Avatar: The Last Airbender (TLA) Limited Set Review: Green

As a fan of Avatar: The Last Airbender, I think this is one of the best crossovers Magic has had, in terms of how well the IP transfers to the card game. The elemental “bending” abilities are all fun, and I look forward to seeing how they play out in limited. Let’s jump into breaking down some cards!

5.0: Disgustingly powerful and basically unbeatable. Either answer it the turn it comes down or just pack up your cards. (Gruff Triplets, Virtue of Persistence, The Eternal Wanderer)

4.5: Incredible bomb that still gives your opponent a slim chance. (Virtue of Loyalty, Imodane's Recruiter, Realm-Scorcher Hellkite)

4.0: Great rare or the absolute best uncommons and removal. (Faunsbane Troll, Gumdrop Poisoner, Talion’s Messenger)

3.5: Great role filler or removal that you never cut. (Candy Grapple, Hearth Elemental, Torch the Tower)

3.0: Good playable that I’m basically never cutting. (Shrouded Shepherd, Spellscorn Coven, Sharae of Numbing Depths)

2.5: Decent playable and the bar I hope nearly every card in my deck to reach. (Evolving Wilds, Archon's Glory, Flick a Coin)

2.0: Mediocre filler that normally is your 20-23rd card(s). (Mintstrosity, Ice Out, Grabby Giant)

1.5: Replaceable, overall bad filler. Could also be decent sideboard cards. (Titanic Growth, Scarecrow Guide, Territorial Witchstalker)

1.0: Bad filler. Gets cut most of the time. (Dark Tutelage, Kindled Heroism, Impact Tremors)

0.5: Very unhappy to main deck this, but maybe it has fringe sideboard applications. Cards that “could” be situationally decent, but bad in most situations. (Smothering Tithe, Rhystic Study, Mana Flare)

0.0: Unplayable in every possible situation. They rarely print cards this bad these days. (Hew the Entwood, One with Nothing)

Allies at Last

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A powerful removal spell. Hard to disrupt, instant speed, and can cost as little as G.

Avatar Destiny

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This card provides some serious inevitability. It can be dealt with by bouncing/airbending the creature relatively easily, however.

Badgermole

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

6/6 worth of stats for 5 mana is a solid enough bargain.

Badgermole Cub

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is like Grizzly Bears, Wild Growth, and Dryad Arbor, all rolled into one. It does a lot for 2 mana.

Bumi, King of Three Trials

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

Assuming you can get 2+ lessons in your graveyard by the time you cast this, you get some serious value out of it.

Cycle of Renewal

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This version of Harrow does some serious work if you’ve got a small earthbend land to sacrifice. It’s good fixing and ramping if you’re in the market for it.

Diligent Zookeeper

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

While this is a human-heavy set, the nonhuman creatures are almost all 2 or more creature types.

Earthbender Ascension

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

3 mana for a 2/2 + Rampant Growth is a solid deal. The ascension mode is easy to enable, and makes late game land draws relevant.

Earthbending Lesson

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I wouldn’t want to play this unless I want the lesson count or earthbend synergies.

Earthen Ally

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

By itself, this is a 1/2, and only one more creature makes it a 2/2. It’s a bit unreliable, but can be great in multicolor decks, especially if you can activate the earthbend ability.

Earth Kingdom General

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This isn’t quite as good as something like Knight of the New Coalition, but it’s still playable.

Earth Rumble

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Unlike Hunt the Weak, you will need to have a big creature in play for it to work. I don’t mind this card, but I’m skeptical about its efficacy in removing threats.

Elemental Teachings

Rating: 0.5 // 5.0

Greens version of Gifts Ungiven. It’s not really a limited card.

Flopsie, Bumi’s Buddy

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A little pricey, but the ETB is extremely powerful, and the static ability can flip the game on its head.

Foggy Swamp Vinebender

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is filler for the most part.

Great Divide Guide

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

2 for a 2/3 mana dork is already strong to put in any deck. The fact that it fixes and potentially ramps is just a cherry on top.

Haru, Hidden Talent

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This looks like a Selesnya go-wide card. You want to make sure you have mostly ally creatures in your deck.

Invasion Tactics

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

I could see running this in a Selesnya deck as a pseudo-finisher. Otherwise, it seems a little inconsistent for the mana cost.

Kyoshi Island Plaza

Rating: 1.0 // 5.0

4 mana rampant growth leaves a lot to be desired. I wouldn’t play this outside of shrine decks.

Leaves from the Vine

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This one is a bit innocuous, but all of the value is certainly worth the 2 mana investment.

Origin of Metalbending

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is pretty far from . It’s fine to main deck, but if you have the luxury, I’d prefer to run it out the sideboard.

Ostrich-Horse

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is reminiscent of Airlift Chaplain. While not quite as strong, it’s still a powerful mechanic, that shouldn’t be underestimated.

Pillar Launch

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

Green likely won’t really need this trick, but its a cheap one if you need it.

Raucous Audience

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This doesn’t fix, but it does ramp. It’s not great in every deck, but if you’ve got a high curve, this will do the job nicely.

Rebellious Captives

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A good mana sink for Green is always welcome.

Rockalanche

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This can be alright with a minimum of 10 forests. You want to cast it as late as possible, and it provides some good value for the late game.

Rocky Rebuke

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Instant speed Rabid Bite is always solid.

Saber-Tooth Moose-Lion

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This thing is a moose…lion (saber-tooth). It’s really big, fills your graveyard, and makes for a good reanimate target in Golgari.

Seismic Sense

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This gets better the later the game goes, especially if you have a bomb creature you want to dig for.

Shared Roots

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

Good for mana fixing/ramp and helps lesson synergies.

Sparring Dummy

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a value machine. It fills your graveyard, and puts lands right into your hand. I like it.

The Boulder, Ready to Rumble

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

4/4 for 4 is pretty standard, but if you can earthbend a good amount while he’s in play, it makes all the difference.

The Earth King

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

6/6 worth of stats for 4 mana is enough to qualify this as a bomb. Getting to thin your deck during the mid-late game is very powerful as well.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is a huge bomb, but does have the potential to fall pretty flat if you have no creatures. Even if that’s the case, this card still can do a ton of work.

Toph, the Blind Bandit

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This provides a ton of stats for 3 mana, and scales throughout the game with your earthbending abilities.

True Ancestry

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This is a really nice value card. I would be hesitant to slot this into any Green deck. You will want to have self-mill and the desire to play the late game.

Turtle-Duck

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This does a great job at stopping early game attackers, if your deck wants to do that kind of thing. It can also be a decent sideboard option to slow down more aggressive decks.

Unlucky Cabbage Merchant

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A Grizzly Bear + food token is a good deal for 2 mana. The option to Rampant Growth can be great as well.

Walltop Sentries

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

These do a good job at making your opponent second guess about attacking. I think of it as a purely defensive card.

Top 3 Green Commons:

Ostrich-Horse Rocky Rebuke Cycle of Renewal

Green has some serious ramp options & late game beaters. It also has some good defensive options to keep you alive. There’s a lot of earthbending synergy, which pairs nicely with ramp, so you don’t mind losing a land to attack with it. I’ll be breaking down Multicolor next, stay tuned!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!