Fire Lord Azula Historic Brawl Deck Tech — The NEW Grixis Commander That Shakes MTG Arena
One of the most hyped commanders from the recent Avatar: The Last Airbender set is Fire Lord Azula. I’ll admit, I wasn’t very impressed at first… until I actually played her. After a few games, I quickly realized how fun and powerful she can be! Curious what this control-focused build looks like? Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
How the Fire Lord Azula Deck Works in Historic Brawl
There are really two main ways to build around [card]Fire Lord Azula[/card] in Historic Brawl. One route is to push her combo potential, chaining treasures and storm-style spells like [card]Big Score[/card] and [card]Magma Opus[/card] to create explosive turns that end the game at once. The other approach leans into controlling the board and the stack, letting Azula take over slowly by copying removal, counters, and draw spells every time she attacks.
This version chooses the control game plan. You spend the early turns interacting and sculpting your hand, then drop Azula with protection and start attacking. Once she’s online, every combat step becomes a source of card advantage and disruption — slowly tightening the grip until your opponents can’t keep up with the fire.
Why Fire Lord Azula Is a Strong Avatar: The Last Airbender Commander
This entire strategy revolves around [card]Fire Lord Azula[/card].
[cards]{{Fire Lord Azula}}[/cards]
She brings Firebending 2, giving you red mana when she attacks, and most importantly, she copies your spells while attacking. That means every instant or sorcery you cast in combat becomes twice as dangerous. The whole deck exists to let Azula attack safely and turn every cheap spell into a massive swing of damage, disruption, or card advantage.
Best Creatures for a Fire Lord Azula Control Deck
You’re not trying to flood the board with creatures — only play ones that add value or protect the game plan.
[cards]{{Snapcaster Mage}}{{Baleful Strix}}{{Psychic Frog}}{{Subtlety}}{{Opposition Agent}}[/cards]
[card]Snapcaster Mage[/card], [card]Baleful Strix[/card], [card]Psychic Frog[/card], and [card]Subtlety[/card] draw cards, control threats, or help push damage. [card]Opposition Agent[/card] punishes tutors.
[cards]{{Fury}}{{Sheoldred, the Apocalypse}}[/cards]
[card]Fury[/card] is both removal and pressure. [card]Sheoldred, the Apocalypse[/card] turns your steady card draw into a way to drain opponents out. Each of these plays a role without distracting from the core spell-copying plan.
Card Advantage Payoffs for Fire Lord Azula Decks
[cards]{{Dig Through Time}}{{Brainsurge}}[/cards]
This deck shines when Azula gets to copy your best spells. Casting [card]Dig Through Time[/card], or [card]Brainsurge[/card] while attacking can bury opponents in cards.
[cards]{{Cunning Azurescale}}{{Fable of the Mirror-Breaker}}[/cards]
[card]Cunning Azurescale[/card] and [card]Fable of the Mirror-Breaker[/card] help you dig deeper and create repeatable value.
[cards]{{Rusko, Clockmaker}}{{A-The One Ring}}[/cards]
[card]Rusko, Clockmaker[/card] adds a clock (literally) that chips away at opponents with each spell cast. [card]A-The One Ring[/card] keeps your hand stocked so you never run out of fuel.
Must-Have Support Cards and Mana Enablers
A big part of success is making sure Azula can attack safely and that you have the mana to cast copied spells.
[cards]{{Arcane Signet}}{{Dark Ritual}}{{Lightning Greaves}}[/cards]
[card]Arcane Signet[/card] and [card]Dark Ritual[/card] accelerate you to earlier plays. [card]Lightning Greaves[/card] gives Azula shroud and haste so she swings the turn she lands.
[cards]{{Peek}}{{Opt}}{{Consider}}{{Brainstorm}}[/cards]
[card]Peek[/card], [card]Opt[/card], [card]Consider[/card], [card]Brainstorm[/card] — all keep your hand fresh and set up explosive turns later.
Best Counterspells for Fire Lord Azula in MTG Arena
Azula decks want control over the stack so she can attack without losing tempo.
[cards]{{Counterspell}}{{Mana Leak}}{{Spell Pierce}}{{Spell Snare}}{{Force Spike}}[/cards]
You’ve got an entire arsenal of counterspells to keep the game under control from turn one. Cheap and universal answers like [card]Counterspell[/card], [card]Mana Leak[/card], [card]Spell Pierce[/card], [card]Spell Snare[/card], and [card]Force Spike[/card] stop your opponents from developing early threats — and when Azula copies them, a simple one-for-one suddenly becomes a massive tempo swing.
[cards]{{Force of Negation}}{{Pact of Negation}}[/cards]
Free counterspells are the real all-stars here. [card]Force of Negation[/card] and [card]Pact of Negation[/card] protect Azula the moment she hits the battlefield, letting you tap out confidently to cast her and still win the counter war afterward.
[cards]{{Memory Lapse}}{{Drown in the Loch}}[/cards]
[card]Memory Lapse[/card] punishes greedy plays by putting the spell back on top, while [card]Drown in the Loch[/card] scales perfectly into the late game as graveyards fill up.
[cards]{{Wash Away}}{{Remand}}{{Bind to Secrecy}}{{Tale's End}}{{Stifle}}[/cards]
You also get some specialized interaction that shines in Historic Brawl. [card]Wash Away[/card] hits opposing commanders efficiently, while [card]Remand[/card] is a tempo machine that draws cards and can even be used to save your own spell from removal. [card]Bind to Secrecy[/card] doubles as a threat when you steal creatures from graveyards, and [card]Tale's End[/card] keeps legendary commanders or triggered abilities from ever resolving. Finally, [card]Stifle[/card] shuts down everything from fetchlands to powerful ETB or death triggers.
Best Removal for Grixis Control Fire Lord Azula Decks
You’ve got plenty of targeted answers, and each shines in different situations.
[cards]{{Lightning Bolt}}{{A-Unholy Heat}}{{Flame Slash}}{{Molten Impact}}[/cards]
Fast and efficient burn like [card]Lightning Bolt[/card] and [card]A-Unholy Heat[/card] keep early threats from snowballing, while [card]Flame Slash[/card] handles bigger creatures without costing much mana. [card]Molten Impact[/card] rewards you for clearing blockers by storing up damage for later.
[cards]{{Abrade}}{{Fatal Push}}{{Dismember}}{{Snuff Out}}{{Terminate}}{{Long Goodbye}}[/cards]
[card]Abrade[/card] gives you flexibility by hitting both creatures and artifacts — crucial in a format where mana rocks and equipment matter. Black removal like [card]Fatal Push[/card], [card]Dismember[/card], and the free-to-cast [card]Snuff Out[/card] make sure you never fall behind on board. When you just need something gone for good, [card]Terminate[/card] and [card]Long Goodbye[/card] kill almost anything while ignoring pesky regeneration or ward effects.
[cards]{{Sheoldred's Edict}}{{Redirect Lightning}}{{Pyrokinesis}}[/cards]
You’ve also got ways to punch through defenses even when a single target can’t be chosen. [card]Sheoldred's Edict[/card] forces sacrifice and is especially strong against hexproof or indestructible threats. [card]Redirect Lightning[/card] can completely blow out a fight by turning your opponent’s spell against them, while [card]Pyrokinesis[/card] spreads damage to multiple attackers or blockers — and pays you back even more when Azula copies it mid-combat.
All of this removal keeps the board clear so your commander can safely swing, start generating Firebending mana, and double every spell you cast during combat. Once that engine is rolling, even the smallest removal spell becomes a game-swinging moment.
[cards]{{Damnation}}{{Toxic Deluge}}[/cards]
And if things get out of hand? [card]Damnation[/card] and [card]Toxic Deluge[/card] reset everything except your commander, who’s happy to return later and burn the world anew.
The Perfect Fire Lord Azula Manabase (MTG Arena Legal)
Three-color spell-slinger decks need a smooth and reliable manabase, and this one delivers.
[cards]{{Steam Vents}}{{Watery Grave}}{{Blood Crypt}}[/cards]
Shocklands like [card]Steam Vents[/card], [card]Watery Grave[/card], and [card]Blood Crypt[/card] give you the perfect colors early.
[cards]{{Polluted Delta}}{{Scalding Tarn}}{{Verdant Catacombs}}[/cards]
Fetchlands such as [card]Polluted Delta[/card], [card]Scalding Tarn[/card], and [card]Verdant Catacombs[/card] help make sure you always have your blue, black, and red online.
[cards]{{Mystic Sanctuary}}{{Creeping Tar Pit}}{{Otawara, Soaring City}}{{Mistrise Village}}[/cards]
Where the mana base really gets clever is in its utility lands. [card]Mystic Sanctuary[/card] lets you put a key instant or sorcery back on top, [card]Creeping Tar Pit[/card] becomes an unblockable threat, and [card]Otawara, Soaring City[/card] doubles as spell-proof interaction. Meanwhile, [card]Mistrise Village[/card] and its “can’t be countered” protection is perfect for forcing Azula onto the battlefield without fear.
[cards]{{Arena of Glory}}[/cards]
But the standout here is [card]Arena of Glory[/card]. With just a Mountain in play, it can exert to give you extra mana and a hasty Azula the turn she enters, which is huge when your entire deck is built around attacking and copying spells. It’s the kind of land that turns a “setup” turn into a victory lap.
This manabase doesn’t just fix colors — it powers up the gameplan, making sure Azula gets to strike first and strike hard.
How to Play Fire Lord Azula — Strategy Guide
Your overall plan will shift depending on the matchup, but the core idea remains the same: protect Azula, then let her take over the game.
[cards]{{Fire Lord Azula}}{{Force of Negation}}{{Thoughtseize}}[/cards]
It’s almost always correct to wait until you have backup before you cast [card]Fire Lord Azula[/card] — whether that’s counter magic like [card]Force of Negation[/card] or hand disruption like [card]Thoughtseize[/card] to clear the way. Even if you feel like you’re spending a turn just getting her onto the field, she will quickly make up the tempo once she starts attacking and copying spells.
Against creature decks, your removal becomes twice as strong, letting you blow out their board with just one spell. And versus slower blue decks, copying counterspells or card draw can completely flip the control war in your favor.
[cards]{{Opt}}{{Consider}}{{Dig Through Time}}[/cards]
The most important thing is casting instant-speed card draw during combat. Even something small like [card]Opt[/card] or [card]Consider[/card] becomes a big swing when it’s doubled. And when you get to copy a bomb like [card]Dig Through Time[/card]? The game usually tilts heavily in your direction. You don’t win through a single flashy play — you win because your card advantage keeps snowballing until opponents simply can’t keep up.
Tips & Tricks for Fire Lord Azula Decks
This deck doesn’t rely on complicated combos, but there are still some smart interactions to take advantage of. First, remember that Azula doesn’t only copy instants — she copies any spell you cast while she’s attacking.
[cards]{{Opposition Agent}}{{Snapcaster Mage}}{{Torrential Gearhulk}}[/cards]
That’s huge with flash creatures like [card]Opposition Agent[/card] and [card]Snapcaster Mage[/card], since you can flash them in mid-combat and get a free copy. If you enjoy that play pattern, you might even consider adding [card]Torrential Gearhulk[/card] for another flashy two-for-one.
You also get access to the classic control trick of saving your own spells. Cards like [card]Remand[/card] can counter your spell to protect it while still drawing you a card.
It’s worth pointing out that not every card performs as well as it seems. For example, [card]Memory Deluge[/card] looks like it should be incredible with Azula and Firebending, but you don’t actually get the full benefit of copying the flashback cost since you’re not paying mana for it. It’s still playable, but it may be a slot to revisit in future updates.
And don’t forget this key timing detail: the red mana from Firebending sticks around only until the end of combat. Make sure you cast your spells during combat — don’t miss that window or you’ll lose the extra mana.
Finally, a common mistake: [card]Mistrise Village[/card] must be activated before you cast your spell if you want it to be uncounterable. If you activate the Village after your opponent tries to counter something, it’s already too late. Play it proactively, not reactively.
Is Fire Lord Azula good in Historic Brawl?
Yes! Azula is a strong spell-copying commander that rewards you for attacking and playing cheap interaction. If you protect her and time your spells well, she can snowball card advantage quickly and take over long games.
How do you win with a Fire Lord Azula deck?
The control version of Azula wins by keeping the board clear and then attacking every turn while copying powerful spells like card draw, removal, or counters. Over time, opponents simply run out of resources to fight back.
What is the best way to build Fire Lord Azula in Historic Brawl?
There are two main builds: a combo deck abusing spell-chains and mana generation, and a control deck that copies disruption and card draw to wear opponents down. This guide focuses on the control version, which is more consistent in Arena.
Is Fire Lord Azula the best Grixis commander in Historic Brawl?
Azula is definitely one of the strongest Grixis commanders because she turns every attack into a chance to copy powerful spells and generate huge value over time. However, she’s not quite the absolute best.
That honor goes to [card]Kefka, Court Mage[/card], the chaotic clown who barely needs any setup to take over games. Kefka creates card advantage naturally just by entering or attacking, and once transformed, draws cards whenever opponents lose life. Azula requires more protection and careful timing, but she’s still a top-tier option if you enjoy a spell-copying control style.
Wrap Up
No matter which route you take — whether you build [card]Fire Lord Azula[/card] as a combo-centric commander or as a dedicated value engine — you’re going to have a blast. She’s flexible, powerful, and rewards you for clever play, so I highly encourage you to experiment and find the version that fits your style best!
Thanks for reading, and if you enjoyed this guide, be sure to check out the rest of my Historic Brawl deck Techs I’ve compiled here on the site. Take care, and we’ll meet again in the next article!
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