Waterbend is a powerful new keyword from the new Avatar: the Last Airbender set coming later this year. Waterbend is a generic cost ability that can be paid for with mana, tapping your creatures, or tapping your artifacts. This new keyword is extremely similar to Convoke which we see on lots of Green cards. Waterbend is coming from the Azorious color combination, which makes perfect sense with the artifact type thrown in the mix. Clues, Foods, Treasures, Junk, Blood are all artifact tokens that can be used for Waterbending. Let's see what cards we already have access to that work perfectly with this brand new keyword!

10. Efficient Construction

Efficient Construction creates a flying Thopter artifact creature each time you cast an artifact spell. Since you can tap artifacts to help pay for Waterbend, it makes sense that you would be playing more artifact spells than a typical deck. Efficient Construction is not the only card with this effect as there have been lots of cards that create artifact tokens when you cast an artifact spell. If you decide to lean heavily into casting artifact spells combined with a Waterbending subtheme I recommend you to look more into this effect, however, if you are looking at merely splashing some artifacts in your deck, this is probably not a consideration for your brew.

9. Call the Coppercoats

Call the Coppercoats is a powerful spell to create an army of creature tokens out of nowhere. Creating creatures that can go into combat is great, however, using them for Waterbending is mostly a secondary thing. Tapping down creatures leaves you open for attacks, especially if you are presenting a massive board of creatures that can attack on a future turn. This spell is still very powerful, but I think sticking to artifact tokens instead of creatures for Waterbending will be more beneficial, especially if those tokens are clue tokens.

8. Oltec Matterweaver

Oltec Matterweaver solves the issue of only playing creature tokens or artifact tokens. Whenever you cast a creature spell, you can either create a creature token or a copy of an artifact token you control. Most decks built around Waterbend will most likely have a mix of different types of tokens. Having a reliable way to be able to create whichever token you may need at the time is incredibly powerful. This card is only three mana and can start creating value the turn it comes into play. This card is still new from Outlaws of Thunder Junction and still doesn't see all the play it deserves. I would be sure to pick one of these up while they are on the cheap.

7. Officious Interrogation

Officious Interrogation is pretty much a cut and paste version of Call the Coppercoats, except it can target yourself. Making a ton of clue tokens for only two mana is great for Waterbending. You can tap clue tokens into the Waterbend ability and use them for card draw on the same turn. This card is also great at scaling with the progress of the game with the "kicker" cost it has as well. This card is going to be a slam dunk for Katara, Water Tribe's Hope decks.

6. Academy Manufactor

Academy Manufactor is a card that will always get played alongside cards that make clues, foods, and treasures. Usually, food tokens don't contribute to the strategy you are playing as much as the other two token types, however, since Waterbending can use any artifact, food tokens become much more useful. Pair this card with Officious Interrogation and you will be Waterbending the entire Fire Nation to your will.

5. Illustrious Wanderglyph

Illustrious Wanderglyph is a classic token generator. This card is doing a great job at being generically good enough to fit into any strategy that cares about lots of tokens and artifacts being in play. This card is a perfect late game option for Waterbending decks focused on going wide with your creatures like Katara, Water Tribe's Hope.

4. Genesis Chamber

I am sure most of you reading this are aware that there are certain artifacts that care about being tapped. Winter Orb and Static Orb are classic examples that will put your opponents in a blind range. These types of cards really don't work well with this mechanic, except for one, Genesis Chamber. Genesis Chamber will create a 1/1 creature token for each nontoken creature that enters the battlefield. This card is great for making creatures that can help pay for Waterbend costs, however, it also gives your opponents creatures as well. Genesis Chamber can lose this effect if it is tapped, which we can easily do with any creature with Waterbend. This card is a slam dunk for this keyword and I highly recommend picking up a copy!

3. Trail of Evidence

Trail of Evidence is a classic card that has been around for quite a while now. Creating clue tokens each time you cast an instant or sorcery spell is a powerful effect. Not only can you cash these clues in for some cards, but you can also use them to activate Yue, the Moon Spirit. This card is slightly better than cards like Efficient Construction since you will most likely be playing more instants and sorceries naturally in your deck. Trail of Evidence also works great with the next card on the list.

2. Urza, Lord High Artificer

Urza, Lord High Artificer, had to make the list. Urza creates a construct when he enters, this can be used to help with Waterbend or used as a massive beater with all of the artifacts you should have. Urza also allows you to tap your artifacts for Blue mana instead of just for Waterbend effects. This is helpful for casting large spells a few turns early or to dig through your library with his activated ability. Any time you are looking at building an artifact themed deck in blue, Urza, Lord High Artificer, should always be on the consideration pile.

1. Intruder Alarm

This article has had a strong focus on artifacts being used for the Waterbend ability, but don't forget you can also use creatures as well. Each and every time Wizards adds a brand new ability where tapping your creatures is relevant Intruder Alarm bells go off in my head. Intruder Alarm is an insanely broken card from the old Magic days that makes lots of weird interactions possible. Katara, Bending Prodigy has an activated ability to Waterbend 6 to draw a card. Combine this with a Homoculous Horde and Intruder Alarm and you will be drawing tons of cards from your library in a breeze. I am a huge fan of this card and how it interacts, especially with Waterbending! If any of the new Katara legendary creatures are catching your eye, I suggest experimenting with Intruder Alarm.

That wraps up this article on the brand new Waterbend mechanic from Avatar: the Last Airbender. I think this keyword is an amazing new ability that creates some exciting new spaces for deck-building. I hope to see some more older cards interacting with these new ones when this set releases later this year!

See you on the battlefield!

-Nigel