<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>


Rebuilding Morska, Undersea Sleuth With Waterbending

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/mangamie">Fahmi Fauzi</a></em></p>
<p>Even if you're not a fan of the <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar</em></a> series, our commander for the day should still be pretty familiar to you. Aang is the main protagonist of the show, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> captures when he masters the bending of all four elements.</p>
<p>Drawing a card whenever you bend water, earth, fire, or air is a huge payoff. Plus, if you're able to bend all four in one turn, you're now ready to send Aang into the Avatar state, which takes this deck to a whole new level.</p>
<h2>This Commander Can Save the World</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Avatar Aang"></div></div>
<p>This version of Aang loves to see others utilize their bending, so the main goal with the deck is to flood your board with creatures in the early game. Then, once you've built up your team with allies and enemies from the show, you can cast your commander and start pulling in the value while you bend the elements.</p>
<p>When it comes to this list, the main goal is to highlight some of the cards from the set that progresses your strategy forward, while <em>hopefully </em>not breaking your bank.</p>
<p>Plus, I added great budget cards to the 99 from outside the set that'll fit nicely with the mechanics already in the deck, including a solid five-color landbase. So, with all that in mind, let's get started by taking a look at how each element fits into this list!</p>
<h2>Waterbending - Power in Gathering</h2>
<p><em>(While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays 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>.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbending Lesson"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><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>: Here's an instance of waterbending that works great in two ways for this deck. Of course, you can try to make your creatures as big as possible, however if you activate that ability one creature/land/artifact at a time, you'll draw a card for each one you tap because of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s ability. Now that's a lot of card advantage!</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbending Lesson" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbending Lesson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Including some standard card draw in this deck is important, just in case Aang isn't on the battlefield. However, if he is on the board, you could draw an additional card after you waterbend with this spell.</li>
<li><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>: This deck is relatively aggressive, which means that you'll be sending creatures into combat pretty often. With that in mind, you should be getting enough experience counters on this enchantment to start drawing even more cards, while having the option to add evasion to your board.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Earthbending - Awaken Your Manabase</h2>
<p><em>(Target land you control becomes a 0/0 creature with haste that's still a land. Put a number of +1/+1 counters on it equal to the number next to that ability. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Haru, Hidden Talent"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dai Li Agents"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Earthbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><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>: Since this creature is only two mana, it'll start your earthbending engine right away. Plus, once Aang is on the board, all it takes to draw some cards is by just deploying more and more Allies.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dai Li Agents" href="#" target="_blank">Dai Li Agents</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Earthbending multiple times when these Agents enter helps with building your land army. On top of that, it adds a way to close out the game if they attack and you have enough creatures with counters on your board.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Earthbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Earthbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This enchantment does it all; not only does it help you earthbend, but it also fetches a basic land onto your board. Then when you build up those four quest counters, you'll buff up a creature and help it trample over your opponent's defenses.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Firebending - Ignite Your Combat</h2>
<p><em>(Whenever a creature with firebending attacks, add <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> equal to the number next to that ability. This mana lasts until end of combat.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Zuko, Exiled Prince"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fire Nation Attacks"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Firebender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><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>: Sure, this may be the version of Zuko who's hunting down Aang, however, they still work great together in this deck. Firebending 3 is already a powerful effect, especially when you can spend all that mana to gain access to the top card of your library in a pinch.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fire Nation Attacks" href="#" target="_blank">Fire Nation Attacks</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since Aang draws you cards each time you firebend, getting as many bodies on the board as possible that have that ability ensures you'll be refilling your hand during combat. This spell also has flashback, which means you can recast it later when you're looking for a place to spend all your red firebending mana.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Firebender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Firebender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This enchantment is an absolute powerhouse in this deck. It brings you a token when it enters, which'll help unlock that second ability pretty quickly. Each time a firebending creature goes into combat, you'll get closer to doubling all your attack triggers.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Airbending - Bounce the Board</h2>
<p><em>(Exile a target. While it's exiled, its owner may cast it for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> rather than its mana cost.)</em></p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Appa, Loyal Sky Bison"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Airbending Lesson"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Airbender Ascension"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Appa, Loyal Sky Bison" href="#" target="_blank">Appa, Loyal Sky Bison</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Of course, Aang needs to have Appa close by at all times, which luckily adds some airbending to the deck. Giving a creature flying during combat is helpful, and exiling one of your permanents in order to recast it later will now draw you a card in the process.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbending Lesson" href="#" target="_blank">Airbending Lesson</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's a great way to weaponize airbending, by temporarily getting rid of someone else's threat in order to progress your own game plan. Since it's an instant, you could cast it during combat in order to utilize some of the mana you make with firebending.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Airbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Airbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This enchantment does a whole lot for only two mana. It airbends something when it enters, while also getting to the point where you could blink a creature at the end of each of your turns.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Cards From Outside the <em>Avatar</em> Set</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Harrow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Faeburrow Elder"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Harrow" href="#" target="_blank">Harrow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: This is already a staple in the format, so its inclusion here shouldn't be too surprising, but it also pairs with earthbending in a very interesting way. If you sacrifice a land that's already been earthbended, it'll come back to the battlefield tapped, which means you won't be down a land once this spell resolves.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Faeburrow Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Faeburrow Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Here's one of the best mana dorks in the format, which is luckily still in a comfortable budget range. It's perfect in this list, since <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is four colors, allowing this Treefolk to eventually tap for four mana at a time.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Commune with Lava"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shamanic Revelation"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Commune with Lava" href="#" target="_blank">Commune with Lava</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Since this deck is filled with so many creatures with firebending, having an instant spell like this can be a great outlet for all that red mana. Gaining access to a huge chunk of cards during your combat step could truly take the table by surprise.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shamanic Revelation" href="#" target="_blank">Shamanic Revelation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: One of the deck's main goals is to get as many creatures as possible onto the board, and start bending away. So, having a spell that draws you a card for each member on your team will definitely help you out in the late game.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Become the Avalanche"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overwhelming Stampede"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Become the Avalanche" href="#" target="_blank">Become the Avalanche</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Not only does this sorcery have a perfect name to fit thematically,it can also close out games. On top of that, this list is filled with several large creatures that'll trigger that draw effect, adding even more upside to the mix.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overwhelming Stampede" href="#" target="_blank">Overwhelming Stampede</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Sure, this is a great callback to when Aang leads a horde of animals through Ba Sing Se, but it's also just a powerful finisher for your strategy.</li>
</ul>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Temple of Plenty"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sheltered Thicket"></div></div>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Temple of Plenty" href="#" target="_blank">Temple of Plenty</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: When it comes to earthbending your lands, you might end up losing a few of them during combat. If that's the case, having some of these scry lands in the deck can help get you even more value when they re-enter the battlefield after leaving it.</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sheltered Thicket" href="#" target="_blank">Sheltered Thicket</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: Yes, having mana fixing is important in a five-color deck like this. However, including some of these cycling lands works well with your firebending creatures. If you don't have anything to use that red mana on during combat, you can always throw these away to draw a new card.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Avatar Aang Commander Deck List</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Avatar Aang, Master of Elements - EDHREC Article" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Avatar Aang // Aang, Master of Elements
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Appa, Loyal Sky Bison
*1 Azula, On the Hunt
*1 Badgermole
*1 Beifong&#039;s Bounty Hunters
*1 Boiling Rock Rioter
*1 Bumi, Eclectic Earthbender
*1 Dai Li Agents
*1 Earthbending Student
*1 Earthen Ally
*1 Faeburrow Elder
*1 Fire Sages
*1 Firebending Student
*1 Giant Koi
*1 Haru, Hidden Talent
*1 Katara, Bending Prodigy
*1 Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope
*1 Loyal Fire Sage
*1 North Pole Patrol
*1 Rebellious Captives
*1 Rough Rhino Cavalry
*1 Sun Warriors
*1 Toph, the Blind Bandit
*1 Uncle Iroh
*1 Vindictive Warden
*1 Water Tribe Rallier
*1 Zuko, Exiled Prince
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Avatar&#039;s Wrath
*1 Become the Avalanche
*1 Cracked Earth Technique
*1 Crashing Wave
*1 Cultivate
*1 Earth Rumble
*1 Overwhelming Stampede
*1 Shamanic Revelation
*1 Shared Roots
*1 Waterbending Lesson
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aang&#039;s Iceberg
*1 Airbender Ascension
*1 Bitter Work
*1 Earthbender Ascension
*1 Firebender Ascension
*1 Solid Ground
*1 Waterbender Ascension
*1 Watery Grasp
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Abrade
*1 Airbender&#039;s Reversal
*1 Airbending Lesson
*1 Commune with Lava
*1 Cycle of Renewal
*1 Energybending
*1 Enter the Avatar State
*1 Entish Restoration
*1 Fire Nation Attacks
*1 Harrow
*1 How to Start a Riot
*1 Origin of Metalbending
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Roiling Regrowth
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bender&#039;s Waterskin
*1 Fellwar Stone
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*7 Forest
*1 Frontier Bivouac
*1 Game Trail
*1 Island
*1 Karplusan Forest
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Mossfire Valley
*1 Mountain
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*1 Plains
*1 Promising Vein
*1 Rockfall Vale
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Sheltered Thicket
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Swamp
*1 Temple of Abandon
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Epiphany
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Temple of Triumph
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>In Closing</h2>
<p>There you have it, a full deck built around <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Avatar Aang" href="#" target="_blank">Avatar Aang</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. When we first saw this card <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/magiccon-las-vegas-preview-panel-edge-of-eternities-and-more" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all those months ago</a>, it was a complete mystery just how powerful it was going to be, since we didn't know what the bending mechanics were going to look like. Now that we've seen the whole set, we now know just how powerful this legend turned out to be.</p>
<p>Aang will truly be a great home for all your favorite cards from the set, so if you open him in one of your packs, it might just be a sign that you should put this list together. Especially since it'll only run you about $20 to buy the cards from outside of the set to assist you with getting the deck in fighting shape!</p>
<p>If you've already ripped through some <a href="https://edhrec.com/sets/tla" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Avatar</em></a> boosters in the past week, then you should check out my latest edition of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/best-commons-uncommons-from-avatar-the-last-airbender" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Bulk Up</em></a>. This set is jam packed with great commons and uncommons that'll slot right into your favorite decks; so do yourself a favor and don't let those collect dust if you can help it!</p>


Avatar Aang, Master of Elements Deck Tech - All the Bending, All at Once

<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>


waterbending

Rebuilding Morska, Undersea Sleuth With Waterbending

Avatar Aang, Master of Elements Deck Tech - All the Bending, All at Once

A Flood of Free Card Draw From Katara, Bending Prodigy