We’ve made it to the end of another massive year for Magic: The Gathering, a year full of incredible highs, a few lows, and plenty of conversations in-between. After navigating the good, the bad, and the downright ugly, it feels fitting that 2025 closes out with one of the most anticipated crossover sets yet. With so much resting on its shoulders, Universes Beyond - Avatar: The Last Airbender has a real chance to end the year on a strong, satisfying note.
What is Universes Beyond - Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Serving as both the third and final Universes Beyond release and the final MTG set of the year, Avatar: The Last Airbender brings the beloved Nickelodeon series to life through flavorful mechanics, powerful characters, and smart worldbuilding. This set focuses heavily on the four bending disciplines: air, water, earth, and fire. And translates them into mechanics that feel flavorfully aligned with the show.
Players will find a wide range of characters represented at different points in their journeys, from inexperienced students learning discipline to seasoned mentors passing down their wisdom. The set also sprinkles in past Avatars and mythical creatures that expand the lore, giving longtime fans plenty to appreciate. Impressively, if you stripped away the licensed names and added standard MTG art direction, this could easily pass as a fully in-universe Magic set. Exactly what fans have been begging for from Universes Beyond products.
What is available for MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender?
Players will have access to all the formats and product types they expect from a modern set release: Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, Bundles, and a brand-new Commander Bundle. There are also Jumpstart packs and beginner-friendly boxes designed to bring new players into Magic through the familiarity of Avatar.
It’s a release slate clearly designed to appeal to both longtime MTG veterans and complete newcomers, giving everyone a doorway into the bending world.
What is the best product to buy?
Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander Bundle
If you can find it at MSRP, the clear winner is the Commander Bundle. The singles, booster packs, collector’s storage box, and themed life counter combine into one of the most value-packed products Wizards has released in a while. The Professor even did a great breakdown showing just how strong the numbers are.
That said, Universes Beyond sets often become targets for resellers, so be cautious. There’s no need to pay inflated prices—this release should be enjoyed, not hunted for.
What is MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender good for?
Much like Edge of Eternities, this set offers a surprisingly strong Limited experience, but its biggest impact is undeniably in Commander.
Avatar introduces a wave of uniquely-designed commanders, many of which bring fresh strategies into the format. The Jumpstart packs also hide several surprisingly powerful Commander-playable cards that new fans and veterans alike will latch onto quickly.
The Beginner Box and Jumpstart products show that Wizards had a very intentional vision: instead of leaning on Commander precons as an entry point, they’re easing newcomers into MTG through smaller, digestible products themed around a universally beloved franchise. It’s a smart move and one that still gives Commander players plenty to chew on.
I’m genuinely excited to watch how bending mechanics get incorporated into traditional decks and how dedicated Avatar-themed Commander brews take shape.
What does MTG Avatar: The Last Airbender need to be better?
While the set is packed with creativity, its biggest hurdle is integration. Some bending styles blend naturally with existing archetypes, but others feel more isolated:
Earthbending shares DNA with landfall-style decks but has its own distinct rhythm.
Firebending slots comfortably into aggressive Izzet-style spell slinger shells.
Waterbending and Airbending sit in unique design spaces that don’t perfectly match any current MTG strategies.
This isn’t necessarily a flaw—it’s more of a growing pain. These mechanics open the door for new archetypes and give designers room to explore even more bending-adjacent ideas in future products. But players looking to slot these cards seamlessly into existing Commander lists may need to experiment and adapt.
Final Thoughts
Universes Beyond – Avatar: The Last Airbender is exactly what these crossover sets should aim to be. It’s fun, flavorful, and almost completely optional. Bringing fresh mechanics and tons of creativity without forcing meta-defining, price-locked staples into every format. Instead of feeling like a power grab, it feels like a celebration of both Magic and Avatar, giving players new toys to experiment with rather than mandatory upgrades.
If Wizards continues in this direction with Universes Beyond: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the horizon, this approach could give fans real hope. If TMNT follows Avatar’s design philosophy, rather than the “Oops all Spiders” Spider-Man-style route, we’re in for an absolute treat.
If you’re planning a Draft Night for Avatar, check out our Limited Guide for Avatar: The Last Airbender!
