Avatar: the Last Airbender is quickly approaching for Magic: The Gathering fans. This brand new set is offering four new keywords to add to Magic's constantly growing list of abilities. These keywords each represent the type of "bending" characters from the world of Avatar are capable of. The one I will be focusing on today is Firebending. Firebend is a keyword that will provide an amount of Red mana equal to the level of firebend a creature has. The creature will create this mana on attack in the combat phase. This mana can only be used during combat before you lose it forever, meaning you have to find creative ways to utilize this extra mana effectively. Whether you are finding ways to make sure that mana sticks around longer, or finding a powerful instant spell to slam down, Firebend seems to be a very powerful keyword. Let's dive into some cards that we already have in Magic's card library that will be useful in supporting Firebending.

10. Leyline Tyrant

Leyline Tyrant was the first card that I thought of for this list. It is a four-mana 4/4 with flying that allows you to keep your Red mana as steps and phases end. This essentially means you will never lose your unspent Red mana, even after you pass the turn to your opponents. Firebend creates mana during combat that normally would leave before your second main phase. Now, with Leyline Tyrant, you can use the mana from Firebend to cast sorcery speed spells as well. Leyline Tyrant also can deal damage if it ever would be removed from the board which is also a nice piece of utility. There are a couple of cards that help save mana for future turns and phases, however, this one is the weakest of them.

9. Commune with Lava

Commune with Lava is not only a perfect card for Firebend, it also is a great flavor choice for a Firebending deck as well. Commune with Lava is an instant for X and two Red to exile the top X cards of your library and you may cast them until the end of your next turn. This allows you to look at so many cards if you have the mana to pay for it. If you are planning on playing creatures with Firebend this card will allow you to look at even more cards. Huge splashy X spells are always fun to resolve, they can just be tricky to achieve the mana needed to get the explosive power fully out of them. Firebend is a perfect fit to make sure that you can use this spell to its fullest potential.

8. Dream Devourer

Sometimes abilities are limited to only being used on your turn, however, they are able to be activated at instant speed during your turn. Foretell is an example of this. Dream Devourer gives each nonland card in your hand Foretell, allowing you to cast it on a later turn for a discount. This is such an awesome use for this card since it rarely sees any play. Having a creature with Firebend 2 essentially ramps you two whole mana on a future turn. Dream Devourer also gets a buff each time you foretell a card which could come up during combat. Also, Red has been receiving a lot of cards that care about casting spells from exile which this demon plays into perfectly. This is my favorite card on this list, just for the fact I can dig it out of my bulk and put it to good use!

7. Windcrag Siege

Windcrag Siege is a newer card from Tarkir: Dragonstorm that many people may have forgotten about. This enchantment has the ability to double up on attack triggers, similar to Isshin, Two Heavens as One, without having to be in three colors. Firebend is an attack trigger, meaning it would create double the amount of mana. This is a very powerful effect, however, you still need something to use that mana for at instant speed or an ability to sink that mana in. Windcrag Siege is not very expensive currently, which makes it a perfect time to pick a copy up in anticipation of Avatar.

6. Savage Beating

Savage Beating is a weirdly worded Red instant that works perfectly with Firebend. Savage Beating can only be cast during combat during your turn. This spell either gives all of your creatures double strike or provides you with an extra combat this turn. This spell also has Entwine though, meaning you can get both of these effects for some extra mana. If you are able to generate enough Red mana to give creatures double strike and an extra combat you are most likely knocking out an opponent or two out of the game. Firebend makes this spell even easier to get off with both modes making it a slam dunk.

5. Delayed Blast Fireball

Delayed Blast Fireball is one of the best Red spells for Commander we have received in a long while. This one-sided board wipe can deal up to six damage to each of your opponents and their creatures if you cast it out of exile. Delayed Blast Fireball has Foretell allowing it to be put into exile and cast on a later turn. Firebend gives us the option of using the mana to Foretell this spell or cast it for its printed mana value. This flexibility is great, especially on a spell that only hurts our opponents.

4. Ashling, Flame Dancer

Ashling, Flame Dancer has the exact line of text of Leyline Tyrant, but also has an additional paragraph worth of text. Ashling is four mana for a creature that allows your Firebend mana to stick around until you choose to use it. Ashling also has a magecraft ability, which if you are playing instants off your Firebend ability, works perfectly as well. The magecraft ability gives some card selection, a small one sided sweeper effect, and generates some mana on its own. Ashling, Flame Dancer is an absolute powerhouse and makes perfect sense to synergise with Firebend, because she literally has Flame in her title.

3. Hellkite Tyrant

Hellkite Tyrant is a known combo piece when it comes to Commander. There are lots of ways to generate mana during combat in Red, but now we have a few new cards that you can use with Firebend. If your firebend value is high enough, you may just be able to win on the spot. Hellkite Tyrant is going to win games if not kept under check. The only thing holding this card back from the number one slot is the high mana value needed to cast this card and activate the ability. Hopefully you will have enough Firebenders to win immediately, but if not it will most likely be in your graveyard on your next turn.

2. Great Train Heist

Great Train Heist is the best version of Savage Beating, simply for the flexibility it provides. Great Train Heise is a red instant with spree, meaning you can sink as much mana into this spell to get the desired outcome. Making lots of red mana during combat should hopefully be a breeze with your Firebending army. Great Train Heist provides an extra combat, a slight buff to your creatures, and some treasure tokens if you connect to your opponents life totals. If you are looking at throwing a curveball at your opponents this is the perfect way to do it.

1. Electro, Assaulting Battery

The first card on this list hasn't even been released as of writing this article, however, it is incredibly powerful when looking at Firebend. Electro, Assaulting Battery is a brand new legend coming from Marvel's Spiderman that keeps your Red mana from leaving your pool. Electro is also only three mana, the cheapest out of the mana pool protectors we've looked at. He generates a Red mana each time you cast an instant or sorcery and he deals damage when he's removed to a player by paying X. Notably, Spiderman and Avatar will both be Standard legal. It will be interesting to see how some of these cards interact with one another in the Standard meta. Electro, Assaulting Battery has yet to see any play, but I believe this card to be incredibly powerful for multiple formats moving forward.

That wraps up looking at supporting cards for the upcoming Firebend mechanic coming from Avatar: the Last Airbender. We are going to be getting a lot of new cards between Avatar and Spiderman so make sure to not miss any, especially ones with these brand new keywords!

See you on the battlefield!

-Nigel