Hello, my fellow Planeswalkers and Benders! I’m The MTG Hero, and with Avatar: The Last Airbender now fully revealed, it’s time to dive in and explore how this incredible crossover could reshape Standard as we know it.
Crossovers like this always inject something special into Magic, flavorful cards, innovative mechanics, and archetype-defining designs. Avatar is no exception. Today, we’ll look at some early standout cards, see where they might fit into existing strategies, and brainstorm entirely new decks that could emerge from this set’s elemental power.
Orzhov Aristocrats Crawl From the Grave
The first card that grabbed my attention was Sandbender Scavengers, a near-perfect addition to the current Orzhov Aristocrats shell.
The archetype has always been strong but was recently pushed out of the meta by graveyard hate and the dominance of decks built around Agatha’s Soul Cauldron. With that deck now gone thanks to the latest Banned & Restricted update, Aristocrats finally has room to breathe again.
The deck already boasts a rock-solid core:
- A nearly flawless mana base with access to every Orzhov dual-land pairing.
- Excellent resilience, as most creatures replace themselves or leave behind tokens when they die.
- Strong card draw engines like Dark Confidant and Enduring Innocence.
Now, Scavengers adds another layer of power. It can hit the battlefield as a large, standalone threat or reanimate key combo pieces like Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, which notably can’t be revived by Raise the Past. That flexibility makes the deck both more explosive and more consistent.
I can’t imagine not running this new tech, so if you’re an Aristocrats player, I’d suggest grabbing a full playset now.
Other intriguing additions include Joo Dee, One of Many and Toils of War. While not immediate staples, both could serve as clever tech choices depending on how the meta shakes out.
Bouncing Back!
Bounce decks have been struggling since Hopeless Nightmare and This Town Ain’t Big Enough were banned, but Appa, Steadfast Guardian might be exactly what the strategy needs to soar again.
Appa serves as both finisher and value engine, letting you replay enchantments you control for just two mana. This is a cleaner, more efficient form of “bouncing” that’s harder for opponents to disrupt.
Meanwhile, Boomerang Basics is the perfect bounce effect for this strategy, a simple yet effective bounce spell that replaces itself, helping tempo decks maintain pressure without running out of gas.
Together, these cards could finally bring Bounce back into the Standard conversation.
Allies Rise Again
Allies have long been a fan-favorite tribe that’s struggled to find footing in competitive play… Until now.
Earth Kingdom Protectors and Earthen Ally provide solid early pressure, while Earth King’s Lieutenant feels like a spiritual successor to Thalia’s Lieutenant, quickly scaling your board into something opponents must answer.
But the real star might be Great Divide Guide, turning every creature into a mana dork and enabling explosive turns into United Front, Wartime Protestors, or Hakoda, Selfless Commander.
A Five-Color Allies build seems most likely, thanks to “rainbow” lands like Cavern of Souls and Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop. You’ll sacrifice some noncreature interaction, but the Allies themselves provide plenty of utility to fill those gaps.
If you’ve been waiting for Allies to finally break into competitive play. This could be their moment. With the right mana base, even a Five-Color Allies deck might make waves in Pioneer or beyond, echoing the dominance of the old Five-Color Humans archetype.
Control Gets New Toys!
Control decks have quietly remained consistent in Standard, though they’ve struggled to cement themselves as top-tier. That might be about to change.
Wan Shi Tong, Librarian is an absolute powerhouse! It is a source of card advantage and inevitability that rewards playing for the late game. Its anti-search clause isn’t game-breaking, but it does carry weight against Fabled Passage and similar cards.
Then there’s The Legend of Kuruk, a four-mana saga that perfectly fits control’s curve. Once transformed, it starts generating tokens every time you cast a removal or counterspell, exactly the kind of incremental advantage control players love.
Combined with cards like Marang River Regent, Beza, the Bounding Spring, and Wan Shi Tong, Librarian, control might finally have all the pieces it needs to dominate the late game again.
We can’t overlook The Unagi of Kyoshi Island, a deep-sea finisher that brings both disruption and inevitability to long, grindy matches. I expect it to find homes not only in Standard but possibly even Pioneer.
I expect control decks to be on the upswing as the meta develops and it has all the tools it needs to do so.
Mono-Red Rekindles the Flame
Mono-Red lost some of its spark after Screaming Nemesis was banned, but the Avatar set might just reignite the fire.
Firebending Student slots perfectly into the deck’s prowess game plan, working in harmony with Emberheart Challenger and Slickshot Show-Off to maximize every noncreature spell.
Zhao, the Moon Slayer adds a fascinating wrinkle, punishing nonbasic-heavy decks while serving as a terrifying late-game finisher. Seven mana might sound ambitious, but Firebending synergies make it entirely feasible. Between Firebending Student and Turn Inside Out, you can generate absurd bursts of mana to activate Zhao and steal the game.
Anyone who has played modern and been locked out by Blood will be having PTSD flashbacks if this card sees any play, and I expect to see him as a spicy sideboard inclusion in future Mono-Red lists.
The Return of Rakdos?
Rakdos Mayhem was one of the most exciting archetypes when Through the Omenpaths released, but it fell off as the meta stabilized. Now, Zuko, Conflicted could reignite that spark.
Zuko is the epitome of Rakdos flexibility. It is a solid on-curve threat and a source of card advantage depending on what the moment demands. Pair his mana generation with Unholy Annex and Ritual Chamber, and you can recreate the explosive early turns that once defined Golgari decks once Llanowar Elves became standard legal.
With new synergies and built-in value through discard effects, Rakdos may once again claim a spot among Standard’s top midrange contenders.
Other Powerhouses
Avatar brings a ton of possibel staples that could shape the meta and create a plethora of new play patterns.
Redirect Lightning and Mai, Scornful Striker both look poised to become excellent sideboard options for aggressive decks. Mai, in particular, feels like a modern twist on Magebane Lizard, a card that’s shined across formats. Her Ally typing also gives her extra synergy in the emerging Ally decks.
Then there’s Badgermole Cub, the talk of the community. Three power for two mana is already great, but giving your creatures the ability to tap for extra mana pushes it over the edge. Leyline of Abundance once did something similar and it was banned in Pioneer. Whether this version is safer remains to be seen.
Finally, The Rise of Sozin looks like another build-around Saga with massive potential, especially when paired with Yuna, Hope of Spira. Together, they could breathe new life into non-Dimir midrange decks and make this popular strategy finally competitive.
Wrap-Up
Avatar: The Last Airbender isn’t just a flavorful crossover. It’s shaping up to be one of the most impactful sets in years. From archetype-defining cards like Sandbender Scavengers to powerful finishers like The Unagi of Kyoshi Island, every color feels like it’s gained something meaningful.
The Standard meta is wide open, and that’s the best time to be brewing. Whether you’re reanimating, bending, or burning your way through the ladder, this set has something for every kind of player.
So tell me, Planeswalkers, what decks are you most excited to build with these new cards?
Until next time, Planeswalkers, Hero out!
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