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Thanks to Wizards of the Coast, we got our hands on Magic: The Gathering’s latest element bending collaboration set, Avatar: The Last Airbender, to check out all the sweet goodies TCG, Magic and Avatar fans can all get their dopamine hits from.
Avatar: The Last Airbender is without a doubt one of pop culture’s most fan-favoured franchises, and when partnered up with one of the biggest TCGs in the four nations, it makes for one fiery card set for collectors and players to sink their teeth into. The new set boasts some amazingly illustrated cards, like Aang – Master of Elements, United Front, and the Field Notes Cards (which are some of my personal favourites), not to mention the variety of Source Material Cards that bring scenes straight from the tv series to our glorious cardboard. New Keyword Actions are also new to this set for players, which very much encompasses the way of the Avatar, with Firebending, Earthbend, Waterbend and Airbend all becoming key components of the games core mechanics.
In terms of what we got to check out from the new Avatar: The Last Airbender collection, we received some Play Booster Packs, a Bundle, a Commander’s Bundle as well as some Jumpstart Boosters and Collector Booster Packs. As someone who has dived deeply into the TCG world in the last 18 months (my wallet is no longer speaking to me), but not so much into the world of Magic: The Gathering, the Avatar collection was definitely one to peak my interest when first announced. Now getting my hands on them, I can definitely say from a newcomer’s (and Avatar fan’s) point of view, that these cards are stunning and what I feel like is a great entry point into Magic. Not only this, but opening these cards and bundles is like reliving your first watch through of the TV series – getting eyes on characters and moments reimagined for Magic: The Gathering. Whether you’re a collector and/or player, it’s an enjoyable experience reconnecting with Aang, Katara, Sokka, Zuko, Uppa and the entire Avatar gang, in a way fans haven’t experienced before.
The Standard Bundle we received came with 9 Avatar: The Last Airbender Play Boosters, 5 Traditional Foil and 5 Full-Art Appa Lands, a Alt-Art Traditional Foil Momo Promo, a Card Box and an Oversized Spindown Life Counter.
This bundle is a great first step in your journey to mastering the elements. The Art cards are stunning in their foily goodness, with the icing on the cake being the Oversized Life Counter, sporting a little Aang head in replacement of the number 1, as well as the card box itself – showcasing a gorgeous illustration of Fire Lord Ozai heating things up on one side of the box, with the other side portraying Aang in his Avatar state harnessing all four elements. And of course, with the 9 play boosters ready to rip into, you will have the ability to boast 126 cards straight out of the box (plus the Land and Promo cards).
The Commander Bundle leans a little more towards those who want to do more than just collect. This bundle includes 9 Avatar: The Last Airbender Play Boosters, 5 Traditional Foil and 5 Full-Art Avatar’s Journey Lands, 2 of 10 Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander’s Fun Cards, Special MTG Avatar versions of Sol Ring, Arcane Signet and Swiftfoot Boots, as well as an Avatar Click Wheel and Card Box. Again, what I love about these bundles is the variety of inclusions you get in a box – all practical to the game.
The Commander Bundle I think is one of the best choices for players and collectors, as – obviously – it gives players the cards they need to construct their Commander decks, but for collectors it also brings to life so much Avatar goodness – from the artwork on the Card Box of the Avatar Gang riding Uppa, to the themed clicked wheel, not to mention the full art and foiled cards included in this bundle. It’s definitely one I’d suggest putting at the top of your list if you were still thinking which MTG Avatar product to get.
As an Avatar fan, it’s great to see such collaborations like this come to the TCG world. I for one am now hellbent on collecting all the field note cards from this set – I just absolutely love their design and their aesthetic is just on point for Avatar (shown in the photo at the top of this article with ‘Ran and Shaw’ and ‘The Lion-Turtle’ cards). And I think that’s what make this collection work the most – there’s something for everything here, collector, player or just simply an Avatar fan looking for some more ways to connect to the universe.
So whether you’re more partial to Airbending over Earthbending, or a passionate Waterbending ready to take on the Fire Nation, Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender collection is worth the look at. If you’re a collector then grabbing a few Play or Collector Boosters are a great way to kick off your journey – with the bundles a sure fire way to snag some great cards. For those wanting a little more action with gameplay, you can’t go wrong with the bundles (especially the Commander’s Bundle), and those just starting out, the Jumpstart Booster Packs are the best way to dabble in the world of Magic for the first time. So pack your bags, hitch a ride on Uppa and enjoy the fun that is Magic: The Gathering’s Avatar: The Last Airbender.
