With the arrival of the Avatar: The Last Airbender set in Standard, deckbuilding takes on a refreshing elemental twist — blending flavorful lore with competitive synergy. The set introduces a wealth of legendary creatures, bending mechanics, and powerful sagas that encourage creative strategies across all colors.

Whether you’re aiming to harness the balance of the elements, build around ally synergies, or maximize the graveyard and aura interactions, this set breathes new life into Standard deck construction.

One particular card highlighted for today’s blog article is Zuko, Conflicted.  

Zuko, Conflicted stands out as a dynamic two-mana option for Rakdos midrange or sacrifice decks in Standard. His ability to provide incremental value each turn makes him a powerful engine that can both generate card advantage and grow stronger over time. Drawing a card early helps smooth out hands and ensures consistent pressure, giving Zuko a flexible role in both aggressive and midrange strategies.

The +1/+1 counter ability allows him to scale naturally as the game progresses, turning him into a real threat that demands removal. Meanwhile, his mana generation can enable explosive turns or help cast high-cost finishers ahead of the curve. This combination of utility and pressure makes Zuko versatile across different board states, capable of supporting aggressive pushes or helping grind through attrition-heavy matchups.

While his final phase—exiling and returning under an opponent’s control—may seem like a drawback, it can be strategically managed. Smart players can sacrifice or remove Zuko before this trigger resolves, converting his value without the downside.

Overall, Zuko, Conflicted rewards tactical play and timing, making him a high-ceiling card that could become a Standard staple in decks that thrive on risk, synergy, and resource manipulation.

Thanks for reading.