<p style="text-align: right;"><em><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> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/eilenecherie">Eilene Cherie</a></em></p>
<p>Welcome, welcome, welcome to <em>Fire and Ice</em>! This is the data-driven series where I go over cards that are becoming more or less popular for different Commander decks, and talk about why they may be gaining or losing popularity. I'm Julia, EDHREC's Duchess of Data, and I'm super excited to jump into today's article! For some information on the math that supports this series, check out <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/introducing-the-math-behind-edhrecs-fire-and-ice-series?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">this article</a>.</p>
<p>EDHREC, of course, has a ton of data. We'll draw conclusions from that data about how certain commanders' decks have changed over time, give insight into new cards, and hopefully provide some tech for your favorite commander's list.</p>
<p>Today, we're focusing on <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>. In honor of the recently released <em>Avatar</em> movie, I wanted to take a look at one of the coolest commanders from the set! She currently sits as the 23rd most popular commander on EDHREC, with nearly 30,000 decks to her name!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Toph, the First Metalbender"></div></div>
<h2><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></h2>
<div id="attachment_189614" style="width: 999px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><a href="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-24.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-189614" class="size-full wp-image-189614" src="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-24.png" alt="What's Hot and What's Not for Toph, the First Metalbender?" width="989" height="550" srcset="https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-24.png 989w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-24-300x167.png 300w, https://cloudflare.edhrec.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/newplot-24-768x427.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 989px) 100vw, 989px" /></a><p id="caption-attachment-189614" class="wp-caption-text">What's Hot and What's Not for Toph, the First Metalbender?</p></div>
<p>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 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-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Toph is a 3/3 Human Warrior Ally. The card also turns all of our nontoken artifacts into lands (this doesn't inherently provide those artifacts with a mana ability, though). On each of our end steps, she prompts us to earthbend 2, putting two +1/+1 counters on a land we control and turning it into a creature that'll return to the battlefield after dying. Earthbent lands being able to come back to the battlefield is a really big deal, and <a href="https://commanderspellbook.com/search/?q=toph%2C%20the%20first">some pilots have built combos around that fact</a>.</p>
<p>Toph pilots blend artifact and land synergies, creating a unique and powerful Naya deck. Avatar cards feature heavily, due to the flavor and power of earthbending, but there are cards from throughout <em>Magic</em>'s history in these lists too! Among this commander's most popular cards are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Divide Guide" href="#" target="_blank">Great Divide Guide</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (51% inclusion), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zuran Orb" href="#" target="_blank">Zuran Orb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (also 51% inclusion), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Stasis Coffin" href="#" target="_blank">The Stasis Coffin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (45% inclusion).</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Great Divide Guide"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuran Orb"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Stasis Coffin"></div></div>
<h2>What's Fiery for Toph Decks?</h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Planar Engineering" href="#" target="_blank">Planar Engineering</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 11.90</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Planar Engineering"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Explosive Vegetation" href="#" target="_blank">Explosive Vegetation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Roiling Regrowth" href="#" target="_blank">Roiling Regrowth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> had a baby! This four-mana ramp spell is a perfect fit for Toph decks. If we sacrifice two lands that we previously earthbent to Planar Engineering, we'll end up grabbing four basics from our library without really getting rid of our on-board lands to do so!</p>
<p>Spells in this vein, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entish Restoration" href="#" target="_blank">Entish Restoration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, will always be great inclusions in Toph's 99. This spell just so happens to grab more lands than most other ramp spells at this mana cost, making it even better. Its super high fire score is not surprising in the slightest.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erode" href="#" target="_blank">Erode</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 7.42</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Erode"></div></div>
<p>Naya decks have access to fantastic removal, including <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> and <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>. So it's puzzling to see a suboptimal removal spell like Erode gaining so much popularity.</p>
<p>This instant can target planeswalkers, while Swords and Path cannot, but Erode destroys its target instead of exiling it. That's a pretty big difference, especially with how many graveyard decks are out there. I'm not convinced this spell is worth including.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Germination Practicum" href="#" target="_blank">Germination Practicum</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 6.83</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Germination Practicum"></div></div>
<p>Toph decks have no problem creating the mana needed to cast this spell. With that in mind, Germination Practicum can be a great game-ender for pilots that don't want to win with a combo. Our commander already puts +1/+1 counters on our creatures, so this spell is a natural fit for our game plan.</p>
<p>There are certainly more land-centric win conditions available, but Germination Practicum is a great set-it-and-forget-it option.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Emil, Vastlands Roamer" href="#" target="_blank">Emil, Vastlands Roamer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 3.85</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Emil, Vastlands Roamer"></div></div>
<p>These decks have tons of differently named lands, including nonbasics in our mana base and the artifacts that Toph makes into lands. That allows Emil to <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-tap" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> and create a huge Fractal token. It wouldn't be surprising to create a 10/10 or larger!</p>
<p>The trample that Emil lends to our creatures is nice to have, too. While we won't frequently attack with our transformed lands, it's nice to give them a bit of evasion.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haywire Mite" href="#" target="_blank">Haywire Mite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Fire Score of 2.20</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haywire Mite"></div></div>
<p>If we earthbend this creature, we've got repeatable removal and life gain on demand. This is one of the best creatures to repeatedly target with our commander's end step trigger!</p>
<p>It's also lovely that Haywire Mite costs just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-1" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to cast and <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> to activate. We couldn't ask for more from an artifact.</p>
<h2>What's Icy for Toph Decks?</h2>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthbending Lesson" href="#" target="_blank">Earthbending Lesson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Ice Score of -2.61</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthbending Lesson"></div></div>
<p>We do want to earthbend frequently, but we'll often want other effects to be attached when we do so. Paying four mana to put four +1/+1 counters on a land we control isn't a great rate, even if we can save that land from demise later down the line.</p>
<p>We also don't care too much about the numerical value attached to our earthbending abilities. As long as the creature returns to the battlefield after dying or being exiled, we don't care how many +1/+1 counters it has.</p>
<h3><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Badgermole" href="#" target="_blank">Badgermole</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earth Rumble" href="#" target="_blank">Earth Rumble</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> - Ice Scores of -2.16 and -2.18</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Badgermole"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earth Rumble"></div></div>
<p>While these cards do have other effects besides earthbending, we're forced to overpay massively for their effects. Badgermole is a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" 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>-cost almost-vanilla 4/4 and Earth Rumble is a <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" 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>-cost fight spell. Badgermole does give our creatures with +1/+1 counters trample, but that doesn't make it worth including when Emil can do so much more (at a lower mana cost)! As for Earth Rumble, there are one-mana fight spells out there. Spending four mana to remove a single creature just isn't justifiable, no matter how on-theme this spell is.</p>
<p>When <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Badgermole Cub" href="#" target="_blank">Badgermole Cub</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toph, Hardheaded Teacher" href="#" target="_blank">Toph, Hardheaded Teacher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and even <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ba Sing Se" href="#" target="_blank">Ba Sing Se</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> exist, it's hard to justify paying this much for mediocre cards that just so happen to earthbend.</p>
<h3><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> - Ice Score of -1.91</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haru, Hidden Talent"></div></div>
<p>The average Toph deck has a grand total of nine Allies in it, including Toph herself. So, excluding any shenanigans, Haru will top out at earthbending fewer than ten times per game! That's not nearly enough to justify a slot in our 99.</p>
<p>Even if Haru is guaranteed to earthbend at least once per game when our commander hits the board, it's just not good enough. We can and should look elsewhere.</p>
<h2>What's in a Toph, the First Metalbender Deck?</h2>
<p>Here's Toph's average deck on EDHREC, modified to include all of her hot cards and exclude all of her cold cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Toffee" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Toph, the First Metalbender
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Amulet of Vigor
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bender&#039;s Waterskin
*1 Chromatic Lantern
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Liquimetal Coating
*1 Liquimetal Torque
*1 Mishra&#039;s Bauble
*1 Mycosynth Lattice
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 The Earth Crystal
*1 The Ozolith
*1 The Stasis Coffin
*1 Zuran Orb
[/Artifacts]
[Creatures]
*1 Ashaya, Soul of the Wild
*1 Avatar Kyoshi, Earthbender
*1 Badgermole Cub
*1 Bumi, Eclectic Earthbender
*1 Bumi, Unleashed
*1 Dryad of the Ilysian Grove
*1 Earthbending Student
*1 Emil, Vastlands Roamer
*1 Esper Sentinel
*1 Evolution Sage
*1 Great Divide Guide
*1 Haywire Mite
*1 Lotus Cobra
*1 Moraug, Fury of Akoum
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Sylvan Safekeeper
*1 Tannuk, Memorial Ensign
*1 The Boulder, Ready to Rumble
*1 Tireless Provisioner
*1 Toph, Earthbending Master
*1 Toph, Greatest Earthbender
*1 Toph, Hardheaded Teacher
*1 Toph, the Blind Bandit
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Annie Joins Up
*1 Bitter Work
*1 Earthbender Ascension
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Terra Eternal
*1 Terrasymbiosis
*1 The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Crop Rotation
*1 Cycle of Renewal
*1 Earthshape
*1 Erode
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 Origin of Metalbending
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Redirect Lightning
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Farseek
*1 Germination Practicum
*1 Hour of Revelation
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Planar Engineering
*1 Rockalanche
[/Sorceries]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Ba Sing Se
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Command Tower
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fabled Passage
*7 Forest
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Jungle Shrine
*4 Mountain
*4 Plains
*1 Rootbound Crag
*1 Rumble Arena
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Secret Tunnel
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Urza&#039;s Saga
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
*1 Yavimaya, Cradle of Growth
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Toph is a great commander, and a great character too. The <em>TLA</em> product release was likely timed to draw players in to the theatrical release, so I'm curious: did you see the new <em>Avatar</em> movie? If so, did you enjoy it? Let me know in the comments, and I'll be back soon with another <em>Fire and Ice</em>!</p>


Toph, the First Metalbender | Fire and Ice

The Best Reprints in Avatar: The Last Airbender

<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>


tla

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