<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuko, Exiled Prince|TLA|163" href="#" target="_blank">Zuko, Exiled Prince</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a:%22Nijihayashi%22" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nijihayashi</a></em></p>
<p>Friendly greetings and welcome to a Bracket 2 deck tech for <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> from <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em></a>. In the words of Uncle Iroh, "It's time for you to look inward and start asking yourself the big questions. Who are you? And what do you want?"</p>
<p>I'm John Sherwood, and I want to build a combat trick deck. The new firebending mechanic is perfect for casting instants and paying activation costs in the best phase of the turn.</p>
<h2>Firing Back From Exile</h2>
<p><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> is perfect for Core (Bracket 2). For starters, at four power for four mana, Zuko is playing "fair and balanced" <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>Zuko's two abilities support each other, making him a self-contained engine for players who like to turn their commanders sidewise. His abilities enable each other, which frees up space in the deck for more payoffs.</p>
<p>In return for declaring Zuko as an attacker, he produces <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. Firebending 3 is enough to cast 75% of red instant spells. If there's no spells available to cast, then that mana can be used for activated abilities, including Zuko's own ability to pay <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for an impulse draw.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuko, Exiled Prince|TLA|163"></div></div>
<p>Zuko, Exiled Prince is an easy flavor win for the design team. <em>Magic</em>'s take on firebending embraces the proactive nature of the Fire Nation. Meanwhile, Zuko's activated ability showcases his tenacity and improvisation. The play from exile effect may be overplaying the bit, but I'm here for it.</p>
<p>Very few characters could be more red than Zuko before his redemption arc. Hot-tempered, impulsive, and aggressive, the Zuko of <em>Book One: Water</em> is portrayed perfectly on this card. As much as possible, I included flavor-forward cards in the list.</p>
<h2>Firebending Basics</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Coming In Hot"></div></div>
<p>Primarily, quantity and time are the two firebending constraints the deck has to work around. Netting three mana for attacking is nice, but it's easy come, easy go. That mana must be used during combat.</p>
<p>These factors prescribe the most important card choices for a firebending focus. Zuko needs spells and abilities without sorcery timing restrictions.</p>
<p>Additionally, many opponents will have blockers by the time Zuko is ready to attack. The 99 must include cards that help Zuko bypass or remove those pesky blocking creatures. The best options either buff Zuko directly, or aid Zuko indirectly by removing blockers.</p>
<p>In two words: combat tricks.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fateful End"></div></div>
<p>Again, there are over 400 red instants for three mana or less. Thirty-one made the final cut for the list, and most of these are either pump effects, evasion, or removal. Another four cards provide an instant combat trick via Adventures.</p>
<p>Sixteen of the instant spells are mana value two, another ten are mana value one, and can therefore be paired in different ways to multi-spell with Zuko's trigger. Also, nine of the chosen instants come with the added benefit of scrying, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kindled Heroism" href="#" target="_blank">Kindled Heroism</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kindled Heroism"></div></div>
<p>With so many existing fire references in red, it's easy to find flavorful cards for a Zuko deck. However, not all flavor picks are created equal. My favorite combat trick in the deck is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fists of Flame|CMM|223" href="#" target="_blank">Fists of Flame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. From top to bottom, this card could simply be reskinned for Zuko. The card name calls out some of Zuko's signature moves, and the art might as well be a firebender.</p>
<p>Even the flavor text is nearly perfect:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fists of Flame|CMM|223"></div></div>
<p style="text-align: center;"><em>"Fire has always been my most faithful companion." —Jared Carthalion</em></p>
<h2>A Swordsman and a Bender</h2>
<p>For additional fast casting, there's six permanents with flash. Five of these are Equipment that attach when they enter. To be fair, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Quick-Draw Dagger" href="#" target="_blank">Quick-Draw Dagger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> isn't winning any games, but it's my homage to Zuko's pearl Earth Kingdom dagger. Hopefully the <em>Avatar</em> set gives us Zuko's dagger on a card, but this one is fine as a substitute.</p>
<p>The heater in this category is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Embercleave" href="#" target="_blank">Embercleave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. With Embercleave's cost reduction and just two other attackers, Zuko produces enough mana to cast the sword and threaten an opponent with ten commander damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Embercleave"></div></div>
<p>Next come the activated abilities. Zuko is a firebender; he can literally exhale fire. So here's four fire breathing enchantments:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crown of Flames" href="#" target="_blank">Crown of Flames</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Draconic Destiny" href="#" target="_blank">Draconic Destiny</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fiery Mantle" href="#" target="_blank">Fiery Mantle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ghitu Firebreathing" href="#" target="_blank">Ghitu Firebreathing</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>As long as one of these is in play, there's an easy outlet to turn Zuko's mana into damage. Truthfully, there are more enchantments like these in the available card pool. However, these made the cut because they protect the investment. Red's recursion doesn't cover enchantments. Each of the chosen enchantments has a mechanism to get it back in hand.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ghitu Firebreathing"></div></div>
<p>My favorite mana sink in this deck is much more subtle than firebreathing. This enchantment can turn combat on its head. It's one part politics, one part tax, and one part evasion. It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="War Cadence" href="#" target="_blank">War Cadence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="War Cadence"></div></div>
<p>Politically, this card is a tool to manipulate your opponents into attacking each other. As a tax, it pressures vulnerable players to choose between holding up mana to block, or playing out their own hands. Finally, against any opponent that can't pay the tax, War Cadence guarantees creatures hit players.</p>
<p>Often, mono-red decks struggle to use War Cadence effectively. The card is very mana intensive, which is why it'll always perform in a Zuko deck. Zuko provides the mana to use War Cadence offensively, saving mana from other source for other uses.</p>
<h2><em>"Break His Root" </em>- Iroh</h2>
<p>Let's talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fog" href="#" target="_blank">Fog</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I love playing Fog effects in other colors. Fogs are underplayed in Commander, unless I'm the aggro player. When I play red aggro, I enjoy anti-Fog. The words "damage can't be prevented" are music to a red mage's ears.</p>
<p>Not only is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call In a Professional" href="#" target="_blank">Call In a Professional</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> an anti-Fog, it puts in extra work by disallowing lifegain and burning a target. This card is a multitool, with the potential to be a finisher.</p>
<p>This is also one of my flavor picks. The name of the card reminds me of a couple mercenary moments in <em>Avatar</em>'s first season. One, when Zuko hires the bounty hunter June to track the Katara's scent with her shirshu mount. The other when Admiral Zhao hires pirates to blow up Zuko's ship.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Call In a Professional"></div></div>
<p>There are two facts every combat deck must come to terms with in Commander. First is the higher, combined life totals of the opponents. Three opponents with a combined 120 life is a lot for a creature with four base power. Second is the parity of combat steps. This deck will win by breaking that parity to overcome the disproportionate distribution of life points.</p>
<p>One way to do this is extra combats. There are six extra combat creatures in the deck - not enough for a dedicated extra combat theme, but enough to make regular appearances.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Combat Celebrant"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Balduvian Rage" href="#" target="_blank">Balduvian Rage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is another solid finisher. With Zuko's mana alone, it's just +2/0. That's fine in the early game. In the late game, with more resources available, this card can eliminate a player.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Balduvian Rage"></div></div>
<p>In general, this deck is going to win one attack step at a time. It'll be vulnerable to many of the free value engines that run rampant through the format, but that's ok. The theme still matters in Bracket 2.</p>
<p>While it isn't a true Voltron strategy, I feel this deck is too focused on eliminating players to honestly belong in Bracket 1.</p>
<h2>Zuko, Exiled Prince Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Zuko" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Zuko, Exiled Prince
[/Commander]
[Enchantments]
*1 Crown of Flames
*1 Draconic Destiny
*1 Fiery Mantle
*1 Ghitu Firebreathing
*1 Rising of the Day
*1 Tempered in Solitude
*1 Virtue of Courage // Embereth Blaze
*1 War Cadence
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Balduvian Rage
*1 Blazing Crescendo
*1 Brute Strength
*1 Bulk Up
*1 Calibrated Blast
*1 Call In a Professional
*1 Coming In Hot
*1 Daring Escape
*1 Dreadmaw&#039;s Ire
*1 Fateful End
*1 Fists of Flame
*1 Furious Bellow
*1 Ghostfire
*1 Ghostfire Slice
*1 Heightened Reflexes
*1 Incinerate
*1 Inordinate Rage
*1 Kindled Heroism
*1 Magma Jet
*1 Punishing Fire
*1 Run Amok
*1 Rush of Adrenaline
*1 Samut&#039;s Sprint
*1 Siege Smash
*1 Slaying Fire
*1 Soul&#039;s Fire
*1 Titan&#039;s Strength
*1 Whirling Strike
*1 Wild Slash
*1 You Come to the Gnoll Camp
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Coral Sword
*1 Dueling Rapier
*1 Embercleave
*1 Glittering Stockpile
*1 Horizon Stone
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirran Banesplitter
*1 Quick-Draw Dagger
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Two-Handed Axe // Sweeping Cleave
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Bloodthirster
*1 Bonecrusher Giant // Stomp
*1 Combat Celebrant
*1 Fire Sages
*1 Karlach, Fury of Avernus
*1 Merchant of the Vale // Haggle
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Port Razer
*1 Scourge of the Throne
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Cosmotronic Wave
*1 Hazardous Blast
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arena of Glory
*1 Blast Zone
*1 Bonders&#039; Enclave
*1 Castle Embereth
*1 Forgotten Cave
*1 Lindblum, Industrial Regency // Mage Siege
*27 Mountain
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Shivan Gorge
*1 Talon Gates of Madara
*1 Terrain Generator
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2><em>"I rise with the sun." </em>- Zuko</h2>
<p>The sun is rising on a set I've been waiting for since the dawn of the Universes Beyond era. At the time of this writing, the <em>Avatar</em> preview stream is tomorrow, and I'm riding a wave of hype. I'm really looking forward to seeing new cards that could improve this list.</p>
<p>Since firebending is a main set mechanic, Zuko is sure to get more support from <em>Magic</em> than he got from most of the Fire Nation. More than anything, this deck needs a mono-red version of Uncle Iroh.</p>
<p>From a gameplay standpoint, this deck will slot neatly into the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/commander-philosophy-the-brackets-have-updated-do-these-changes-help" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently updated guidelines</a> for Bracket 2. There's no <a href="https://edhrec.com/top/game-changers" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Game Changers</a>, and the incremental game plan will certainly take at least eight turns to execute.</p>
<p>What are you most excited for with <em>Avatar's </em>imminent set release? What obvious picks did I miss for this deck? Is there another direction you would take firebending? Tell me in the comments below.</p>
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mono red commander firebending commander

Firebending With Zuko, Exiled Prince - Commander Deck Tech