The Avatar: The Last Airbender set is the second Nickelodeon set for Magic: The Gathering, including many of our favorite characters from the show, if not showcased on their own card, included somewhere in the art. Introducing new keywords and a few new three-color commanders, this set might prove to last.

With a show spanning three seasons, introducing or killing off characters almost every episode, it can be a challenge to fit everything into a 100-card set. However, there are some characters that seemed like a perfect way to show off a beloved animated show with iconic villains and heroes that could inspire unique mechanics.

Wan Shi Tong

  • Type: Bird Spirit
  • Colors: White, Blue

Wan Shi Tong is an owl spirit and guardian of a library containing almost all the world's collective knowledge, as a requirement to enter the library is to make a donation of knowledge. An extremely important character in Book Two, Wan Shi Tong appears in multiple episodes, and even in The Legend of Korra.

Wan Shi Tong would have Flying and likely have a Scry effect, given that he is a protector of knowledge, with a significantly high toughness, given that he is a big, scary bird. There is also a precedent for including spirit creatures, with the addition of a Hei Bai card, which is surprising that Wan Shi Tong was left out.

Koh, The Face Stealer

  • Type: Insect Spirit
  • Colors: Black, Blue

Perhaps the scariest character in the scariest episode in the entire series, especially watching as a kid, Koh, the Face Stealer is a spirit creature that steals the faces of his victims. To survive the encounter with him, Aang had to make sure not to show any emotion or otherwise lose his own face.

Given that Koh is also a knowledge hoarder, like Wan Shi Tong, it would make sense to give him a splash of blue, along with black, for being a malevolent spirit. Koh could also have the Changeling trait, since he frequently makes use of the faces of other creatures, even non-humans.

Sparky Sparky Boom Boom Man

  • Type: Human Mercenary
  • Color: Red

Otherwise known as Combustion Man, this firebending bounty hunter was hired by Zuko to track down Aang and the gang, but was eventually killed by Sokka, who interrupted his combustionbending. Given his introduction to the show and his unique bending style, there is so much you can do with a Combustion Man card.

While you could just use the Firebending keyword that already exists for the set, creating a unique Combustionbending keyword or additional effect would be lore accurate. The card art also has so many opportunities to show some nice, mid-explosion flames and debris with the bounty hunter in the distance.

Mai And Ty Lee

  • Type: Human Warrior/Performer
  • Color: Red

With so many Azula cards, along with many of the Avatar gang's allies included in the set, it is truly head-scratching not to see Mai or Ty Lee even in the background of a card. Even Azula doesn't get her own Creature card. Given how many episodes they were in and how instrumental they were to the story, it seems like a no-brainer.

Ty Lee's chi-blocking skills could easily be translated into a card mechanic, preventing activated or triggered abilities from taking effect when Ty Lee deals damage to them. Mai would likely have First Strike or Reach, which mimics her skills with throwing weapons and her attack speed.

Jeong Jeong

  • Type: Human Rebel Ally
  • Colors: White, Red

A member of the White Lotus, defector of the Fire Nation, and Aang's first firebending teacher, Jeong Jeong was Aang's only opportunity to master firebending before Zuko switched sides. However, given that Jeong Jeong despised his own bending and only sought to teach Aang restraint, it made for a very complex character.

It's surprising that the only member of the White Lotus that gets a card is Master Piandao, who has been in even fewer episodes than Jeong Jeong. It would also be interesting to see how Jeong Jeong's focus on subduing fire could be translated as a unique mechanic, rather than just slapping a keyword on him.

June And Nyla

  • Types: Human Mercenary/Beast Mount
  • Colors: Black, Green

Another bounty hunter hired to capture the avatar, June and her mole/hound named Nyla, were incredibly efficient at tracking and capturing targets. Being in multiple episodes and even a part of the graphic novel, June deserves to have her own card, with Nyla as a potential mount.

Even though Saddling was mostly retired in Outlaws of Thunder Junction, not even being used on Appa, of all cards, Nyla could be Partnered with June, allowing her to use Fight to target specific creatures. Black and green also seem ideal, given that she is a ruthless bounty hunter with a connection to a beast.

Zhao

  • Type: Human Soldier
  • Colors: Black, Red

Zuko's political rival, killer of the moon spirit, and main antagonist of the first season, Admiral Zhao not having his own card is borderline criminal, especially since Jeong Jeong's deserters are on two cards. Rising to the rank of Admiral through sheer determination and being in most episodes of Book One is fairly significant.

Zhao would obviously have a Firebending keyword trait, but would also have a splash of black, given that he is a murderer. Zhao is also an opportunity to use the Afterlife keyword, as he becomes a spirit after Aang, and the water spirit technically kills him.

Hama

via: ultimatecomiccon.com
  • Type: Human
  • Colors: Blue, Black

Hama is one of the most interesting waterbenders in the series, and is closely tied to the events of the story, as well as having a close connection to Katara and Sokka. She is also the first waterbending to develop bloodbending, which lets her bend the blood of her enemies and control their movements, which becomes a major part of Korra.

Like Combustian Man, it would be interesting to see Hama get a new bending keyword that reflects her unique style, while using the popular blue effect of tapping opponent's creatures. Splashing black would reflect that Hama began using her powers to target innocent Fire Nation civilians as revenge.

King Bumi

  • Type: Human Noble Ally
  • Color: White, Green

Another White Lotus member was entirely left out of the ATLA set, not even introduced in card art, even though we get a Creature card for Flopsie, Bumi's pet ape goat. If there was a single card in the set, other than Toph, that had the Earthbending keyword, it would be King Bumi of Omashu, Aang's oldest friend.

King Bumi's reveal of being the world's buffest 100-year-old man would absolutely be reflected in his power and toughness, along with a high Earthbending value. Bumi could also be an opportunity to have another modal double-faced card, one side representing the frail facade, and the other his White Lotus or shredded form.

The Drill

  • Type: Vehicle
  • Color: Red or Colorless

Although technically not a character, the giant drill the Fire Nation uses to destroy the walls of Ba Sing Se even has a whole episode named after it, and serves as the primary antagonist of that episode. One of the most iconic episodes in all of ATLA, providing many memorable scenes and a place for multiple storylines to meet up.

The drill would definitely be a Vehicle Artifact, likely having a significant Crew value to reflect its absolutely massive size and requirements for actually driving it. Since it needs firebenders to work, it would make sense for it to be a red artifact, and even include land destruction that red is known for, reflecting the drill's purpose.

Your Rating

close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10

Your comment has not been saved

Like Follow Followed

Magic: The Gathering

7.9/10 Franchise Magic: The Gathering Original Release Date August 5, 1993 Publisher Wizards of the Coast Player Count 2+ Age Recommendation 13+ Length per Game Variable Expand Collapse