<p style="text-align: right;"><em><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> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/mangamie">Fahmi Fauzi</a></em></p>
<p>Even if you're not a fan of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar</em></a> series, our commander for the day should still be pretty familiar to you. Aang is the main protagonist of the show, and <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> captures when he masters the bending of all four elements.</p>
<p>Drawing a card whenever you bend water, earth, fire, or air is a huge payoff. Plus, if you're able to bend all four in one turn, you're now ready to send Aang into the Avatar state, which takes this deck to a whole new level.</p>
<h2>This Commander Can Save the World</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avatar Aang"></div></div>
<p>This version of Aang loves to see others utilize their bending, so the main goal with the deck is to flood your board with creatures in the early game. Then, once you've built up your team with allies and enemies from the show, you can cast your commander and start pulling in the value while you bend the elements.</p>
<p>When it comes to this list, the main goal is to highlight some of the cards from the set that progresses your strategy forward, while <em>hopefully </em>not breaking your bank.</p>
<p>Plus, I added great budget cards to the 99 from outside the set that'll fit nicely with the mechanics already in the deck, including a solid five-color landbase. So, with all that in mind, let's get started by taking a look at how each element fits into this list!</p>
<h2>Waterbending - Power in Gathering</h2>
<p><em>(While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbending Lesson"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's an instance of waterbending that works great in two ways for this deck. Of course, you can try to make your creatures as big as possible, however if you activate that ability one creature/land/artifact at a time, you'll draw a card for each one you tap because 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>'s ability. Now that's a lot of card advantage!</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbending Lesson" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbending Lesson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Including some standard card draw in this deck is important, just in case Aang isn't on the battlefield. However, if he is on the board, you could draw an additional card after you waterbend with this spell.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This deck is relatively aggressive, which means that you'll be sending creatures into combat pretty often. With that in mind, you should be getting enough experience counters on this enchantment to start drawing even more cards, while having the option to add evasion to your board.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Earthbending - Awaken Your Manabase</h2>
<p><em>(Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number next to that ability. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haru, Hidden Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dai Li Agents"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haru, Hidden Talent" href="#" target="_blank">Haru, Hidden Talent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since this creature is only two mana, it'll start your earthbending engine right away. Plus, once Aang is on the board, all it takes to draw some cards is by just deploying more and more Allies.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dai Li Agents" href="#" target="_blank">Dai Li Agents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Earthbending multiple times when these Agents enter helps with building your land army. On top of that, it adds a way to close out the game if they attack and you have enough creatures with counters on your board.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Earthbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This enchantment does it all; not only does it help you earthbend, but it also fetches a basic land onto your board. Then when you build up those four quest counters, you'll buff up a creature and help it trample over your opponent's defenses.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Firebending - Ignite Your Combat</h2>
<p><em>(Whenever a creature with firebending attacks, add <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> equal to the number next to that ability. This mana lasts until end of combat.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuko, Exiled Prince"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Nation Attacks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuko, Exiled Prince" href="#" target="_blank">Zuko, Exiled Prince</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Sure, this may be the version of Zuko who's hunting down Aang, however, they still work great together in this deck. Firebending 3 is already a powerful effect, especially when you can spend all that mana to gain access to the top card of your library in a pinch.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Nation Attacks" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Nation Attacks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since Aang draws you cards each time you firebend, getting as many bodies on the board as possible that have that ability ensures you'll be refilling your hand during combat. This spell also has flashback, which means you can recast it later when you're looking for a place to spend all your red firebending mana.</li>
<li><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>: This enchantment is an absolute powerhouse in this deck. It brings you a token when it enters, which'll help unlock that second ability pretty quickly. Each time a firebending creature goes into combat, you'll get closer to doubling all your attack triggers.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Airbending - Bounce the Board</h2>
<p><em>(Exile a target. While it's exiled, its owner may cast it for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> rather than its mana cost.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Appa, Loyal Sky Bison"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Airbending Lesson"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Airbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Appa, Loyal Sky Bison" href="#" target="_blank">Appa, Loyal Sky Bison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Of course, Aang needs to have Appa close by at all times, which luckily adds some airbending to the deck. Giving a creature flying during combat is helpful, and exiling one of your permanents in order to recast it later will now draw you a card in the process.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbending Lesson" href="#" target="_blank">Airbending Lesson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a great way to weaponize airbending, by temporarily getting rid of someone else's threat in order to progress your own game plan. Since it's an instant, you could cast it during combat in order to utilize some of the mana you make with firebending.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Airbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This enchantment does a whole lot for only two mana. It airbends something when it enters, while also getting to the point where you could blink a creature at the end of each of your turns.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Cards From Outside the <em>Avatar</em> Set</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faeburrow Elder"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This is already a staple in the format, so its inclusion here shouldn't be too surprising, but it also pairs with earthbending in a very interesting way. If you sacrifice a land that's already been earthbended, it'll come back to the battlefield tapped, which means you won't be down a land once this spell resolves.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faeburrow Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Faeburrow Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's one of the best mana dorks in the format, which is luckily still in a comfortable budget range. It's perfect in this list, since <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> is four colors, allowing this Treefolk to eventually tap for four mana at a time.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commune with Lava"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shamanic Revelation"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commune with Lava" href="#" target="_blank">Commune with Lava</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since this deck is filled with so many creatures with firebending, having an instant spell like this can be a great outlet for all that red mana. Gaining access to a huge chunk of cards during your combat step could truly take the table by surprise.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: One of the deck's main goals is to get as many creatures as possible onto the board, and start bending away. So, having a spell that draws you a card for each member on your team will definitely help you out in the late game.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Become the Avalanche"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overwhelming Stampede"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Become the Avalanche" href="#" target="_blank">Become the Avalanche</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Not only does this sorcery have a perfect name to fit thematically,it can also close out games. On top of that, this list is filled with several large creatures that'll trigger that draw effect, adding even more upside to the mix.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overwhelming Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Overwhelming Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Sure, this is a great callback to when Aang leads a horde of animals through Ba Sing Se, but it's also just a powerful finisher for your strategy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temple of Plenty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheltered Thicket"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temple of Plenty" href="#" target="_blank">Temple of Plenty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: When it comes to earthbending your lands, you might end up losing a few of them during combat. If that's the case, having some of these scry lands in the deck can help get you even more value when they re-enter the battlefield after leaving it.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheltered Thicket" href="#" target="_blank">Sheltered Thicket</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Yes, having mana fixing is important in a five-color deck like this. However, including some of these cycling lands works well with your firebending creatures. If you don't have anything to use that red mana on during combat, you can always throw these away to draw a new card.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Avatar Aang Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Avatar Aang, Master of Elements - EDHREC Article" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Avatar Aang // Aang, Master of Elements
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Appa, Loyal Sky Bison
*1 Azula, On the Hunt
*1 Badgermole
*1 Beifong&#039;s Bounty Hunters
*1 Boiling Rock Rioter
*1 Bumi, Eclectic Earthbender
*1 Dai Li Agents
*1 Earthbending Student
*1 Earthen Ally
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Fire Sages
*1 Firebending Student
*1 Giant Koi
*1 Haru, Hidden Talent
*1 Katara, Bending Prodigy
*1 Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope
*1 Loyal Fire Sage
*1 North Pole Patrol
*1 Rebellious Captives
*1 Rough Rhino Cavalry
*1 Sun Warriors
*1 Toph, the Blind Bandit
*1 Uncle Iroh
*1 Vindictive Warden
*1 Water Tribe Rallier
*1 Zuko, Exiled Prince
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Avatar&#039;s Wrath
*1 Become the Avalanche
*1 Cracked Earth Technique
*1 Crashing Wave
*1 Cultivate
*1 Earth Rumble
*1 Overwhelming Stampede
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Shared Roots
*1 Waterbending Lesson
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aang&#039;s Iceberg
*1 Airbender Ascension
*1 Bitter Work
*1 Earthbender Ascension
*1 Firebender Ascension
*1 Solid Ground
*1 Waterbender Ascension
*1 Watery Grasp
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Airbender&#039;s Reversal
*1 Airbending Lesson
*1 Commune with Lava
*1 Cycle of Renewal
*1 Energybending
*1 Enter the Avatar State
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Fire Nation Attacks
*1 Harrow
*1 How to Start a Riot
*1 Origin of Metalbending
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Roiling Regrowth
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bender&#039;s Waterskin
*1 Fellwar Stone
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*7 Forest
*1 Frontier Bivouac
*1 Game Trail
*1 Island
*1 Karplusan Forest
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Mossfire Valley
*1 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Plains
*1 Promising Vein
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Swamp
*1 Temple of Abandon
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>There you have it, a full deck built around <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>. When we first saw this card <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/magiccon-las-vegas-preview-panel-edge-of-eternities-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all those months ago</a>, it was a complete mystery just how powerful it was going to be, since we didn't know what the bending mechanics were going to look like. Now that we've seen the whole set, we now know just how powerful this legend turned out to be.</p>
<p>Aang will truly be a great home for all your favorite cards from the set, so if you open him in one of your packs, it might just be a sign that you should put this list together. Especially since it'll only run you about $20 to buy the cards from outside of the set to assist you with getting the deck in fighting shape!</p>
<p>If you've already ripped through some <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar</em></a> boosters in the past week, then you should check out my latest edition of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/best-commons-uncommons-from-avatar-the-last-airbender" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bulk Up</em></a>. This set is jam packed with great commons and uncommons that'll slot right into your favorite decks; so do yourself a favor and don't let those collect dust if you can help it!</p>


Avatar Aang, Master of Elements Deck Tech - All the Bending, All at Once

Aang, Airbending Master Commander Deck Tech

<p style="text-align: right;"><em>Image credit: Viacom</em></p>
<p>If you've clicked on this article, chances are you want to know more about elemental bending, the abilities driving the plot of the <em>Avatar</em> television series. More specifically, you probably want to know about bending as it's depicted in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>'s set, <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>.</p>
<p>Either way, in this article, I'll explain the four primary bending techniques and how they correspond with both real-world martial arts <em>and</em> the card game's portrayal of those techniques.</p>
<h2>Bending in <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></h2>
<p>To begin, let's discuss the ideas behind bending as it's shown in the television series. I'll go over how each technique is <em>typically</em> used (as some outliers do exist). Then, I'll discuss the way the show applies any outlier bending techniques.</p>
<h3>Waterbending</h3>
<p>First, let's talk about waterbending. In <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>, water is a mutable, decidedly versatile element to utilize. We see many different forms of waterbending in the show. Katara, the main practitioner and one of the show's protagonists, is seen utilizing it most avidly. She can freeze water into ice to encage foes or force locks open, and she can melt ice to free captives.</p>
<p>Most commonly seen, Katara commands water to act as a whip or shield for offense or defense.</p>
<p>The technique of waterbending is a very passive one. Katara, for example, moves with the same fluidity as the element she manipulates. In this respect, Katara <em>is</em>, in essence, one with the water.</p>
<h3>Earthbending</h3>
<p>Next, earthbending is the manipulation of the very ground below one's feet. It's also the manipulation of rock, stone, sand, mud, and brick. To this end, I want to bring up Toph. Toph is a blind character (and, frankly, excellent disabled representation in the context of the show outside of the magical realism of it all!). However, she can use earthbending skills to sense a <em>lot</em> of things that the main characters cannot. This includes intent and even pulse.</p>
<p>However, the main usage of earthbending is, like waterbending, encasement, trapping, and also many forms of offense.</p>
<p>For Toph, all tremorsense aside, earthbending is a technique that demands its practitioner be as stubborn as the rocks they're moving. To embrace that is to embrace the technique.</p>
<h3>Firebending</h3>
<p>Firebending in <em>Avatar</em> is an aggressive, generally quick-footed style that places much emphasis on the outer extremities of the body. A firebender will make the most of fire as an extension of their arms and legs.</p>
<p>Shielding oneself is one way to make use of the technique, but the style is primarily used in offense in the context of the show.</p>
<p>Zuko, the show's longstanding antagonist for a majority of the series, is a remarkable study of a typical firebending style. He utilizes fire, again, as an extension of his body, able to reach his adversaries from afar, either with flame shots or with lengthened fire weapons.</p>
<h3>Airbending</h3>
<p>Finally, we come to airbending. We see this style the least within the show, because outside of flashbacks, Aang is the only surviving practitioner of the technique. Airbending sees its users in constant motion, able to manipulate the air they generate in order to force movement in obstacles or targets.</p>
<p>Airbenders are typically nonviolent combatants (if Aang, the sole example, is truly exemplary of the style). This form generally focuses on movement over offense.</p>
<h3>Bending Outliers</h3>
<p>Many outliers to the four elements of bending exist in <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>. For example, Toph, an earthbender, can not only utilize tremorsense to aid her amid her disability, but she can also bend metal with her bending powers. This takes a different approach from the usual styles of earthbending, and therefore it is an outlier to that style.</p>
<p>Additionally, Azula, Zuko's sister and another major antagonist, can bend lightning. This style incorporates forms found outside of typical firebending practices.</p>
<p>Bloodbending is yet another outlying bending style. Waterbenders are at their strongest under the light of the full moon, as the moon dictates the pull of the tides. At this time, waterbenders can manipulate many kinds of liquid, the most notable being blood. Doing so, a bloodbender can manipulate the blood in a body, forcing people to do things they wouldn't otherwise wish to do. Truly, bloodbending is a horrifying act in this setting. People in the setting often look upon the practice with terror and/or scorn.</p>
<p>Beyond the four main bending techniques, Aang is also an energybender, meaning he can manipulate the full flow of energy to great effect. Aang is the first person in the canon to utilize energybending, and it is as large an outlier as one might expect.</p>
<h2>Application in Real-World Martial Arts</h2>
<p>The bending techniques of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> draw inspiration from various kinds of real-world martial arts. For more information on how the animated combat choreography incorporates these techniques, you can read up on this <a href="https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a32689010/avatar-the-last-airbender-martial-arts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.</p>
<p>I won't be discussing the many outliers in this section. However, in addition to the aforementioned article, I have laid out the basics of the primary bending analogues below:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Waterbending</strong> takes its forms and motions from tai chi, a passive martial art. The form values motion and control over aggression, which makes it a perfect analogue for the show's typical waterbending style.</li>
<li><strong>Earthbending</strong> derives its movements and forms from Hung Gar, a martial art that focuses heavily on planting one's body and rooting their stance in place.</li>
<li><strong>Firebending</strong> takes its inspiration from Northern Shaolin martial arts, which utilizes aggressive stances and emphasizes the use of one's limbs in combat. It is directly and diametrically opposed to the way Tai Chi operates, which helps dichotomize it with waterbending in the show.</li>
<li><strong>Airbending</strong> is based on Baguazhang, a Chinese martial art that focuses on encircling opponents and the act of coiling and uncoiling around opposition. Circular footwork is key for this style, and this can be seen extensively in Aang's movements in the show's combat scenes.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Bending in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avatar Aang"></div></div>
<p>The martial arts that the bending styles are derived from in <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> are a far cry from the way bending is portrayed in the <em>Magic</em> set. The set shows bending more as a traditional magical source than a martial one. This is mostly because in <em>Avatar</em>, bending is inherently not magical, but needs to be shown as such in this card game's context.</p>
<p>We've gone over the flavor of bending in a very thorough way here; now, let's look at how these bending mechanics work in the upcoming set through explanations from a press release sent out recently by <em>Wizards of the Coast</em>:</p>
<h3>Waterbending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope"></div></div>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Some spells and abilities have you waterbend as part of their costs. The activated ability of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> requires that you waterbend <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. You must pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and for each generic mana in that cost, you may tap an untapped artifact or creature you control rather than pay that mana.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3>Earthbending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toph, the First Metalbender"></div></div>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Earthbending is a keyword action. Much like how Earthbenders turn the terrain into weapons, you can do the same with the help of spells and abilities that instruct you to earthbend. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toph, the First Metalbender" href="#" target="_blank">Toph, the First Metalbender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you earthbend 2, which turns a target land you control into a 0/0 land creature with haste, then puts two +1/+1 counters on that land. And don't worry; when that land dies or is exiled, it returns as a tapped noncreature land.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3>Firebending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Lord Zuko"></div></div>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Firebending is a keyword ability that turns your aggression into a source of power. That's very flavorful for Firebenders! When a creature with firebending N attacks, you add N <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> mana. That mana doesn't go away until the end of combat, letting you use it on </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">any instant-speed activated abilities or spells</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p></blockquote>
<h3>Airbending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Appa, Steadfast Guardian"></div></div>
<blockquote><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Airbend is a keyword action that helps you control the board without getting violent. When you airbend a permanent, you exile it. As long as it remains exiled, its owner may cast it for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> rather than its mana cost. While <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Appa, Steadfast Guardian" href="#" target="_blank">Appa, Steadfast Guardian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> only airbends your permanents, you'll have to wait and see if there are any cards that airbend your </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">opponent's </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">permanents.</span></p></blockquote>
<h2>Are the Magic Mechanics 1-for-1 With <em>ATLA</em>?</h2>
<p>In a word, no. These mechanics, while perfectly fine for what they can represent, don't represent the entire gamut of what bending is capable of in <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>. Put simply, the ability to bend an element has so much versatility in the broad context of martial application that distilling it down to a singular mechanic does not suffice to explain it all.</p>
<p>However, this doesn't mean the abilities as keywords are <em>bad</em>. They just cannot possibly translate 1:1 with the ideas behind the show's driving forces, nor the martial arts that inspired them. Nevertheless, these are interesting mechanics for a game, especially one without as much of a panoptic focus on martial warfare than its source material in this case.</p>
<p>And now, I'd like to hear from you, dear readers. How do <em>you</em> feel about <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>, elemental bending, or how it translated over to <em>Magic</em>? Are you excited for the set, even with <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em> in front of it in the release queue? Sound off below!</p>
<h3>More <em>Avatar</em>:</h3>
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