In the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, firebending and airbending are fast and powerful arts. Firebenders shoot blasts of flame, while airbenders whip up gusts and whirlwinds. But in the new Magic: The Gathering set based on Avatar, these bending styles face a big problem: delayed reactions. This means their effects do not happen right away, leaving the benders open to harm from enemy spells or tricks. For more on MTG earthbending rules that contrast with this, check out https://draftsim.com/mtg-earthbending/.
Firebending in the show draws power from emotion and breath control, as explained on the Avatar Wiki. https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Firebending. Zuko’s firebending weakened when he lost his drive to hunt Aang, showing how timing and focus matter. In MTG, firebending cards likely work the same way. They build up energy or mana over time instead of acting instantly. Opponents can respond with removal spells during this wait, killing the firebender before the blast lands. Reviews of the set note how commanders like Aang handle instant-speed plays well, but firebending’s delay makes it risky. See details in https://www.goonhammer.com/magic-the-gathering-avatar-the-last-airbender-review-part-2-of-4-multicolor-colorless-cards/.
Airbending shares this issue. Airbenders move quick in the show, dodging and pushing foes away. But if MTG airbending has delays, like charging a big gust, foes can counter it. Think of spells that need setup time. A player might target your airbender with a bolt or bounce while the ability ticks down. This mirrors real MTG problems, where non-haste creatures sit helpless due to summoning sickness. Earthbending avoids this by giving haste to animated lands, letting them attack at once. https://draftsim.com/mtg-earthbending/. Fire and air lack that speed, so they eat removal.
Cube reviews highlight similar woes for hasty but weak tokens, like 1/1s that die before scaling up. https://usmantherad.substack.com/p/cube-first-impressions-of-the-first. Firebending might stockpile mana for a burst, but holding it open invites interaction. One review calls generating mana from firebending “out of control fast,” yet the delay to activate leaves you exposed. Airbending could loop enters-the-battlefield effects, but flashing in responses still beats slow setups.
Players must play smart. Hold back firebenders until you clear the board, or protect airbenders with counters. Still, the delay hurts their raw power. Compare to earthbending’s safe counters and instant creatures. Fire and air shine in aggressive decks, but one mistimed reaction spells doom.
Sources
https://draftsim.com/mtg-earthbending/
https://www.goonhammer.com/magic-the-gathering-avatar-the-last-airbender-review-part-2-of-4-multicolor-colorless-cards/
https://usmantherad.substack.com/p/cube-first-impressions-of-the-first
https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Firebending
