Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar Set Revives 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often enjoy tribe-based strategies — who has not constructed a goblin deck before? — while the new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release is reintroducing 2 well-known mechanics that match seamlessly with its flavor.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

The initial ability, named "Ally," was introduced in the Zendikar and provides bonuses whenever more permanents with this subtype enter the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrine" represents another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines also gain strength when you has additional of them in play.

The Return for the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been shown up sporadically across recent sets, the Ally mechanic was much rarer — but that changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature is central.

Aang has to assemble many friends during his journey to bring back balance to the world, and there's no more fitting way to show this in a Magic expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

After the first set announcement, below are previews at an Allies plus one Shrines card in the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Figure

This character stands as one beloved supporting figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe that resided at an Air Temple following his home was ruined by a disaster, which rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his father's expertise in mechanics, Teo is able to soar through the skies with his glider, and dares the Avatar in an aerial contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his love of the skies and the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines by allowing the player loot whenever you attack using a flying creature, while also strengthening your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine

Regarding Teo's dwelling, it appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life when entering the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you control.

It also drains one more point anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful card, given the card's low cost plus good ETB effect.

One major weakness of Shrine-based decks in formats besides Commander are the fact that these cards are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your main phase.

A Timely Crossover

At a time when crossover products have been receiving a lot of hate by fans, an iconic series such as Avatar can be exactly what MTG needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and all cards set to be released on Nov. 21.