<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=a%3A%E2%80%9CFahmi+Fauzi%E2%80%9D&amp;unique=art" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Fahmi Fauzi</a></em></p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> broke into EDHREC's list of the 20 most popular commanders today. This legendary Grixis (<span class="mana-container-container"><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-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>) Human Noble has effectively enthralled many deckbuilders since her debut in <em>Magic</em>'s <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> set. What's more, she has also usurped <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Isshin, Two Heavens as One" href="#" target="_blank">Isshin, Two Heavens as One</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the process.</p>
<p>Hey, a bad girl's gotta depose <em>someone</em> 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.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Lord Azula"></div></div>
<h2>What's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s Deal, Anyway?</h2>
<p>Of primary relevance, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 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.</p>
<p>Notably, Azula also has firebending 2, meaning she generates <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> whenever she attacks, facilitating the casting of spells you're aiming to copy with her.</p>
<h2>Great Cards for an Azula Deck</h2>
<p>So, what cards work nicely with Azula while you're trying to maximize spellcasting output?</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Below is a short list of cards that fit the above bill:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Big Score" href="#" target="_blank">Big Score</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snap" href="#" target="_blank">Snap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dark Ritual" href="#" target="_blank">Dark Ritual</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seething Song" href="#" target="_blank">Seething Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Storm-Kiln Artist" href="#" target="_blank">Storm-Kiln Artist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frantic Search"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Big Score"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snap"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seething Song"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Storm-Kiln Artist"></div></div>
<p>There's so much more to Azula than just accruing value into a killer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Comet Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Comet Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or similar endgame spell. Sometimes it pays to set the deck up even more before going to town with the commander.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>Some cards that make sense in this context include the following:</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Electro, Assaulting Battery" href="#" target="_blank">Electro, Assaulting Battery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashling, Flame Dancer" href="#" target="_blank">Ashling, Flame Dancer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Veyran, Voice of Duality" href="#" target="_blank">Veyran, Voice of Duality</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Anticipation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Anticipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Fae Trickster" href="#" target="_blank">High Fae Trickster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Electro, Assaulting Battery"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ashling, Flame Dancer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline Tyrant"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Veyran, Voice of Duality"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline of Anticipation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="High Fae Trickster"></div></div>
<h2>Combo Alert!</h2>
<p>One really massive combo that Fire Lord Azula players have been using to secure the value necessary for victory comes in the form of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Frantic Search" href="#" target="_blank">Frantic Search</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset&#039;s Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Narset&#039;s Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Frantic Search"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Lord Azula"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset&#039;s Reversal"></div></div>
<p>Here's how it works, and boy, does it work:</p>
<ol>
<li>Declare Fire Lord Azula as an attacker, triggering its firebending ability, adding <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>.</li>
<li>Holding priority, activate up to three lands by tapping them, adding at least <span class="mana-container-container"><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-u" 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>.</li>
<li>Cast Frantic Search.</li>
<li>Fire Lord Azula's second ability triggers, copying Frantic Search.</li>
<li>Resolve the copy of Frantic Search, causing you to loot twice and untap up to three lands.</li>
<li>Holding priority, activate up to three lands by tapping them, adding at least <span class="mana-container-container"><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-u" 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>.</li>
<li>Cast Narset's Reversal targeting the original Frantic Search spell.</li>
<li>Fire Lord Azula's second ability triggers, copying Narset's Reversal, targeting the original Narset's Reversal.</li>
<li>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.</li>
<li>Resolve the copy of Narset's Reversal, copying Frantic Search and returning the original Frantic Search to your hand.</li>
<li>Resolve the copy of Frantic Search from step 9, causing you to loot twice and untap up to three lands.</li>
<li>Holding priority, repeat from step 2.</li>
</ol>
<div id="11-2196-7089" style="width: 100%; position: relative; overflow: visible; display: flex; justify-content: center;"><img decoding="async" id="csbLoad" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/images/gear.svg" alt="csb logo" width="300" /><br />
<script id="11-2196-7089" src="https://commanderspellbook.com/embed.js?v=1&uses=%5B%22Fire%20Lord%20Azula%22%2C%22Narset's%20Reversal%22%2C%22Frantic%20Search%22%5D&requires=%5B%5D&produces=%5B%22Infinite%20self-discard%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20draw%20triggers%22%2C%22Infinite%20looting%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20storm%20count%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20mana%20lands%20you%20control%20can%20produce%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20magecraft%20triggers%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20untap%20of%20lands%20you%20control%22%2C%22Near-infinite%20blue%20mana%22%5D&id=11-2196-7089&color=UBR&extraRequirementCount=0"></script></div>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" src="." width="0" height="0"></iframe></p>
<p>Azula players have used this combo to great effect since the card came out!</p>
<h2><em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em> Has Made Azula Even Better</h2>
<p>The newest <em>Magic</em> set, <em>Secrets of Strixhaven</em>, 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:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Flashback"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Resonating Lute"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prismari, the Inspiration"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Flashback" href="#" target="_blank">Flashback</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 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, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Resonating Lute" href="#" target="_blank">Resonating Lute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a mana doubler where it matters most for the deck, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prismari, the Inspiration" href="#" target="_blank">Prismari, the Inspiration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is capable of utterly blowing out a game through granting storm for even more copies of instant and sorcery spells.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Unlike <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed" href="#" target="_blank">Y&#039;shtola, Night&#039;s Blessed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, another high-ranking popular commander we've been covering extensively <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/yshtola-becomes-4-most-popular-commander-bumping-krenko" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that's now in the #4 spot</a>, 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!</p>
<p>So, let's open the floor to you, dear readers. Are you happy that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> 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.</p>


Fire Lord Azula Blasts Her Way To 20th Most Popular Commander

Brewing a Fire Lord Azula Commander Deck on a Budget

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/mangamie">Fahmi Fauzi</a></em></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Fans of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>, this news is for you! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Lord Azula" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Lord Azula</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, one of the primary antagonists of the beloved animated Nickelodeon series, has breached the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders">Top 100 Commanders</a> list on EDHREC! More specifically, at the time of writing, Azula is at spot #96 and is poised to climb even higher. How did Azula get this popular? Read on, and perhaps we can shed some light on this "lightning-fast" rise to dominance!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Lord Azula"></div></div>
<h2>What Does Fire Lord Azula Do?</h2>
<p>Fire Lord Azula is a blue-black-red (or Grixis, using colloquial <em>Magic</em> terminology) commander. She specializes in casting spells during combat, which all of her abilities allow her to capitalize upon. She has firebending 2, allowing her to generate <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> when you declare her as an attacker. Furthermore, she copies any spell you cast during combat, provided she is attacking at the time.</p>
<p>What this suite of abilities does is shocking, if you'll pardon the continued use of electric puns (as Azula can also bend lightning). Put simply, many spells are easy to exploit with Fire Lord Azula's copying ability. This includes spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Narset&#039;s Reversal" href="#" target="_blank">Narset&#039;s Reversal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Snap" href="#" target="_blank">Snap</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and many spells with additional costs, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrill of Possibility" href="#" target="_blank">Thrill of Possibility</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Big Score" href="#" target="_blank">Big Score</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These spells only need you to pay the additional cost once, on cast; copies need not apply.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Narset&#039;s Reversal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Big Score"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snap"></div></div>
<p>There are also plenty of support cards in this deck's top cards that will soup up what Azula is manipulating. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="High Fae Trickster" href="#" target="_blank">High Fae Trickster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Anticipation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Anticipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are fantastic additions to a Fire Lord Azula deck, since they facilitate any non-instant, non-flash spells cast to have instant-speed interactivity. For Azula, this means more copies of whatever you cast while she's attacking. Suddenly, your opponents are facing so many more threats than they're generally prepared to deal with. Victory ends up trivial for Azula; she can annihilate an entire pod in this way, completely and utterly.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="High Fae Trickster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thrill of Possibility"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline of Anticipation"></div></div>
<h2>Where is Azula Now?</h2>
<p>At this time, as mentioned earlier in this article, Fire Lord Azula is trending at rank #96 in the Top 100 Most Popular Commanders of the past 2 years. <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> came out only a couple of weeks ago, meaning that Azula will probably remain on this list for that long unless, in the next 2 years, some extremely dynamic commanders come out that depose her. She currently outranks the following four commanders on the Top 100 list:</p>
<ul>
<li>#97. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Magus Lucea Kane" href="#" target="_blank">Magus Lucea Kane</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>#98. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morophon, the Boundless" href="#" target="_blank">Morophon, the Boundless</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>#99. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anikthea, Hand of Erebos" href="#" target="_blank">Anikthea, Hand of Erebos</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>#100. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Etali, Primal Conqueror" href="#" target="_blank">Etali, Primal Conqueror</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>As for her competition (of which I mean the current commanders that outrank Azula), none seem to pose a great threat to her climb until you reach rank #85, held by <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hearthhull, the Worldseed" href="#" target="_blank">Hearthhull, the Worldseed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This is because, unless any of these commanders get some special attention or cards that utterly break them, the commanders above Azula to Hearthhull's rank are pretty much old hat. They were released long enough ago to be out of the limelight, which can give Azula the chance to outrank them at basically any time before <em>Lorwyn Eclipsed</em> begins any serious preview season.</p>
<p>For whatever it's worth, the next obstacle in Azula's climb is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fynn, the Fangbearer" href="#" target="_blank">Fynn, the Fangbearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an uncommon commander from <em>Kaldheim</em> that deals with the much-maligned niche of poison counters. This legendary creature currently commands fewer than 60 more decks than Azula, and that measure is certainly going to drop as Azula gains more of a player base.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Magus Lucea Kane"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fynn, the Fangbearer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hearthhull, the Worldseed"></div></div>
<h2>Other <em>Avatar</em>-Themed Success</h2>
<p>In related news, <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>, is potentially going to breach the Top 100 list as well. However, it'll be a bit longer before we can confirm that , since right now she's only at a rank of #124. This puts her just above <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Marrow-Gnawer" href="#" target="_blank">Marrow-Gnawer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and just under <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kibo, Uktabi Prince" href="#" target="_blank">Kibo, Uktabi Prince</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kibo, Uktabi Prince"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toph, the First Metalbender"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marrow-Gnawer"></div></div>
<p>It's entirely possible that Toph doesn't break 100. But, we must consider the current trajectory that Fire Lord Azula possesses and the relative age of the <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em> set. With that information on hand, it doesn't seem at all unlikely that Toph will also get there soon.</p>
<p>Now, we'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers! How far do you see Fire Lord Azula (or Toph, the First Metalbender) getting on EDHREC's Top 100 Commanders list? Do you have these commander decks at this time? How do you like them, and are there any hidden gems you're using in either? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


azula

Fire Lord Azula Blasts Her Way To 20th Most Popular Commander

Brewing a Fire Lord Azula Commander Deck on a Budget

Fire Lord Azula Breaches "Top 100 Commanders" List

The Over/Under - Predicting the Popularity of Multicolor Avatar Commanders

Building a High Power Fire Lord Azula Deck