Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar Set Mechanics Are Already Bittersweet

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On November 21st, Magic: The Gathering will introduce characters from Avatar: The Last Airbender into its world. This popular animated series is being transformed into a tabletop card game as part of the Universes Beyond sets. Players can anticipate gathering numerous cards featuring their beloved characters, settings, and iconic scenes from the show. While not all cards have been unveiled yet, the sneak peeks provided by Wizards of the Coast hint that the Avatar sets are a further demonstration of Magic: The Gathering’s dedication to crafting engaging crossovers. From the distinctive creatures found in the series to Sokka’s famous Cactus Juice, all aspects that make Avatar: The Last Airbender special will be represented on cards.

It’s clear that the unique bending abilities featured in the Avatar universe will be incorporated into the Universes Beyond expansion. Players can now interact with waterbending, earthbending, firebending, and airbending, each with distinct impacts. Some cards mimic traditional Magic: The Gathering effects, while others, such as Earthbending Lesson, introduce fresh elements, like transforming lands into attacking creatures. As with previous Universes Beyond releases, these new mechanics are a significant part of the anticipation for the upcoming cards. However, be aware that these special keywords will only be in play for a limited time.

When Magic: The Gathering Fans Enjoyed Bending the Most, the Mechanics Vanished

Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Titular Art Fits Right at Home in Magic: The Gathering

Similar to the Earthbending Lesson card mentioned earlier, other cards in the deck offer intriguing abilities. Waterbending, as a mechanic, often utilizes creatures and artifacts to help cover its cost, symbolizing how water can be found almost anywhere. Airbending typically focuses on exiling permanents, mirroring Aang’s sealing away in an iceberg. Even Aang’s Avatar State has a potent card representing it that makes a once popular Commander Format option somewhat outdated. Ultimately, these keywords are likely to be exclusive to this specific set and not reappear again.

Universes Beyond is recognized for creating exclusive crossover card adaptations from Magic: The Gathering, but it’s not commonly associated with reusing elements introduced in future sets. For instance, the “Secret Council” ability word was initially presented in the Lord of the Rings set and then appeared in Murders at Karlov Manor and the Doctor Who Universes Beyond set later on. However, “secret council” is far less iconic, memorable, and protected compared to the elemental bending from Avatar. Using bending keywords outside the Avatar collaboration is generally not feasible due to its strong association with that particular franchise.

Certain Universal Basic (UB) collections circumvent this issue by adapting established Magic: The Gathering mechanisms instead of devising fresh keywords, much like the Final Fantasy series typically does.

The Avatar: The Last Airbender MTG Cards Have Incredible Staying Power, Mechanics or No

The Gathering will reappear after the Universes Beyond set of 2025 concludes. However, adapting the abilities from Avatar: The Last Airbender into the game remains significant because this collaboration is primarily designed to attract fans of both series. If players enjoy using Aang and his friends’ cards, they’re likely to continue playing Magic: The Gathering with these unique decks for an extended period due to the game’s diverse formats and custom deck building options.

If Nickelodeon and Wizards of the Coast were to collaborate again on a UB or Secret Lair set, there could be a possibility that keywords from “Magic: The Gathering” related to Korra or Pavi return in the future.

Despite bending keywords possibly not being permanent fixtures in MTG, numerous Avatar: The Last Airbender keyword effects function independently, requiring no specific bending cards to work together harmoniously. These cards can be effortlessly incorporated into traditional Magic decks or even Universe Beyond sets, making it feasible for enthusiasts to continue playing with Last Airbender cards long after the expansion’s release. This flexibility is a significant advantage that fans of both franchises appreciate, as even though innovative mechanics might take time to reappear in other, less-copyrighted expansions, this synergy will persist.

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2025-08-27 22:24