The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk — ruling 1

The mana value of a nonmodal double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up.

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk — ruling 2

A nonmodal double-faced card enters with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or you cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up.

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk — ruling 3

If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter the battlefield at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of The Legend of Kuruk, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile.

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk — ruling 4

Each face of a nonmodal double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a nonmodal double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored.

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk — ruling 5

Each nonmodal double-faced card in this set is cast face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored.

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

(As this Saga enters and after your draw step, add a lore counter.) I, II — Scry 2, then draw a card. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control. Whenever you cast a spell, create a 1/1 colorless Spirit creature token with "This token can't block or be blocked by non-Spirit creatures." Exhaust — Waterbend : Take an extra turn after this one. (While paying a waterbend cost, you can tap your artifacts and creatures to help. Each one pays for . Activate each exhaust ability only once.)

Complete guide

The Legend of Kuruk is a versatile double-faced Saga that rewards patience with powerful board presence and time-bending magic. By progressing through the life of Avatar Kuruk, you transition from a strategic card-filtering enchantment into a legendary creature capable of creating an unstoppable Spirit army.

Unfolding the Legend

The Legend of Kuruk begins as a blue Saga. For the first two chapters, it provides consistent card advantage by allowing you to Scry 2 and draw a card. This ensures you find the resources needed to pay for its eventual transformation. Upon reaching Chapter III, the Saga exiles itself and returns to the battlefield as Avatar Kuruk, a legendary creature with a powerful triggered ability and a high-cost 'Exhaust' ability.

Mastering Waterbending and Exhaust

Once transformed into Avatar Kuruk, every spell you cast creates a 1/1 Spirit token with a unique evasion ability: it can only interact in combat with other Spirits. Avatar Kuruk also features the Exhaust keyword with a Waterbend {20} cost. This allows you to take an extra turn. To pay this massive cost, you can tap any number of artifacts and creatures you control; each permanent tapped this way reduces the mana cost by {1}. Note that Exhaust is a once-per-game limit per permanent; you cannot activate this specific Exhaust ability again even if you have the mana.

Strategic Timing and Constraints

Because Avatar Kuruk requires you to cast spells to generate tokens, it is often best to save low-cost spells for after the Saga transforms. Regarding the Waterbend cost, remember that you can tap creatures that have 'summoning sickness' to pay for the cost, as the ability does not use the tap symbol for the creatures being tapped. However, if a non-double-faced card becomes a copy of the Saga, it will fail to return to the battlefield after the Chapter III exile trigger, remaining in exile indefinitely.

Interaction examples

Building the Spirit Army

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk

Solemn Simulacrum

With Avatar Kuruk on the battlefield, you cast Solemn Simulacrum. This triggers Kuruk's ability. First, you create a 1/1 Spirit token that can only be blocked by other Spirits. Then, Solemn Simulacrum resolves, allowing you to search for a basic land. You now have a blocker, a land, and a body to tap for future Waterbending.

Doubling the Avatar's Power

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk

Roaming Throne

You control Avatar Kuruk and Roaming Throne with 'Avatar' chosen as the creature type. When you cast any spell, Avatar Kuruk's token-generation ability triggers. Because of Roaming Throne, the ability triggers an additional time, resulting in two 1/1 Spirit tokens for every single spell you cast.

The Great Waterbend

The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk Spirit

Spirit

You have Avatar Kuruk and nineteen 1/1 Spirit tokens on the battlefield. During your turn, you activate Avatar Kuruk's Exhaust ability. You tap all nineteen Spirit tokens and Avatar Kuruk himself to pay the {20} Waterbend cost. The ability resolves, and you take an extra turn after your current one ends. You cannot use this specific Kuruk's extra turn ability again for the rest of the game.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The mana value of a nonmodal double-faced card is the mana value of its front face, no matter which face is up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
A nonmodal double-faced card enters with its front face up by default, unless a spell or ability instructs you to put it onto the battlefield transformed or you cast it transformed, in which case it enters with its back face up.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If you are instructed to put a card that isn't a double-faced card onto the battlefield transformed, it will not enter the battlefield at all. In that case, it stays in the zone it was previously in. For example, if a single-faced card is a copy of The Legend of Kuruk, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Each face of a nonmodal double-faced card has its own set of characteristics: name, types, subtypes, abilities, and so on. While a nonmodal double-faced permanent is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's currently up. The other set of characteristics is ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Each nonmodal double-faced card in this set is cast face up. In every zone other than the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of its front face. If it is on the battlefield, consider only the characteristics of the face that's up; the other face's characteristics are ignored.
No other card is named in this ruling.