Avatar - The Last Airbender
MTG ZerogamesAang, Appa, and the Fire Nation are invading Magic: The Gathering! With the arrival of MTG Universes Beyond: Avatar The Last Airbender, we get a set that sets the four elements—and our hearts—on fire.
🌊 Intro: Why this set is so special
It's not every day that one of the most beloved animated series crosses over with Magic. With Avatar: The Last Airbender, Wizards of the Coast brings not only nostalgia to the table but also fresh mechanics perfectly suited to the world of Aang and his friends. Think gangs with the four elements, epic Sagas that tell entire storylines, and Scene Boxes that relive iconic moments.
The beauty of this set is that it not only appeals to fans of the series but also bridges the gap for new players to Magic. It's one of the most accessible Universes Beyond products yet, with a clear focus on familiarity, flavor, and fun.
🔥 Highlights of the set
1. Elemental Bending as a new mechanic
The set introduces Airbending, Earthbending, Firebending, and Waterbending . Each element feels unique and perfectly reflects its role in the series. Let's delve deeper into how these mechanics work:
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Airbending
Play Airbending cards with Flicker and Exile . You can temporarily remove creatures from the battlefield and bring them back. This not only protects against removal but also adds value because ETB triggers refire. Imagine a creature that draws a card every time it comes into play – Airbending lets you do that repeatedly.
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Earthbending
Earthbending focuses on land animation . You transform your land into a creature, often with powerful stats. This instantly turns your mana base into a weapon. It's similar to the old Awaken mechanic, but with more thematic power. Importantly, you have to be careful not to lose lands in combat, as this also means losing mana.
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Firebending
This element is all about direct damage and explosive effects. Think spells that brand creatures or players for X damage, or abilities that deal damage. The tempo is high, making Firebending attractive for aggressive strategies. Expect Firebending cards to significantly speed up Limited and Standard.
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Waterbending
Waterbending is the most flexible mechanic. It often involves tap/untap interactions and copying spells or abilities. This makes Waterbending feel fluid and clever, just like Katara and other waterbenders in the series. It gives players control and utility, often in the form of tempo gains.
Together, these mechanics create a system that invites players to choose an element and fully immerse themselves in it. Each element has its own playstyle, making the set incredibly diverse.
2. Familiar faces in card form
The series' already confirmed stars will get their own legendary cards:
- Aang, The Last Airbender / Master of Elements → a double-sided mythic card that perfectly represents his journey and growth.
- Fire Lord Ozai → the ultimate red villain, with destructive power.
- Appa, Steadfast Guardian → a loyal ally who uses Airbending to keep your board safe.
3. Products full of flavor
In addition to the familiar Play and Collector Boosters, Scene Boxes like Tea Time at the Jasmine Dragon and The Black Sun Invasion will be released . These boxes contain cards that recreate iconic moments – ideal for fans who want to relive the series in card form.
Furthermore there are:
- Jumpstart Boosters → quick-start products with element themes.
- Beginner Box → an accessible starting point for new players.
- Commander's Bundle → bundle of multiple Commander decks, probably one for each element/nation.
- Full-art basic lands → stunning lands that show the elements in all their glory.
⚖️ Points of attention
- It remains to be seen how balanced the bending mechanics are in Standard. Some effects (such as Firebending's direct damage) could be competitively strong.
- Commander players are eagerly awaiting the Commander's Bundle, which will likely feature four nation decks. Until those lists are officially released, it remains anyone's guess whether each nation will be equally powerful.
- The set is packed with flavor, but there's always the risk of its competitive value being somewhat diminished. Yet, Wizards seems to be striking a good balance here.
🌬️ Sample card in action
Imagine you're playing Appa, Steadfast Guardian . Thanks to Airbending, you can temporarily flick your own creature to protect it from removal. As soon as it comes back, it triggers another ETB effect—just like Appa always does when he saves Aang at the last minute.
Another example is the Saga Fire Nation Attacks . Each turn, you play a chapter that reflects the Fire Nation invasion: from the initial attack to the devastating climax. You can literally feel the story unfolding on the tabletop.
📖 Lore & atmosphere
The set follows the three books in the series: Water, Earth, and Fire . Each book is given its own flavorful interpretation, with cards capturing key story moments. Think of Katara's first waterbending lessons, Toph's unforgettable introduction, or Zuko's inner struggle. This familiarity makes playing almost like rewatching the series, but this time with cards in hand.
🧭 Who is this set for?
- Avatar fans who want to relive the series and get a good introduction to Magic.
- Commander players who enjoy building theme decks around their favorite nation.
- Collectors who don't want to miss out on iconic maps and full-art lands.
- Competitive players curious about how the bending mechanics will affect Standard and Limited.
✨ Zero's Tip
During prerelease, try drafting a deck that fully explores one element . This way, you'll truly feel the power of Water, Fire, Earth, or Air, and tap into all the synergy. Who knows, you might just be the Avatar of your playgroup. Extra tip: combine Scene Box cards with regular boosters to give your deck some extra flavor and power.
Are you ready to brave the Fire Nation and master all the elements? Check out our Avatar: The Last Airbender pre-orders and products in the ZeroGames shop and don't miss a single booster, deck, or Scene Box!
