The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — 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 Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 2

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 Kyoshi, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 3

The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that's turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for {G}.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 4

The greatest power among creatures you control is determined as The Legend of Kyoshi's first chapter ability resolves. If the greatest power among creatures you control is 0 or less at that time, you will not draw any cards.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 5

The effect making the land an Island doesn't have a duration and will last indefinitely while that land is on the battlefield. The land retains any land types and abilities it already had. An Island has the ability "{T}: Add {U}."

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 6

Earthbend doesn't give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 7

If the targeted land becomes an illegal target before the spell or ability that includes earthbend resolves, earthbend does nothing. If the spell or ability didn't have other targets, it won't resolve.

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi — ruling 8

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 Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

The Legend of Kyoshi // Avatar Kyoshi 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 — Draw cards equal to the greatest power among creatures you control. II — Earthbend X, where X is the number of cards in your hand. That land becomes an Island in addition to its other types. III — Exile this Saga, then return it to the battlefield transformed under your control. Lands you control have trample and hexproof. : Add X mana of any one color, where X is the greatest power among creatures you control.

Complete guide

The Legend of Kyoshi is a powerful nonmodal double-faced Saga that rewards big creatures and turns your lands into legendary warriors. By following the path of the Avatar, you transition from massive card draw to a powerful creature that protects your mana base and generates immense energy.

Unfolding the Legend

The front face is a Saga that triggers in three stages. Chapter I checks the greatest power among your creatures at the moment of resolution to draw cards; if you control no creatures or your strongest has 0 or less power, you draw nothing. Chapter II uses the 'Earthbend' keyword, which turns a land into a 0/0 creature, grants it haste, adds a number of +1/+1 counters equal to your hand size, and adds the Island subtype. Additionally, Earthbend creates a safety net: if that land dies or is exiled, it returns to the battlefield tapped under your control.

Rise of the Avatar

Upon reaching Chapter III, the Saga exiles itself and returns transformed as Avatar Kyoshi. While she is on the battlefield, your lands gain trample and hexproof, making it difficult for opponents to target your mana or block your animated land creatures. Her mana ability is a specialized power-check: you tap her to add mana of any one color equal to your greatest power among creatures. Because this is a mana ability, it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to by opponents.

Mastering Earthbend

When you Earthbend a land, it becomes an Island in addition to its other types. It keeps its original mana abilities (like tapping a Forest for Green) and gains the ability to tap for Blue. If the land was already a creature from a previous Earthbend, the new effect overrides the base power and toughness to 0/0 again, but it retains all existing +1/+1 counters and gains new ones based on your current hand size. Note that if the targeted land leaves the battlefield before the ability resolves, Earthbend does nothing.

Strategic Implementation

Play this Saga when you have a high-power creature on board to maximize the Chapter I card draw. This ensures your hand is full for the Chapter II Earthbend effect, creating a massive land creature. Once transformed into Avatar Kyoshi, use her mana ability during your main phase to cast high-cost spells, as she can often produce 5 or more mana at once depending on your board state.

Interaction examples

The Infinite Growth Loop

Avenger of Zendikar

1. You control Avenger of Zendikar (power 5). 2. The Legend of Kyoshi enters, and Chapter I triggers, drawing you 5 cards. 3. On the next turn, Chapter II triggers. You have 7 cards in hand. You target a basic Forest with Earthbend. 4. The Forest becomes a 0/0 creature with 7 +1/+1 counters and is also an Island. 5. If that land creature later dies, it returns to the battlefield tapped. This return triggers Avenger of Zendikar's Landfall ability, putting +1/+1 counters on all your Plant tokens.

Manifesting Absolute Power

Seedborn Muse

1. You have Avatar Kyoshi and Seedborn Muse on the battlefield. 2. Your highest power is 5. On your turn, you tap Avatar Kyoshi to add five Green mana. 3. Because of Seedborn Muse, Avatar Kyoshi and all your lands untap during your opponent's untap step. 4. You can now use Avatar Kyoshi's mana ability again on your opponent's turn to cast expensive instants or activated abilities, effectively doubling your available legendary mana every round.

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

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

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
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 Kyoshi, the chapter III ability will cause it to be exiled and then remain in exile.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The land will retain any other types, subtypes, or supertypes it previously had. It will also retain any mana abilities it had as a result of those subtypes. For example, a Forest that's turned into a creature this way can still be tapped for .
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The greatest power among creatures you control is determined as The Legend of Kyoshi's first chapter ability resolves. If the greatest power among creatures you control is 0 or less at that time, you will not draw any cards.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The effect making the land an Island doesn't have a duration and will last indefinitely while that land is on the battlefield. The land retains any land types and abilities it already had. An Island has the ability ": Add ."
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Earthbend doesn't give the land you control a color. As most lands are colorless, in most cases the resulting land creature will also be colorless.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#7October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If the targeted land becomes an illegal target before the spell or ability that includes earthbend resolves, earthbend does nothing. If the spell or ability didn't have other targets, it won't resolve.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#8October 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.
#9October 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.
#10October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If a land was animated by earthbend and would go to any zone other than the graveyard or exile, it will not be returned to the battlefield by the delayed triggered ability created by earthbend.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#11October 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.
#12October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Avatar Kyoshi's last ability is a mana ability. It doesn't use the stack and can't be responded to. If the greatest power among creatures you control is 0 or less, no mana is added.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#13October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You may target a land that is already a creature, perhaps because of a previous earthbend ability. The land will get the +1/+1 counters, gain haste, and have its base power and toughness set to 0/0.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#14October 2, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
"Earthbend N" means "Target land you control becomes a 0/0 land creature with haste in addition to its other types. Put N +1/+1 counters on it. When it dies or is exiled, return it to the battlefield tapped under your control."
No other card is named in this ruling.