Avatar: The Last Airbender "Precon" Contest (Locked)

{"ops":[{"insert":"I wanted to make a deck full of only cards from the Avatar set (plus a few lands cause you know 5 colours and everything). A lot of the choices of which cards to put came from the cards that I opened and loved playing in the pre release. \nEvery summer growing up I would go over to my friends house to watch Avatar every week. I remember always looking forward to those moments and so I was ecstatic when I heard of this collaboration. I feel like when I play this deck it brings me back to those moments. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Designing a Precon Deck"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nInspired by the narrative of the Avatar set, I believe that a great way to have created the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"precon decks"},{"insert":" would have been to approach them through the books that form each season. I consider Book Two: Earth to be my favorite because of the different reasons I seek to convey in the distinct sections of this "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"deck"},{"insert":".\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Earth Kingdom"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nDuring Book One: Water, the idea of a Kingdom unbreakable against the attacks of the Fire Nation built an atmosphere of security and solidarity upon the Avatar's arrival, which would serve as a defense in this mission.\nA kingdom that was shown as a bastion of safety, where refugees arrived and society could still find peace under the command of a noble king, was about to reveal its true nature. The conspiracy stemming from an elite group of guards enforcing a war denied to the people; a young woman's search for freedom, underestimated because of her blindness; the conflict of returning to the place that marked great losses; and the struggle of an exiled son to find his own reality; these are just some of the moments we seek to highlight.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There is No War in Ba Sing Se"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Long Feng, Grand Secretariat"},{"insert":", is the chosen "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"commander"},{"insert":" for several reasons:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ease of introducing new players to basic game concepts."},{"insert":" I believe that "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Golgari"},{"insert":" (Black/Green) is a complete way to explain basic interactions that can occur in a game to new players, from the use of counters, interactions with the graveyard, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"removal"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"ramp"},{"insert":", and a mechanic introduced in this expansion: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"earthbending"},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Taking the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"flavor"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" of this "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"commander"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":", Long Feng offers a distinct variant compared to what "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"commanders"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" like Toph (Naya) or Bumi (Gruul) can offer with the same mechanic:"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"earthbending"},{"insert":" as a resource to sacrifice."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Dai Li"},{"insert":" is the elite that protects the king, but at such a cost that they end up turning against him, manipulating him, and becoming a sect that controls the populace from the shadows. They are bandits, corrupt, and linked to a plan that seeks to precipitate the fall of the empire they swore to protect.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Blind Bandit"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The undefeated winner of the earthbending arena up to that point, she ends up being persecuted by the very people who underestimated her blindness, bringing her to the point of becoming the first master to perform "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"metalbending"},{"insert":". The arc I wanted to mark is the moment just before she becomes part of the Avatar Team and the immediate repercussions of her joining.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Fire is Dying"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAnother arc I wanted to highlight was that of Zuko and Uncle Iroh, refugees in Ba Sing Se. It shows Zuko’s evolution from a hunter searching for his honor to having one of the most important introspective conflicts in the series. This same dilemma is quietly experienced by his uncle, who keeps the memory and the loss of his son alive, seeking a feeling of redemption in the shelter and aid he can give his nephew and others, showing this enormous pain through few but very significant pieces of art.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Deck Structure"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Avatar Theme."},{"insert":" It’s a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"precon"},{"insert":"; you bought it to play with cards related to the world of Avatar that appear in the set. Chimeras and lessons that set the atmosphere are incorporated, aiming to give nods to moments in the desert, the Fire Nation, and Aang himself."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Essentials for "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Commander"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"."},{"insert":" Cards already considered essential for a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Commander deck"},{"insert":", from "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Sol Ring"},{"insert":" to "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Command Tower"},{"insert":", including cards that could have beautiful reprints themed by the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"flavor"},{"insert":" of the last Airbender, such as the Talisman of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Resilience"},{"insert":" with the seal of the Bei Fong family, or the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Reliquary Tower"},{"insert":" which, just by looking at it, can be related to a certain library buried in the sand."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nI did not want to close this "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"deck"},{"insert":" construction without including a habit that has quietly formed in each of these products: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Reprints"},{"insert":".\nI considered that an average of 10 to 15 cards are reprinted in the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"decks"},{"insert":", recovering concepts that can perfectly fit the atmosphere with art that recaptures the essence of other worlds already traveled in "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Magic the Gathering"},{"insert":", and I want to highlight a few.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Reshape the Earth"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Earth Surge"},{"insert":".\n The card's own "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"flavor"},{"insert":" captures it: the earth is not dead; it has so much life, vigor, and strength that the earth masters themselves will demonstrate it to you.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Sadistic Hypnotist"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Royal Assassin"},{"insert":".\n These are sought to deepen the atmosphere of conspiracy against the king; they are elite members that the Dai Li itself may have within its control missions.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Innkeeper’s Talent"},{"insert":". \nBrought from a recent expansion, the simple idea of seeing a mole taking the role of someone who can reflect the attitude of an Uncle Iroh tending his tea shop in the Earth Kingdom, considering that the moles themselves are responsible for the existence of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"earthbending"},{"insert":", makes it fit very well.\n\nI would not want to close this tour of this "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"deck"},{"insert":", which I sincerely enjoyed assembling, without first thanking whoever acquires and plays it, asking them to do so while thinking about how a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"deck"},{"insert":" that appears simple can truly be a great "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"introduction"},{"insert":" to an endless series of games with their friends.\n\nI hope you like it.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"\"Sokka Saves the Day\" is for the beginner at the table that just brought a Precon to have some fun with some good old midrange artifacts. Just like Sokka, you will find yourself facing against an aggressive fireloard, some bold guy being very flashy while bending all the rules and lastly also threats that feel like they are are "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"out of this world"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"This deck is build to be played in an epic themed commander match against "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/17661784/aang_bends_earth_and_the_rules"},"insert":"Aang Bends Earth and Magic"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":","},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/17744922/stones_along_the_road"},"insert":" Stones on the Road"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/17744365/fire_loard_azula_attacks"},"insert":"Fire Lord Azula Attacks"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":". "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"I am not cheesily submitting the other decks"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":", but as Sokka was the starting point of that four-avatar-decks-idea I had, I wanted to just mention it here. And maybe you like this idea of four perfectly themed decks with different ATLA characters and different play-styles (combo, control, aggro and midrange) being balanced for each other to create the perfect commander experience. Maybe it sparks some joy."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Unfortunately, due to me having to pivot when I actually read the rules and some personal reasons, I did not finish building and balancing all the other decks so please actually don't count them too much as I will have likely modified them after the submission deadline."},{"attributes":{"blockquote":true},"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck was made to evoke that icy fortress feeling on Book 1: Water, episode 19 and 20. Aang and his friends are in the North Pole's Water Tribe palace, awaiting a siege from the Fire Nation. You begin the game setting up your defenses, by playing ice and fog walls to defend against attackers. In the meantime, you'll be meditating with the moon and ocean spirits, with cards like Ponder, Lunar Mystic, and Lunar Insight. The tribe gathers its own army of waterbenders and sea creatures to save the North Pole, while they await the rising of the Moon with Midnight Clock. \n\nFreeze your opponents' creatures in place to stall for time while Aang consults Tui and La. The walls protect the tribe, and tapping down your opponents' boards symbolizes the freezing water magic of the Water Tribe, while also slowing the enemy through pure cold. There are two cards that will allow Aang to turn into Marit Lage, and once he transforms, strike your opponents down by making him unblockable with Aqeous Form, Cloak of Mists, and Protective Bubble, all forms of combat granted by Water. Otherwise, you'll be able to mass-tap your oppponents' boards and guarantee Aang's hit through cards like Crashing Wave, Cone of Cold, Ensnare, and Deluge. \n\nThis deck reimagines Lier, Disciple of the Drowned as Master Pakku, Hylda's Icy Crown as Yue's royal adornments, Marit Lage's Slumber and Quiet Contemplation as Aang's meeting with Tui and La, and Niblis of Frost as the very spirit of the Ocean taking its own initiative in the battle. \n\nTui and La was specifically chosen as the commander because of their strategic placement during the battle in the show. They represent the geographically city center, but also the heart of the Water Tribe and why it's so important for them to defend against the Fire Nation's siege. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Yes indeed Zuko is here. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The Earth King has invited you to Lake Laogai...\n\nOppress your opponents and disappear your own creatures with this sacrifice/counters Golgari deck! I've tried to limit most of the cards in this lost precon to TLA and TLE cards to enhance the flavor.\n\nThe main goal of this deck is to generate creatures which you can sacrifice to pump your board/drain your opponent's life. This could be sacrificing tokens made by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Joo Dee, One of Many"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Awakening Zone"}},{"insert":" or lands you've earthbent with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Boulder, Ready to Rumble"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dai Li Agents"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beifong's Bounty Hunters"}},{"insert":" is a key piece for getting value out of your sacrificing. Because their are a lot of earthbending triggers in the deck, there are some key utility lands that you can turn into creatures to swing the game in your favor like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Secret Tunnel"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rumble Arena"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Darkmoss Bridge"}},{"insert":".\n\nFinishing the game should be easy enough once you've pumped your creatures/lands and removed all blockers with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Pact"}},{"insert":", but as any good secret police force ought to know, you should always have a backup plan. Draining your opponents with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Exsanguinate"}},{"insert":" or infinite "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Artist"}},{"insert":" triggers can sneak wins out from right under other players' noses.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is not meant to be the most powerful thing out there, but it’s meant to be fun and functional with an unusual archetype for the colors, green, white, sacrifice, and reanimation. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck explores the spirit world of Avatar the Last Airbender where Aang traveled to learn the secrets of energy bending. The deck heavily features shrines and spirits with Hei Bai, Forest Guardian as the commander. This deck utilizes the shrine cards from ATLA and reprints of other powerful shrines from previous sets to allow Hei Bai to create even more unblockable spirits with it's activated ability. The goal is to get as many shrines out as possible, recast them with airbending as required for effects when needed.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Using Toph's second ability, continuously earthbend and then sacrifice your lands for value and to get landfall triggers. Meant to be a landfall storm kind of deck. It is as close to a budget build as I could make it, but the Maybeboard has some fun upgrades that really kick the deck into overdrive.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Make creatures big or try some shenanigans with artifacts!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Shrines with triggered abilities and create lots of spirits with Hei Bai! \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The Fire King Ozai's greatest strength is bringing in lots of mana with tons of firepower. He may be a bad father but he does bring in the pain, just ask Zuko. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Like lands? Like artifacts? Like ETB shenanigans on a budget? Then this deck might be for you, with plenty of ways to animate your lands and artifacts you will have fun running your opponents into the ground!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Iroh, is a very generous host at his tea shop and is willing to give people gifts. Don't worry they're not harmful, the worst they can be is useless!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Sling spells and boomerangs and trust in your allies!\n\nUnleash the power of Sokka's tactical "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Prowess,"},{"insert":" superior linguistics,"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"and unmatched people skills to hit hard and hit fast all while building your army and keeping your opponents off guard!\n\nDuring Sokka's journey in Avatar the Last Airbender, he grew to become an amazing and trusted General in the battle against the fire nation. He honed his skills, learned "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Lessons"},{"insert":" from others, and trusted his "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Allies"},{"insert":" to have his back!\n\n\n"}]}