Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender | Art by Eilene Cherie

Hardheaded, innovative, and a little rough around the edges... No, I'm not talking about landfall and artifact players, I'm describing everyone's favorite blind bandit, Toph Beifong. Not only was she the earthbending teacher of Avatar Aang, but she was also the inventor of metalbending. That ability is perfectly captured on her card Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender, showcasing how she can turn any piece of scrap into a weapon.

So, join me Tyler 'Savesya' Bucks, as we look at a full deck tech for this commander that you can pick up for about $50.

Toph, the First Metalbender

Both artifact and land centric decks are incredibly popular, so it shouldn't be a surprise that Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender is already one of the most played commanders from the Avatar set. This is the kind of legend that I love seeing enter the format, since it helps lesser played cards join the modern day meta and truly shine in this list.

The goal with this deck is to build up a board with artifacts, and then add in a few ways to animate them in order to push you towards a win.

Fourteen Cards Under $14

My first foray into building around this commander started on my YouTube channel The Pillow Fort, where I highlighted a list of budget cards that you could pick up for under $14 to get started on a deck.

However, this time around, I have a full 99 to go along with Toph. So, let's dive right in by looking at a few familiar spells, as well as a couple singles that might have flown under your radar.

First up, we're looking at some cards that'll help you get more lands on the board, or give you a little bit of help with turning them into creatures.

Lands-Matter

• Tannuk, Memorial EnsignTannuk, Memorial Ensign: First up, we have a very popular commander from earlier this year. He gets even better when paired with Toph, since Tannuk will now trigger whenever lands and nontoken artifacts come into play.
• Lumbering WorldwagonLumbering Worldwagon: I'm a big fan of this card, since it's repeatable ramp and its power scales with the game. Plus, since Toph turns your artifacts into lands, this Vehicle gets even stronger in this list.
• The RegaliaThe Regalia: This type of ramp is very useful in a three-color deck like this. Since this card gets you a land off the top of your library, it has the opportunity to hit non-basics, adding a bit more variety to your mana base.

Toph doesn't have to be the only way to animate your artifacts in this deck. Cards like Embodiment of FuryEmbodiment of Fury and Embodiment of InsightEmbodiment of Insight will turn your artifacts/lands into 3/3 creatures, while also giving them some great keywords. On top of that, a spell like Sylvan AwakeningSylvan Awakening can straight up animate every land on your board, which could just make for a huge alpha-strike!

Divergent GrowthDivergent Growth, is a great budget alternative to Dryad of the Ilysian GroveDryad of the Ilysian Grove that I highlighted in my original fourteen. Having a way to allow all your artifacts to tap for mana at instant speed, while only temporary, will still be powerful for catching your opponents off guard.

Now that I've made a full deck around Toph, I added the Dryad as well as a Chromatic LanternChromatic Lantern in order to give the list a permanent way to turn your artifacts into mana sources.

Artifacts You Want to Sacrifice

Since Toph has the ability to earthbend your artifacts, that means that they'll return to the battlefield if they die or get exiled. This powers up a few cards out there that already like being sacrificed, so let's take a look at them!

• Survey MechanSurvey Mechan: This Robot's activated ability might seem expensive. However, since the cost gets lowered for each differently named land you control, and all your nontoken artifacts are lands, this effect could be free.
• All-Fates ScrollAll-Fates Scroll: Not only does this mana rock help ramp you into powering out your game plan, but it also could draw you a whole new hand when you activate its second ability.

• Solemn SimulacrumSolemn Simulacrum: Fetching a basic land when this creature enters and drawing you a card when it leaves makes this Commander staple a must-have for the deck. Earthbending it will ensure that you get that effect over and over again as the game goes on.
• Elsewhere FlaskElsewhere Flask: Not only does this artifact draw you a card when it enters, but it also assists you with eliminating one of the downsides of your commander, by giving your artifacts a temporary way to tap for mana.

Artifacts Support

• Meria, Scholar of AntiquityMeria, Scholar of Antiquity: Here's another card that helps remove the issue of your artifacts not tapping for mana. Plus, this legend adds a little more card advantage to the deck with that second ability, which allows you to exile and play the top of your library.
• Alibou, Ancient WitnessAlibou, Ancient Witness: Something that might get overlooked with this card is the fact that it'll deal damage and scry equal to the number of tapped artifacts you control when an artifact creature attacks. So, if you tap down your board, and swing with a single artifact attacker, you'll be getting a whole lot of value in one combat.
• Salvation EngineSalvation Engine: Giving out a power buff to your artifacts if they get earthbended is great, since they become 0/0s, but this Vehicle's value doesn't end there. It also helps add some much-needed recursion to the deck, in case one of your pivotal artifacts gets removed.

Toph, the First Metalbender Budget Commander Deck List

In Closing

Well, there you have it, a full deck built around Toph, the First MetalbenderToph, the First Metalbender that you can pick up for about $40. If you've been interested in building a Landfall or artifact deck, then this might be the exact twist on those architypes you've been looking for.

I love commanders like this that come into the format and make niche cards great, which is exactly what this one does.

Hopefully this list helped you along your journey of building this deck, and if you're interested in building any of the other commanders from this set, you can see more of my budget articles on them right here!