokka's life at the end of the season is one of the most heartbreaking moments of the series.</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/BB8CGkJTESo?si=EoCtsdNdsYRZRuSu&amp;t=188" target="_blank" rel="noopener">And then he tries to tell Zuko about it</a>.</p>
<p>That moment took on a life of its own, becoming one of the show's most enduring memes. It's also an excellent go-to response when someone tells you about work, friend, or commander pod drama. It expresses solidarity while also encouraging them to lighten up.</p>
<p>This card was first printed in <em>Eldritch Moon</em> back in 2016, and every one of its nine printings since has used the original art by Ryan Alexander Lee (except for a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imprisoned in the Moon|sld|1102" href="#" target="_blank">Secret Lair printing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). A new version, perhaps an update to the original by the man himself featuring Sokka and Zuko pondering the moon together, would be extremely choice and a fun easter egg for the set.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deflecting Palm" href="#" target="_blank">Deflecting Palm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deflecting Palm"></div></div>
<p>This card is excellent and doesn't see nearly enough play. A dramatic, last-second Deflecting Palm is one of the absolute best ways to turn the tides in a Commander game. By and large, people just don't see it coming. But it's a perfect marriage of the mantras of white and red to say "Actually, no. And in fact, goodbye."</p>
<p>In a world of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Bumbleflowers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Cactaurs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cori-Steel Cutter" href="#" target="_blank">whatever they have going on in Standard</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, it's good to have that extra bit of protection in your back pocket.</p>
<p>Deflecting Palm was first printed in <em>Khans of Tarkir</em> back in 2014. Tarkir sets have a lot of fun Monk-based and Elemental cards, which translate well into this set, and I wouldn't be surprised to see a few of them receive reprints.</p>
<p>This one specifically would be a perfect excuse to pay tribute through new art (this card has used its original art by Eric Deschamps in each of its three printings) to <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/TheLastAirbender/comments/ya0jbw/this_shot_of_aang_deflecting_the_explosion_with/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">one of the more visually impressive moments in the show</a>.</p>
<p>Aang's fight with Combusion Man is the cherry on top of an already iconic episode (<em>The Beach</em>), and it's filled with impressive moments. But this one, where the show slows down time to allow us to appreciate Aang airbending around the explosive shot as it detonates, sending Aang flying and leaving Combustion Man in the blast radius, is simply top notch.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sylvan Library" href="#" target="_blank">Sylvan Library</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sylvan Library"></div></div>
<p>Sylvan Library is obviously very strong, but it does give the player an interesting choice to make. It provides you with knowledge and the potential for power, if you're willing to risk your life for it. Which is exactly the plot of one of my favorite episodes of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>. And as luck would have it, that episode is called <em>The Library</em>.</p>
<p>It's a memorable episode for the beautifully drawn architecture of the hidden library, as well as its Studio Ghibli-esque guardian. It's also an extremely important episode to the narrative of the entire series, as it leads Team Avatar to the discovery that firebenders lose their bending ability during a lunar eclipse.</p>
<p>The card's mechanics are a perfect match to the story of the episode, as the gang nearly loses their lives as the cost for gaining that information.</p>
<p>Sylvan Library has seen a fair number of printings, including in Secret Lairs, since its debut way back in <em>Legends</em> in 1994. But putting it into this set would be a good chase card while also allowing many players to play with a card they might well have never encountered otherwise.</p>
<p>And it would be an excellent excuse to use the gorgeous design of the Library, adorned internally with stone carvings of its ominous librarian, in the card's art.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thespian&#039;s Stage" href="#" target="_blank">Thespian&#039;s Stage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thespian&#039;s Stage"></div></div>
<p>There simply isn't much to say about this one. If there's not an Ember Island Players version of Thespian's Stage, I don't know why this set even got made.</p>
<p>Even just as a <em>Magic</em> card, Thespian's Stage is very interesting. The ability to permanently copy a target land only goes up in value as the power of your pod increases. Is someone running a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx" href="#" target="_blank">Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Congratulations, you are too. Did someone just lay down a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Depths" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Depths</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>? Please welcome to the stage Miss <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marit Lage" href="#" target="_blank">Marit Lage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>And paying homage to the Ember Island Players is an absolute no brainer. It's one of the best episodes of the show, and honestly, more shows should employ an episode where the characters watch a heavily propagandized version of their own adventures.</p>
<p>Can you imagine Frodo cowering in the corner of the mezzanine as a crowd of orcs ferociously boos his portrayal in "Small Coward Won't Give Ring Back" at the Mordor Lyric Opera House?</p>
<h2>Renamed Cards</h2>
<p>Some cards will require renaming to allow them to fit the set, as has been done in some past Universes Beyond products, as well as in many Secret Lairs. Though this makes me less confident in their inclusion, some of these opportunities are simply too good for them to pass up.</p>
<h3>Cabbage Merchant as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakura-Tribe Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Sakura-Tribe Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakura-Tribe Elder"></div></div>
<p><em>Magic's</em> favorite punching bag, meet <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>'s favorite punching bag.</p>
<p>The Cabbage Merchant needs to make an appearance in this set. There's simply no way he won't. He's perhaps one of the greatest unnamed characters in television history. But what card could possibly encapsulate his frequent misfortune at the hands of any bender or large animal in a 20 mile radius? It has to be Sakura-Tribe Elder.</p>
<p>It's an absolutely iconic card to match with an iconic character. And at least this time when his cabbages get destroyed, you'll be able to recoup a basic land for your trouble.</p>
<h3>Secret Tunnel as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Escape Tunnel" href="#" target="_blank">Escape Tunnel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Escape Tunnel"></div></div>
<p>Do you want to count us in or shall I? Ok. One... Two... Three...</p>
<p><a href="https://youtu.be/4-GiYP_4qc0?si=qF8IINgspAmpPQOG" target="_blank" rel="noopener">SECRET TUNNEL! SECRET TUNNEL! THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS!!!</a></p>
<p>It's an earworm even after all these years. If you walk past a band that's playing in the hallway of a nerdy convention four times, they'll be playing Secret Tunnel at least two of those times. And honestly, it's still always welcome.</p>
<p>I've never seen Escape Tunnel played. Even in Landfall decks, including my own, where this would be a welcome inclusion, I've never seen it touch the table. So it would be nice to give this overlooked card some love (despite the fact that you could sacrifice it to make Jumbo Cactuar unblockable, which is something every <em>Magic</em> player has to be wary of for the rest of time now).</p>
<h3>Zuko, The Blue Spirit as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fugitive Codebreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Fugitive Codebreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fugitive Codebreaker"></div></div>
<p>There will surely be a Zuko card in this set, and it will undoubtedly be entirely new, very cool, and interact with the new firebending mechanic in some way. But I want a version of Zuko that plays homage to his alter ego, The Blue Spirit.</p>
<p>There aren't many cards with the disguise mechanic which still see play in any meaningful way. But, assuming that firebending will involve some amount of mono-red spellslinging (which, c'mon, is waterbending wet?), this card would be a great way to refill your hand and to provide some immediate threat with its inclusion of prowess and haste.</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention/They Should Not Do This</h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, But in Green, Featuring Ba Sing Se</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Propaganda"></div></div>
<p>They absolutely shouldn't do this. Propaganda is already a troublesome enough card when it's only playable in blue decks. Giving another color access to this deterrent could turn Commander games into staring contests.</p>
<p>However, giving me the ability to turn to a player and ask, "Can you pay the <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>? Then there is no war in Ba Sing Se." would make it all worthwhile.</p>


avatar magic set

Iroh, Firebending Instructor Commander Deck Tech

Reprints We Want To See in the Upcoming Avatar Magic Set