Going Wide With Aang and Katara in Commander

<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

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Bending Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Bending Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CMephisto%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art">Mephisto</a></em></p>
<p>If there's one thing <em>Magic: the Gathering</em> players like more than drawing a card, it's drawing multiple cards, and doing so for (effectively) free. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Bending Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Bending Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, arriving in the upcoming <em>Avatar: Last Airbender</em> set, will runneth over your card draw cup, turn after turn, until your hand is full, your board is flooded, and your thirst for enemy blood is finally quenched.</p>
<p>I entered into this deckbuilding excursion with next to no knowledge about <em>Avatar</em> but with the belief that convoke is one of the strongest abilities in Commander. Today, I emerge a disciple of Katara's water-bending ways and finally understand why they named a film <em>Avatar: The Way of Water</em>.</p>
<p>…maybe that's the wrong <em>Avatar</em>…</p>
<h2>What Does Katara, Bending Prodigy Do?</h2>
<p>Katara boasts the set's new waterbend ability that blends the payment-reduction of convoke and improvise into a rejuvenating concoction. Each creature and artifact you tap while paying a waterbend cost reduces the payment by one colorless mana. So, while Katara asks for a steep six-mana payment, it's rare that you'll actually pay full price; heck, you can tap Katara herself the turn she enters for an immediate discount on her card draw. She further incentivizes this line of play by adding a +1/+1 counter to herself if she remains tapped at the end of your turn, resulting in a draw engine that can also inflict serious water damage to opponents.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azami, Lady of Scrolls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Minn, Wily Illusionist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Watcher in the Water"></div></div>
<p>Katara's go-wide card draw style resembles a fair number of mono-blue commanders, many of which make an appearance in the below deck's 99. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Azami, Lady of Scrolls" href="#" target="_blank">Azami, Lady of Scrolls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> asks for very little to begin drawing cards, but she requires stricter deckbuilding that prioritizes Wizards over all else. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Minn, Wily Illusionist" href="#" target="_blank">Minn, Wily Illusionist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> seems to also adhere to a particular kindred spirit, <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/12239423/minn_and_the_virtues_of_selling_out">but as I've found</a>, a Minn deck running few Illusion creatures can still dish out some very real damage if you bring your own card draw sources. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Watcher in the Water" href="#" target="_blank">The Watcher in the Water</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> similarly trades tokens for card draw but will likely spend much of the game tapped, contributing to combat only from afar.</p>
<p>While these commanders prescribe their optimal play patterns, that's just not how Katara flows. Her decks can lean into creatures, artifacts, or both; her +1/+1 counter ability can read as either flavor text or a way to end games. Ultimately, I went with something in the middle of these axes that plays out like a whirlpool: starting slow, then expediting an advantage as the game ventures into the blimey deep.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for Katara, Bending Prodigy</h2>
<p>This take on Katara utilizes two types of token-producers to sail away with the W. To start, her waterbending ability doesn't care which sorts of artifacts or creatures you tap, so I began by filling the deck with cards that provide the highest number of upfront tokens for the lowest mana cost possible:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hard Evidence"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm Fleet Negotiator"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Master of Waves"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spyglass Siren" href="#" target="_blank">Spyglass Siren</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hard Evidence" href="#" target="_blank">Hard Evidence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> trade a single blue pip for two tappable permanents. Did it feel good to unironically slot Hard Evidence into this mix? You bet your waterbending behind.</li>
<li>I wasn't wild about many of the two-mana options but went with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bumbleflower&#039;s Sharepot" href="#" target="_blank">Bumbleflower&#039;s Sharepot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> because it can double as a straight-up removal spell, something rare for mono-blue.</li>
<li>At three mana, I wanted the cards to either offer utility or produce multiple tokens at once. Not many cards fit the bill, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aether Channeler" href="#" target="_blank">Aether Channeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm Fleet Negotiator" href="#" target="_blank">Storm Fleet Negotiator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> made the cut.</li>
<li>I capped this section at four mana because by this point in the game, I'd hope to have one of my draw-based token-generator online to do the heavy lifting. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Canoptek Scarab Swarm" href="#" target="_blank">Canoptek Scarab Swarm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ethereal Investigator" href="#" target="_blank">Ethereal Investigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Master of Waves" href="#" target="_blank">Master of Waves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can provide enough bodies to instantly draw you a card off Katara with little additional support.</li>
</ul>
<p>The deck's other token-generators trigger when cards are drawn, enabling you to escalate your card draw exponentially:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alandra, Sky Dreamer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Homunculus Horde"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ominous Seas"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emrakul&#039;s Messenger" href="#" target="_blank">Emrakul&#039;s Messenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mischievous Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Mischievous Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thopter Fabricator" href="#" target="_blank">Thopter Fabricator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Detective of the Month" href="#" target="_blank">Detective of the Month</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, Minn, Wily Illusionist, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alandra, Sky Dreamer" href="#" target="_blank">Alandra, Sky Dreamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Homunculus Horde" href="#" target="_blank">Homunculus Horde</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> create high-value tokens when you draw your second card for the turn.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Watcher in the Water" href="#" target="_blank">The Watcher in the Water</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ominous Seas" href="#" target="_blank">Ominous Seas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chasm Skulker" href="#" target="_blank">Chasm Skulker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> produce tokens via card draw, as well, but each carries its own restrictions.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="James, Wandering Dad"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omen Hawker"></div></div>
<p>This deck's selection of ramp spells doesn't include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but does contain a few Sol Ring-esque effects to use in activating Katara's ability. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omen Hawker" href="#" target="_blank">Omen Hawker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Training Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Training Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="James, Wandering Dad" href="#" target="_blank">James, Wandering Dad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> reduce Katara's card draw cost by two; plus, James can overwhelm your board with Clues at instant speed. There were other options available, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Enigma Jewel" href="#" target="_blank">The Enigma Jewel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thran Turbine" href="#" target="_blank">Thran Turbine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but in playtesting, these often sat on the battlefield providing little value. In addition to the usual selection of mana rocks, I also wanted to run <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dauntless Scrapbot" href="#" target="_blank">Dauntless Scrapbot</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a way to snag a bonus token.</p>
<p>Katara provides plenty of card draw, but I wanted some additional sources to trigger my token-generators in the absence of Katara... and to, you know, draw more sweet, sweet cards:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toothy, Imaginary Friend"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starwinder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Season of Weaving"></div></div>
<ul>
<li>A few sources aligned themselves closely with Katara's strategy, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toothy, Imaginary Friend" href="#" target="_blank">Toothy, Imaginary Friend</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Defiler of Dreams" href="#" target="_blank">Defiler of Dreams</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghostly Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Ghostly Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mechan Navigator" href="#" target="_blank">Mechan Navigator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fit the bill.</li>
<li>Others were too strong to ignore, including <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nezahal, Primal Tide" href="#" target="_blank">Nezahal, Primal Tide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and the new <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starwinder" href="#" target="_blank">Starwinder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mystic Confluence" href="#" target="_blank">Mystic Confluence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Three Steps Ahead" href="#" target="_blank">Three Steps Ahead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Season of Weaving" href="#" target="_blank">Season of Weaving</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fold modal card draw into a reliable source of removal.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Mulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nulldrifter" href="#" target="_blank">Nulldrifter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are somewhat modal, as well, offering card draw and evasive bodies.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unstoppable Plan" href="#" target="_blank">Unstoppable Plan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lets you double your Katara triggers almost immediately.</li>
</ul>
<h2>How Does This Katara, Bending Prodigy Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>Once Katara is online, this deck wants to overwhelm its opponents with card advantage and an ever-growing token army to either get in some damage or continue the windfall of card draw:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Proft&#039;s Eidetic Memory"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reverse the Polarity"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Psychosis Crawler"></div></div>
<ul>
<li>Many of these tokens have flying, and cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eldrazi Monument" href="#" target="_blank">Eldrazi Monument</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alandra, Sky Dreamer" href="#" target="_blank">Alandra, Sky Dreamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lyla, Holographic Assistant" href="#" target="_blank">Lyla, Holographic Assistant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Proft&#039;s Eidetic Memory" href="#" target="_blank">Proft&#039;s Eidetic Memory</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> expedite their growth.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wonder" href="#" target="_blank">Wonder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reverse the Polarity" href="#" target="_blank">Reverse the Polarity</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sun Quan, Lord of Wu" href="#" target="_blank">Sun Quan, Lord of Wu</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> push even more damage through with evasive anthem effects. I'm falling in love with Reverse the Polarity and can't wait to see how it fares in this deck.</li>
<li>If all else fails, there's always <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Psychosis Crawler" href="#" target="_blank">Psychosis Crawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a card I mostly dislike but one with no analogous effect outside of black.</li>
</ul>
<p>All that said, this isn't the kind of deck that will win in a single alpha strike. Instead, it floods your hand, and the board, with resources, wearing your opponents down until they have no choice but to give into the riptide.</p>
<h2>Katara, Bending Prodigy Commander Decklist</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Katara: The Way of Water" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Katara, Bending Prodigy
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aether Channeler
*1 Alandra, Sky Dreamer
*1 Canoptek Scarab Swarm
*1 Chasm Skulker
*1 Dauntless Scrapbot
*1 Defiler of Dreams
*1 Detective of the Month
*1 Drowned Rusalka
*1 Emrakul&#039;s Messenger
*1 Ethereal Investigator
*1 Ghostly Pilferer
*1 Glasspool Mimic // Glasspool Shore
*1 Homunculus Horde
*1 Hydroelectric Specimen // Hydroelectric Laboratory
*1 James, Wandering Dad // Follow Him
*1 Lyla, Holographic Assistant
*1 Master of Waves
*1 Mechan Navigator
*1 Minn, Wily Illusionist
*1 Mischievous Mystic
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Nezahal, Primal Tide
*1 Nulldrifter
*1 Omen Hawker
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Spyglass Siren
*1 Starwinder
*1 Storm Fleet Negotiator
*1 Sun Quan, Lord of Wu
*1 The Watcher in the Water
*1 Toothy, Imaginary Friend
*1 Wonder
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bumbleflower&#039;s Sharepot
*1 Eldrazi Monument
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Heraldic Banner
*1 Kefnet&#039;s Monument
*1 Midnight Clock
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sapphire Medallion
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Thought Vessel
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Teferi, Temporal Pilgrim
[/Planeswalkers]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Cyber Conversion
*1 Mystic Confluence
*1 Pongify
*1 Rapid Hybridization
*1 Reality Shift
*1 Reverse the Polarity
*1 Sink into Stupor // Soporific Springs
*1 Three Steps Ahead
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Hard Evidence
*1 Lórien Revealed
*1 Season of Weaving
*1 Spectral Deluge
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Ominous Seas
*1 Proft&#039;s Eidetic Memory
*1 Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight
*1 Training Grounds
*1 Unstoppable Plan
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Command Beacon
*1 Demolition Field
*1 Fountainport
*1 Hall of Tagsin
*1 High Market
*1 Horizon of Progress
*22 Island
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Mystic Sanctuary
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Scavenger Grounds
*1 Urza&#039;s Cave
*1 War Room
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"></span></p>
<h2>The Way of Water</h2>
<p>This decklist is likely going to ebb and flow as previews for <em>Avatar</em> continue later this year. I'm sure there are plenty of waterbending cards on the horizon, including many support cards for this strategy. For the time being, this mid-power take on Katara can hang in Bracket 3 pods and can easily be powered up or down by adding/subtracting a few staples.</p>
<p>Let me know what you think! Does this deck do the character of Katara justice? What do you think of the new waterbend ability? Let's keep the convo going in the comments.</p>


A Flood of Free Card Draw From Katara, Bending Prodigy

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/yueko" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Yueko</a></em></p>
<p>Among the deluge of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/marvels-spider-man-the-newest-san-diego-comic-con-reveals" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Spider-Man </em>cards spoiled at the San Diego Comic Con</a> was an early preview for the <em>Avatar: the Last Airbender</em> set coming out this fall, in the form of a promo card, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (though it's unconfirmed, it's expected that Katara will be in the upcoming <em>Avatar </em>set, though probably with different art, to retain the exclusiveness of the promo).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, the Fearless"></div></div>
<p>Yes, you read that right: there was a card spoiled right before the prerelease of the set before the set the card is from. Cue the Xzibit “Yo Dawg” meme. Jokes aside, the card is powerful, flavorful, and represents the best support an underwhelming creature type has received in quite some time.</p>
<p>Allies are one of the few creature types to be exciting and fun in 60-card formats, but flounder and fail in Commander. In 60-card formats, Allies succeeded because players could focus on the few forward-moving pieces and had a decent curve, both of which were assisted by the four-of rule.</p>
<p>In a highlander format, however, Ally decks often had to play bad cards just because they were Allies and had to run filler cards to get to 100. As a result, Allies were largely watered-down midrange decks with mediocre commanders and terrible mana.</p>
<p>All of that will change when the <em>Avatar</em> set releases.</p>
<h2>What Does <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Do?</h2>
<p>Put simply, Katara gives her Allies hope. Even if there aren’t any new Allies in the <em>Avatar</em> set (which seems unlikely; we've already seen <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>), or the Allies don’t function synergistically (like the unfortunate cohort mechanic), Katara rallies the troops with inspirational speeches, sometimes literally with the rally mechanic.</p>
<p>Katara is like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for just Allies, and, given other similar effects being printed recently, she gives the creature type a critical mass of similar effects. Since she can be in the command zone, she can finally give Allies a commander that celebrates what Allies do: enter the field of battle side by side.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Roaming Throne"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="General Tazri"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Munda, Ambush Leader"></div></div>
<p>Prior to Katara, Allies were in a rough spot in terms of determining a commander. They either had to go five-color with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or Boros with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Munda, Ambush Leader" href="#" target="_blank">Munda, Ambush Leader</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Two colors for Munda would be too few to make a full deck without using a large amount of changelings; there just aren’t enough Allies to fill the deck out.</p>
<p>Even if there were enough, Munda’s ability is underwhelming: it stacks the top of the library like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Recruiter" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Recruiter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> but with less control. Like Munda, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="General Tazri" href="#" target="_blank">General Tazri</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a 3/4. Unlike Munda, Tazri costs an extra mana but gives us the ability to use all five colors.</p>
<p>The increase in options, along with the ability to tutor for an Ally on entering, made Tazri the best available option for Allies. But the inconsistency of a five-color manabase alongside a five-mana commander means that we’re on the slow end of midrange, which is really bad when we need numbers to be effective.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yarok, the Desecrated"></div></div>
<p>Seventeen Ally decks were even desperate enough to turn to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yarok, the Desecrated" href="#" target="_blank">Yarok, the Desecrated</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at the helm, which shows how hard-up Ally decks were for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects.</p>
<p>Getting a commander in-type with just enough colors to support a deck and a relevant ability is a huge boon. That Katara is a three-mana 3/3 is perfect for a creature type looking to be aggressive. Cutting red and black affects the deck minimally, as the primary colors of Allies were Bant (<span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>)to begin with.</p>
<h2>Key Cards for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hada Freeblade"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Halimar Excavator"></div></div>
<p>Katara is a powerful commander because most Allies have abilities that trigger when an Ally enters the battlefield. Katara doubles these abilities, although some are more powerful than others. Many put counters on themselves when an Ally enters, like the low-to-the-ground <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hada Freeblade" href="#" target="_blank">Hada Freeblade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>The real power, however, comes in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halimar Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Halimar Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an unassuming common that is the key to winning through board stalls. When it or another Ally enters, the Excavator mills X, where X is the number of Allies we control. While mill can be a divisive strategy, it is a reasonable pivot here, putting large chunks of libraries into the grave at once.</p>
<p>Back in the day, it was the card that made the archetype tick, acting like a combo deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Starfield Vocalist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Virtue of Knowledge"></div></div>
<p>Katara being a significant step up in power for Allies is a double-edged sword: while she adds a significant amount of power to the deck, she’s also clearly the best Ally in the deck. Without Katara, the Allies are lost, flailing around like Sokka on cactus juice.</p>
<p>As a result, we want a few more copies of Katara’s effect, which also happens to stack. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the originator of the ETB effect doubling and still the hardest to remove, while <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starfield Vocalist" href="#" target="_blank">Starfield Vocalist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines" href="#" target="_blank">Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Virtue of Knowledge" href="#" target="_blank">Virtue of Knowledge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> have all contributed to the preponderance of similar effects, making it so that a deck like this has enough functional reprints to work without the commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, like Katara, doubles any triggered abilities, not just enters effects.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindred Discovery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Distant Melody"></div></div>
<p>Since Allies care about entering the battlefield, they can develop a board and still need more of a push to win.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerful card draw engine in any blue typal deck, drawing cards on ETB and attacking. It's worth noting that generic ETB doublers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Starfield Vocalist" href="#" target="_blank">Starfield Vocalist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will double the discovery triggers, but creature type-dependent doublers, like Katara and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roaming Throne" href="#" target="_blank">Roaming Throne</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, will not.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Distant Melody" href="#" target="_blank">Distant Melody</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a Pauper all-star and draws a ton of cards, giving the deck a massive mid- to late-game push. It draws cards for each Ally we control, which can fill our hand, dig to a win-con, or just provide a bit of a lift when we need it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oblivion Ring"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grasp of Fate"></div></div>
<p>Since we need to build up counters and do so gradually, we do need to make sure we don’t get outclassed by larger creatures - especially those with evasion. We also need to be able to counter-answer answers like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oubliette" href="#" target="_blank">Oubliette</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which is one of the more permanent ways of answering problem commanders. In order to remove it, we need ways to get rid of nonland permanents, so it makes sense to lean into the many <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects.</p>
<p>Why <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects and not <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or other more cost-effective or flexibly-timed effects? Well, for the same reason <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindred Discovery" href="#" target="_blank">Kindred Discovery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is so potent here: the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects double our ETBs, making our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oblivion Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Oblivion Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grasp of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Grasp of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s, and our <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grasp of Fate" href="#" target="_blank">Grasp of Fate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>s into incredibly powerful mass removal.</p>
<p>Just watch out for enchantment removal!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Path of Ancestry"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ally Encampment"></div></div>
<p>Our nonbasic lands are mostly based on mana fixing, making sure that we have a mana of each of our colors on turn three to get Katara out early and often. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">Path of Ancestry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ally Encampment" href="#" target="_blank">Ally Encampment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are otherwise mediocre lands that provide a bit of hidden advantage.</p>
<p>The repeated scrying from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path of Ancestry" href="#" target="_blank">Path of Ancestry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and subtle reanimation from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ally Encampment" href="#" target="_blank">Ally Encampment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> give us benefits from our mana beyond just casting spells.</p>
<h2>How Does This <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, the Fearless" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, the Fearless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Commander Deck Win?</h2>
<p>The goal of the deck is to cast Allies early and often, using <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects to double the ETBs, either growing the weaker Allies or spreading keyword abilities to all Allies.</p>
<p>The keyword abilities or alternate win-cons, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Halimar Excavator" href="#" target="_blank">Halimar Excavator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, help to break board stalls and enable strong combo-like starts.</p>
<h2>Katara, the Fearless Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Katara, the Fearless EDHREC Deck Tech" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Katara, the Fearless
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Beastcaller Savant
*1 Elesh Norn, Mother of Machines
*1 Graypelt Hunter
*1 Grovetender Druids
*1 Hada Freeblade
*1 Halimar Excavator
*1 Harabaz Druid
*1 Hero of Goma Fada
*1 Joraga Bard
*1 Jwari Shapeshifter
*1 Kabira Evangel
*1 Kazandu Blademaster
*1 Kor Bladewhirl
*1 Kor Entanglers
*1 Lantern Scout
*1 Makindi Patrol
*1 Makindi Shieldmate
*1 Munda&#039;s Vanguard
*1 Ondu Cleric
*1 Oran-Rief Survivalist
*1 Roaming Throne
*1 Sea Gate Loremaster
*1 Seascape Aerialist
*1 Starfield Vocalist
*1 Tajuru Archer
*1 Tajuru Beastmaster
*1 Tajuru Warcaller
*1 Talus Paladin
*1 Titan of Littjara
*1 Turntimber Ranger
*1 Umara Raptor
*1 Veteran Warleader
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Captain&#039;s Claws
*1 Panharmonicon
*1 Vanquisher&#039;s Banner
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Join the Ranks
*1 Kindred Summons
*1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics
*1 Rally the Ancestors
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Banish to Another Universe
*1 Banishing Light
*1 Buried in the Garden
*1 Conclave Tribunal
*1 Detention Sphere
*1 Elven Chorus
*1 Grasp of Fate
*1 Guardian Project
*1 In the Trenches
*1 Kindred Discovery
*1 Legion Loyalty
*1 Leyline Binding
*1 Oblivion Ring
*1 Reflections of Littjara
*1 Stormplain Detainment
*1 Virtue of Knowledge // Vantress Visions
*1 Zendikar Resurgent
[/Enchantments]
[Sorceries]
*1 Another Round
*1 Distant Melody
*1 Selvala&#039;s Stampede
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Ally Encampment
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Cavern of Souls
*1 Command Tower
*10 Forest
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*10 Island
*1 Path of Ancestry
*10 Plains
*1 Secluded Courtyard
*1 Spara&#039;s Headquarters
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Unclaimed Territory
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Allies are small creatures with lots of ETB effects, relying on numbers and teamwork to gradually accrue advantage. Katara gives them a three-color commander with a relevant ability, breathing new life into a fun and exciting creature type!</p>


katara

Going Wide With Aang and Katara in Commander

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

A Flood of Free Card Draw From Katara, Bending Prodigy

Building an Ally Deck with Katara, the Fearless