Avatar: The Last Airbender (TLA) Limited Set Review: Colorless & Land

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)

Aang’s Journey

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

You should only run this if your deck needs mana fixing, or needs more lesson cards. If the 4-5 color shrine deck is a thing, this definitely goes in there as well.

Barrels of Blasting Jelly

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This isn’t very exciting, and I’d feel bad needing to use it, but it’s not unplayable.

Bender’s Waterskin

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is fine if you need a mana rock.

Energybending

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is a fine cantrip if you need lessons/prowess activations. There’s a couple cards this works nicely with, like Cat-Gator, though 9 mana is a pretty tall order.

Fire Nation Warship

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

This reminds me a bit of Bomat Bazaar Barge. While not quite the same, it’s still a big vehicle + a card.

Kyoshi Battle Fan

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I would rather play this than a Grizzly Bear (2/2 vanilla for 2). It’s not exciting, but works nicely with flying decks.

Meteor Sword

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

A callback to Meteor Golem. This iteration is much slower, but +3/+3 for 3 equip is pretty nasty in the late game.

Planetarium of Wan Shi Tong

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This is really slow, and has the potential to do nothing. If it’s a stalemate in the late game, this can win you the game.

The Walls of Ba Sing Se

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This effect isn’t always relevant by turn 8. This is far too slow for my tastes.

Trusty Boomerang

Rating: 1.0 // 5.0

I’m not a big fan of this card, but I could see some powerful turns with multiple prowess creatures in play.

White Lotus Tile

Rating: 0.5 // 5.0

This can generate a decent amount of mana, it’s incredibly slow. There are very few mana sinks that would make this worth playing.

Zuko’s Exile

Rating: 1.5 // 5.0

This is a really sub-par removal spell. You can run it if you’re extremely short on removal.

Sac Lands

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

These lands are good mana fixers, and provide some late game card draw. I don’t think you want to run off-color ones (e.g. you are Selesnya running Omashu City just for the card draw though.

Abandoned Air Temple

Rating: 3.5 // 5.0

This is the best of this cycle of lands. White should have plenty of creatures, and this is a very powerful effect in limited.

Agna Qel’a

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Late game looting with no downside is always welcome.

Realm of Koh

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A bit slow, but can provide sacrifice fodder, or push a few points through.

Fire Nation Palace

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

This can effectively add an additional R mana if you can use it at instant speed. It won’t come up all that often.

Ba Sing Se

Rating: 3.0 // 5.0

A great engine that can pump out 2/2’s or grow a giant land. Just keep in mind, sorcery speed only.

Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

A low opportunity-cost to be able to pump out 1/1’s in the late game.

Rumble Arena

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I like the design of this one. It’s designed to be earthbended, so if you make it big enough, vigilance can become very relevant.

Secret Tunnel

Rating: 2.5 // 5.0

Another land designed to be earthbended. The activated ability can be very powerful if you have a couple decent sized creatures.

White Lotus Hideout

Rating: 2.0 // 5.0

I’m not a huge fan of this one, but it does enable some easier splashes of shrines or lessons.

That’s it! Avatar comes to online platforms today. I’ll see you at the tables!

Lose and Learn, Learn and Win!