Firebending

Firebending
Keyword Ability
Type	Triggered
Introduced	Avatar: The Last Airbender
Last used	Avatar: The Last Airbender Eternal
Reminder Text	Firebending N (Whenever this creature attacks, add N . This mana lasts until the end of combat.)
Scryfall Statistics
cards

Firebending is a triggered keyword ability introduced in Avatar: The Last Airbender. Whenever a creature with firebending attacks, its controller adds a specified amount of , which lasts until the end of combat. The mechanic represents the art of firebending in the Avatar universe.

Development

Firebending is one of the four bending mechanics created for Avatar: The Last Airbender, a Universes Beyond set based on the animated series of the same name. It was finalized during Vision Design.

The set's designers experimented with several potential firebending mechanics. They started with mechanics based dealing direct damage, the game's traditional representation of fire magic, but found them unexciting. Focus shifted to implementations that cared about damage, akin to bloodthirst or spectacle; these were deemed problematic because they were too passive to feel like firebending:

“	A Firebender isn't someone who sits around and waits for fire to happen, and then likes it. They're someone who creates and uses fire as a tool.	”
—Chris Mooney

Lead designer Chris Mooney was brainstorming different ways to represent fire, completely independent of damage, when they realized that the symbol literally depicted fire. This led Vision Design to the idea of a ritual-based mechanic, which ultimately resulted in the final design.

Many creatures with firebending were also given built-in ways to spend the mana. Also, because firebending mana is restricted to combat, firebending cards are given a much better rate than traditional ritual effects.

History

A very similar mechanic was first used in Radha, Heir to Keld (Planar Chaos), although when that card was first printed, you would take damage if that mana wasn’t spent ("mana burn").

If the mechanic is to be reused outside of the Avatar: The Last Airbender IP it has to be renamed.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

Firebending

A keyword ability that adds red mana until end of combat whenever a creature with that ability attacks. See rule 702.189, “Firebending.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (November 14, 2025—Avatar: The Last Airbender)

• 702.189. Firebending
  • 702.189a Firebending is a triggered ability. “Firebending N” means “Whenever this creature attacks, add N {R}. Until end of combat, you don’t lose this mana as steps and phases end.”
  • 702.189b An ability that triggers whenever a player firebends triggers whenever a firebending ability they control resolves.

Rulings

From the Release Notes for Avatar: The Last Airbender (June 2, 2025)

• "Firebending N" is a keyword that represents the ability "Whenever this creature attacks, add N . Until end of combat, you don't lose this mana as steps end."
• Mana from firebending abilities isn't lost until you leave combat and go to your second main phase. It can be used at any time during combat, even after combat damage has been dealt.
• Any other mana you add during combat will still be lost as normal when moving between steps of combat.
• Multiple instances of firebending on the same creature trigger separately, each granting you the appropriate amount of mana.
• Firebending abilities aren't mana abilities. They use the stack and can be responded to.
• An ability that triggers "whenever you firebend" triggers whenever a firebending ability you control resolves.

Examples

Example

Fire Lord Zuko
Legendary Creature — Human Noble Ally
2/4
Firebending X, where X is Fire Lord Zuko's power. (Whenever this creature attacks, add X . This mana lasts until end of combat.)
Whenever you cast a spell from exile and whenever a permanent you control enters from exile, put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.

See also

• Airbend
• Earthbend
• Waterbend