Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula | Art by Fahmi Fauzi

Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula broke into EDHREC's list of the 20 most popular commanders today. This legendary Grixis () Human Noble has effectively enthralled many deckbuilders since her debut in Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender set. What's more, she has also usurped Isshin, Two Heavens as OneIsshin, Two Heavens as One in the process.

Hey, a bad girl's gotta depose someone to get where she is now, right? Anyway, let's look at some key cards that make up Azula decks, as she continues to ascend.

What's Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula's Deal, Anyway?

Of primary relevance, Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula is a legendary creature card that copies spells you cast while she's in attacking. This type of ability naturally lends itself well to instant-speed combat tricks, as well as spells with flash.

Notably, Azula also has firebending 2, meaning she generates whenever she attacks, facilitating the casting of spells you're aiming to copy with her.

Great Cards for an Azula Deck

So, what cards work nicely with Azula while you're trying to maximize spellcasting output?

As mentioned above, spells with instant-speed timing are going to be an Azula deck's bread and butter. This is a broad spectrum, so, upon closer examination, cards that fit that description while providing some value will be the best for the deck. To this end, effects that draw or provide impulse draw, grant Azula extra mana, or can quickly close out a game all spring to mind.

Below is a short list of cards that fit the above bill:

• Frantic SearchFrantic Search
• Big ScoreBig Score
• SnapSnap
• Dark RitualDark Ritual
• Seething SongSeething Song
• Storm-Kiln ArtistStorm-Kiln Artist

There's so much more to Azula than just accruing value into a killer Comet StormComet Storm or similar endgame spell. Sometimes it pays to set the deck up even more before going to town with the commander.

Mana battery-type effects, cards that augment the act of copying spells, and permanents that grant flash to cards that can't be cast otherwise in combat are all fantastic in an Azula deck.

Some cards that make sense in this context include the following:

• Electro, Assaulting BatteryElectro, Assaulting Battery
• Ashling, Flame DancerAshling, Flame Dancer
• Leyline TyrantLeyline Tyrant
• Veyran, Voice of DualityVeyran, Voice of Duality
• Leyline of AnticipationLeyline of Anticipation
• High Fae TricksterHigh Fae Trickster

Combo Alert!

One really massive combo that Fire Lord Azula players have been using to secure the value necessary for victory comes in the form of Frantic SearchFrantic Search with Narset's ReversalNarset's Reversal.

Here's how it works, and boy, does it work:

1. Declare Fire Lord Azula as an attacker, triggering its firebending ability, adding .
2. Holding priority, activate up to three lands by tapping them, adding at least .
3. Cast Frantic Search.
4. Fire Lord Azula's second ability triggers, copying Frantic Search.
5. Resolve the copy of Frantic Search, causing you to loot twice and untap up to three lands.
6. Holding priority, activate up to three lands by tapping them, adding at least .
7. Cast Narset's Reversal targeting the original Frantic Search spell.
8. Fire Lord Azula's second ability triggers, copying Narset's Reversal, targeting the original Narset's Reversal.
9. Resolve the copy of Narset's Reversal, causing you to copy Narset's Reversal targeting the original Frantic Search spell, and then return the original Narset's Reversal to your hand.
10. Resolve the copy of Narset's Reversal, copying Frantic Search and returning the original Frantic Search to your hand.
11. Resolve the copy of Frantic Search from step 9, causing you to loot twice and untap up to three lands.
12. Holding priority, repeat from step 2.

Azula players have used this combo to great effect since the card came out!

Secrets of Strixhaven Has Made Azula Even Better

The newest Magic set, Secrets of Strixhaven, introduced a bunch of new cards in red and blue that have pushed Azula even further, potentially contributing to her continued popularity in many ways. The three cards that seem to have best proven themselves for the Fire Lord, according to Azula's own EDHREC page, are the following:

FlashbackFlashback is a fantastic way to facilitate recursion of one or two strong cards, such as the rest of the aforementioned combo line (presuming it's already been used and failed to initially end the game). Meanwhile, Resonating LuteResonating Lute is a mana doubler where it matters most for the deck, and Prismari, the InspirationPrismari, the Inspiration is capable of utterly blowing out a game through granting storm for even more copies of instant and sorcery spells.

It remains to be seen whether these cards will truly push Azula over the edge, but then again, Azula had passed the point of no return a long time ago.

Conclusion

Unlike Y'shtola, Night's BlessedY'shtola, Night's Blessed, another high-ranking popular commander we've been covering extensively that's now in the #4 spot, I wonder about Fire Lord Azula's lasting popularity. Will she break into the Top 10 in as little time? I don't see it, but it could absolutely happen and shock me in the process. Such is her modus operandi, so I guess that would be fitting!

So, let's open the floor to you, dear readers. Are you happy that Fire Lord AzulaFire Lord Azula has breached the Top 20 most popular commanders list? Do you have an Azula list on Archidekt? And, are you enjoying playing that deck? Sound off in the comments below.