cEDH - Avatar: The Last Airbender Review

The Avatar: The Last Airbender pre-release events are now past us, and we at Cards Realm have already gotten our hands on some of the new cards. Before we move any further, is it just me, or do all the new cards seem to be stronger and stronger? Tell me what you think in the comment section.

Avatar: The Last Airbender is the most recent cool Universes Beyond set in a long line of these products, which have been flooding Standard. Fortunately, this time it seems WotC nailed it, unlike the last time with Marvel's Spider-Man.

To make it into cEDH, a card needs to be excellent, and this naturally makes this format a bit too stale at times. A:TLA has the potential to break this standard, though. This review won't be anything too deep or extensive, but we will take a look at the cards that most stood out to us as well as a few others that lie more in the realm of speculation.

Let us know in the comment section if you found any niche cards for your favorite Commander list or any hidden gems! Without further ado, let's dive right in.

Green

Badgermole Cub

I'd like to start with Badgermole Cub because, honestly, this two-mana creature is ridiculous. It will be nice in literally any creature-focused green list. What does it do? Basically, it gives you Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy's effect, but it's monogreen, so it is much more accessible for a lot more decks.

And that's not all. With its Earthbend, you'll turn a land into a creature and make it create more mana too. That's mana on top of mana.

I know it's become sort of a joke that, whenever a new set comes along, I find a new card for Tayam, Luminous Enigma, but come on… If this card doesn't become a staple in this list, I'll tattoo Badgermole Cub on my body. No joke. It does literally everything this deck wants: creatures that create more mana and +1/+1 counters as well. It is just too perfect (for Tayam, at least)!

The Cabbage Merchant

This card has been making the rounds for a long time, ever since it was spoiled months ago. How could we not add it to this article? This is a Smothering Tithe for three mana that we can easily tutor and put in play and that works with a Collector Ouphe on the board. It definitely got my interest.

The biggest question is, do players play noncreatures more than they draw cards? In my personal experience, yes. However, even if the answer was no, half a Tithe for less mana is still a great bargain!

The best thing about this card is that it is great both when you want to be reactive and when you want to be proactive. Do you need mana to fight on the stack? He'll give it to you. Do you want to untap everything and win? He'll help you. And, unlike Smothering Tithe's Treasure tokens, this mana will be available on every untapping phase. Just be careful with Pithing Needle on your The Cabbage Merchant. No, wait… this is a mana ability.

Which decks would enjoy this iconic creature? Probably all the green ones. Sisay, Weatherlight Captain? Certainly. Kinnan, Bonder Prodigy? Obviously. Najeela, the Blade-Blossom? I would.

Elemental Teachings

This is an interesting variation of Realms Uncharted, but it puts two lands in play and two in the graveyard. For one extra mana, putting two lands directly on the board seems great. Now, for two extra mana? I'm not sure.

This is a bet. I can see its potential. After all, this is a Gaea's Cradle world. Five mana is a lot on any cEDH pod, and, if you compare it with Ad Nauseam, it seems like a joke. Still, I'm willing to try.

Please note that if you have an Echoing Deeps, you can make sure you'll always have a Cradle in play, and you'll probably be able to set up a few very disgusting stacks. With effects that copy lands or get them back from the graveyard, like Will of the Sultai (looking at you, Lumra, Bellow of the Woods and Wandering Minstrel), you could make it work.

We should keep an eye on this card for the future. See if it's worth the mana it costs.

Red

Redirect Lightning

Deflecting Swat is no longer a game-changer, but it has been the definitive "redirectioner" in cEDH for years. It is free, works as a counterspell, redirects removals, and stops Force of Will and a few other premium pieces quite easily.

Redirect Lightning is its younger sibling. It is not free, but it only costs one. It seems good enough for me. We also haven't mentioned the "pay 5 life" part. It will be a staple with Etali, Primal Conqueror. Now, about the other decks, including Naus, that's something we'll have to wait and see.

The Last Agni Kai

Rituals are great in cEDH, so I test out every single one available. Alright, this is certainly a lot more niche than a Desperate Ritual, but it can also create a lot more mana and be a removal. Imagine Dargo, the Shipwrecker destroying your plans and creating 5 mana.

Blue

Wan Shi Tong, Librarian

Goodbye, Archivist! Wan Shi Tong is better than you in every single way! It grows, pressures Naus players more, is an outlet for infinite mana, infinite "X", and draws the entire deck.

This card is perfect. It is Archivist of Oghma on steroids. Every blue midrange list will use it!

Multicolored

Toph, Hardheaded Teacher

I know, I know. Whenever a new set comes along, I place my bets on a weird-looking card, and I will certainly do it for this set as well. Toph is a Gruul 4-mana legendary card, so we probably won't be able to use her in many builds. However, her ETB is the sort of thing that could make tutoring her in play worth it. After all, she'll put that tutor back in your hand.

Currently, the only deck I could see playing Toph is Korvold, Fae-Cursed King. When I played her, Toph and Squandered Resources created completely disgusting turns and always brought me to victory.

It is certainly a bet, though. I'm open to being wrong on this.

Fire Lord Azula

Another Grixis commander, really? Grixis is so great right now that even a legendary card without any text would be better than a lot of other things people play.

That being said, Azula does double your spells, which is relevant, and I'm sure she'll see play as a commander. Her main issue is that she is a bit too slow. Having to attack with her is another issue. Four mana is another issue.

But people will still try, I'm sure.

Another Standard-focused set will make a difference in Eternal formats. I know I left entire colors out of this review, like white and black, but I couldn't find cards in them I was convinced would see play. That being said, Appa, Steadfast Guardian nearly made it into this article: it seems very easy to break somehow. I am just not sure how.

What do you think? Tell us in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!