<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morska, Undersea Sleuth" href="#" target="_blank">Morska, Undersea Sleuth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/katemaxpaint">Ekaterina Burmak</a></em></p>
<p>With the recent release of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>, four <a href="https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Bending_arts">bending arts</a> are now a part of <em>Magic. </em>The one we'll focus on today is <a href="https://draftsim.com/mtg-waterbending/">waterbending</a>, an interesting blend between the abilities <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Convoke">convoke</a> and <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Improvise">improvise</a>.</p>
<p>When I think about having a bunch of artifacts laying around waiting to be tapped for stuff, my mind immediately goes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> production, but which commander cares about Clues and is in the right color combination to access the new waterbending tech?</p>
<p>Today, we're going to rebuild the popular (currently the tenth most played <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/bant">Bant commander</a>) face of last year's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/deep-clue-sea-precon-review"><em>Deep Clue Sea</em> precon</a>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morska, Undersea Sleuth" href="#" target="_blank">Morska, Undersea Sleuth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. After all, who could be better fit for waterbending than a Vedalken Fish who lives underwater?</p>
<h2>What Does Morska, Undersea Sleuth Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morska, Undersea Sleuth"></div></div>
<p>Morska has a built-in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reliquary Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Reliquary Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, granting us no maximum hand size. She also cares about drawing multiple cards and will grow each time we draw our second card each turn. Importantly, this is not restricted to our own turn, so spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that draw multiple cards at instant speed will still grant her two +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>The most important part for maximizing our waterbending potential, however, is Morska's ability to <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Investigate">investigate</a> each turn during our upkeep.</p>
<h2>How Did This Deck Look Before <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>?</h2>
<p>Let's use EDHREC's handy dandy <a href="https://edhrec.com/average-decks/morska-undersea-sleuth">Average Deck feature</a> to see how other brewers have built around Morska. Using the list below, we can put our own detective hats on and investigate the most prominent categories that show up.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Morska, Undersea Sleuth Average Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Morska, Undersea Sleuth
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Adrix and Nev, Twincasters
*1 Alandra, Sky Dreamer
*1 Bennie Bracks, Zoologist
*1 Chulane, Teller of Tales
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Detective of the Month
*1 Erdwal Illuminator
*1 Esix, Fractal Bloom
*1 Ethereal Investigator
*1 Forensic Gadgeteer
*1 Innocuous Researcher
*1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
*1 Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Kappa Cannoneer
*1 Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy // Tail the Suspect
*1 Koma, Cosmos Serpent
*1 Lonis, Cryptozoologist
*1 Merchant of Truth
*1 Piper Wright, Publick Reporter
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Tangletrove Kelp
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Tireless Tracker
*1 Wavesifter
*1 Whirler Rogue
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Talisman of Unity
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Journal
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Armed with Proof
*1 Knowledge Is Power
*1 Mechanized Production
*1 On the Trail
*1 Ongoing Investigation
*1 Search the Premises
*1 Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight
*1 Ulvenwald Mysteries
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Beast Within
*1 Confirm Suspicions
*1 Counterspell
*1 Disorder in the Court
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Officious Interrogation
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Farewell
*1 Farseek
*1 Finale of Revelation
*1 Follow the Bodies
*1 Fumigate
*1 Rise and Shine
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*5 Forest
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*5 Island
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Path of Ancestry
*5 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Tranquil Thicket
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Clue Creation</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lonis, Cryptozoologist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Academy Manufactor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Officious Interrogation"></div></div>
<p>Beyond Morska, the Average Deck has 18 cards that create <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tokens and four that bolster artifact token production. In this deck, Clues serve as the usual source of slow-but-steady card advantage, but they also synergize in various ways with cards in other categories below.</p>
<div>
<h2>Clues Matter</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shimmer Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Junk Winder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inspiring Statuary"></div></div>
<p>Clue (and other token) production can advance our card draw (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Idol of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Idol of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bennie Bracks, Zoologist" href="#" target="_blank">Bennie Bracks, Zoologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shimmer Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shimmer Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), turn into mana (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Jaheira, Friend of the Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Statuary" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Statuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), or cause mass disruption (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junk Winder" href="#" target="_blank">Junk Winder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>Closers</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyberdrive Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise and Shine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettlecyst"></div></div>
<p>While <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/xwu3e/etymology_of_the_term_durdle/">durdling</a> around with Clues can be fun, we're going to want to close out the game eventually. The Average Deck allows us to "go wide" and turn Clues into a board full of threats (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tangletrove Kelp" href="#" target="_blank">Tangletrove Kelp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise and Shine" href="#" target="_blank">Rise and Shine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) or "go tall" and use them to make one big threat (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kappa Cannoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Kappa Cannoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>Bread and Butter</h2>
<h3>Mana</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farseek"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azorius Signet"></div></div>
</div>
<p>The Average Deck has 36 lands, seven nonland sources of mana, and seven conditional mana boosters/cost-reducers, for a total of 50 "mana-stuff" (highly technical term).</p>
<p>This is a great start, but the fact that we have permanent mana sinks and card draw in the form of Clues means we can go even higher (especially on actual lands).</p>
<p>But wait a second, doesn't more card draw mean we can get away with playing fewer lands?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTAhqhi8LU0">This video</a> makes the convincing argument that the opposite is actually true, claiming:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>If your commander costs four or more and draws cards, not only should you not run [fewer] lands than you otherwise would, you actually should run more. That's a draw spell you'll have every game, and the only barrier between you and those sweet, sweet cards is drawing enough lands or ramp to get there. Ditto if the deck is heavy on draw that costs a lot of mana. Medium to large draw will cut through that slightly higher density of lands with no problem, so running a higher land count won't hurt you. It will only serve to lessen the chance of screw.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Although Morska does only cost three mana, the fact that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-based card draw is so mana-intensive means a deck built around this commander largely falls in the category described above. With that being said, let's include a few more lands in the rebuild.</p>
<h3>Disruption</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farewell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Confirm Suspicions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disorder in the Court"></div></div>
<p>The Average Deck has a slew of classic targeted <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> removal spells (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) alongside classic sweepers (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fumigate" href="#" target="_blank">Fumigate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). There are also some on-theme disruption spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Confirm Suspicions" href="#" target="_blank">Confirm Suspicions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disorder in the Court" href="#" target="_blank">Disorder in the Court</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>The Rebuild</h2>
<h3>Waterbending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Water Tribe Rallier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbender Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Secret of Bloodbending"></div></div>
<p>Let's take a look at the new cards that care about waterbending. We can see great inclusions in many different important categories:</p>
<ul>
<li>Big Threats – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent River Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent River Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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></li>
<li>Draw/Selection – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Water Tribe Rallier" href="#" target="_blank">Water Tribe Rallier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <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>, <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>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spirit Water Revival" href="#" target="_blank">Spirit Water Revival</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Disruption – <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang, Swift Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Aang, Swift Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Water Whip" href="#" target="_blank">Water Whip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbender&#039;s Restoration" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbender&#039;s Restoration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Game-Ending Advantage – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Secret of Bloodbending" href="#" target="_blank">Secret of Bloodbending</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Legend of Kuruk" href="#" target="_blank">The Legend of Kuruk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenge the Stats</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarinth Steelseeker"></div></div>
<p>At only an 11% inclusion rate, this little guy from <em>The Brothers' War </em>isn't being shown nearly enough love. A hidden gem doesn't always have to do something big and splashy. Sometimes, it's just the small piece of the puzzle that holds the whole thing together. In a deck with gigantic waterbending costs, like <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-8" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-10" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and even <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-20" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Clues can get you a lot of the way there, but you still need to hit your land drops! Furthermore, sifting through the top card of your deck has added utility with so many ways to draw extra cards at will.</p>
<h2>Putting It All Together</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Waterbending Morska" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Morska, Undersea Sleuth
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aang, Swift Savior // Aang and La, Ocean&#039;s Fury
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Angelic Sleuth
*1 Benevolent River Spirit
*1 Broodstar
*1 Bygone Bishop
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Detective of the Month
*1 Drowner of Truth // Drowned Jungle
*1 Duggan, Private Detective
*1 Erdwal Illuminator
*1 Ethereal Investigator
*1 Forensic Gadgeteer
*1 James, Wandering Dad // Follow Him
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Kappa Cannoneer
*1 Katara, Bending Prodigy
*1 Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope
*1 Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy // Tail the Suspect
*1 Lavinia, Foil to Conspiracy
*1 Lonis, Cryptozoologist
*1 Lonis, Genetics Expert
*1 Lord Jyscal Guado
*1 Merchant of Truth
*1 Piper Wright, Publick Reporter
*1 Private Eye
*1 Sarah Jane Smith
*1 Sarinth Steelseeker
*1 Sharp-Eyed Rookie
*1 Sophia, Dogged Detective
*1 The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Tireless Tracker
*1 Water Tribe Rallier
*1 Whirler Rogue
*1 Wojek Investigator
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Disorder in the Court
*1 Dispatch
*1 Endless Detour
*1 Officious Interrogation
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Waterbender&#039;s Restoration
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Organic Extinction
*1 Secret of Bloodbending
*1 Spirit Water Revival
*1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
*1 Voyage Home
*1 Water Whip
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Five Hundred Year Diary
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Thousand Moons Smithy // Barracks of the Thousand
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Case of the Pilfered Proof
*1 On the Trail
*1 Ongoing Investigation
*1 The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk
*1 Waterbender Ascension
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Grove
*2 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*6 Island
*1 Overflowing Basin
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*3 Plains
*1 Razortide Bridge
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Secluded Starforge
*1 Secret Tunnel
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Tanglepool Bridge
*1 Thornglint Bridge
*1 Uthros, Titanic Godcore
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<div>
<h2>Deck Checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>51 mana sources (38 lands, 3 mana rocks, 8 misc., 2 MDFCs)</li>
<li>11 cards with waterbending</li>
<li>10 cards that draw/search (not even counting all the Clue production!)</li>
<li> 6 targeted disruption</li>
<li> 6 mass disruption</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Thank you for reading today, and I hope you have fun tinkering with the new "bending" abilities and Clue-based strategies as we welcome the release of <em>Avatar: The Last</em> Airbender. Until next time!</p>
</div>


detective

Rebuilding Morska, Undersea Sleuth With Waterbending

Deep Clue Sea Upgrade Guide

Deep Clue Sea Precon Review