Chris Mooney, the lead designer for Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set, believes Katara, Water Tribe's Hope is an underutilized Commander option that deserves more attention. Mooney noted that while many popular Commanders function as self-sustaining value engines, overlooked options can lead to uniquely engaging gameplay.
Katara, Water Tribe's Hope represents the character during the second season of Avatar: The Last Airbender. This version of the card costs five mana (two colorless, one white, and two blue) and is a 3/3 creature with vigilance. It enters the battlefield with a 1/1 ally creature token and possesses a potent waterbending ability. For any amount of mana, this ability can set the power and toughness of all creatures you control to X/X, with the cost of X being partially payable by tapping creatures and artifacts on the board.
Mooney explained that this particular iteration of Katara was designed as a formidable combat threat, contrasting with her three-color version, Katara, the Fearless, which emphasizes a more supportive role. The waterbending ability is inspired by the card Mirror Entity, but with an added benefit of allowing players to tap permanents to help pay the mana cost for X. This mechanic, Mooney suggested, captures the fluid and adaptable nature of waterbending.
While not ideal for early-game casting, Katara, Water Tribe's Hope can deliver explosive finishes in the mid- to late-game, especially when played with an established board presence. A viable strategy involves flooding the board with creature tokens, often allies, and then activating Katara's ability to create a sudden, high-damage threat. Cards from the Avatar set like South Pole Voyager and Suki, Courageous Rescuer can support this token-centric approach, while blink effects can re-trigger Katara's enter-the-battlefield ability. Instant-speed spells that generate numerous creature tokens, such as Secure the Wastes, are also beneficial for maximizing Katara's power.
Mooney's design philosophy for waterbending mechanics focused on flexibility and adaptation, mirroring the element's representation in the show. Abilities often involve tapping or untapping permanents, reflecting the push and pull of tides, and can have various effects beyond direct combat buffs, such as disrupting opponents. These mechanics can provide fodder for Katara's main ability, offering a synergistic playstyle.
Currently, Katara, Water Tribe's Hope ranks significantly lower in popularity than some other Avatar set Commanders, such as Fire Lord Azula, which benefits from a more straightforward and consistently powerful effect. Mooney suggested that players naturally gravitate towards commanders that offer consistent, turn-over-turn value, which is a characteristic shared by many of the most popular choices in the format. However, Mooney concluded that for players who appreciate the fantasy of embodying a powerful waterbender, Katara, Water Tribe's Hope offers a unique and rewarding Commander experience, capable of overwhelming opponents like a relentless tsunami.