Exclusive: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Revives 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts consistently enjoy tribal tactics — what player hasn't built a goblin strategy at some point? — while this new ATLA crossover release brings back two popular mechanics that match seamlessly with the setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

One first mechanic, known as "Ally," first debuted in a Zendikar set and grants bonuses each time more permanents bearing this type enter the field.

On the other hand, "Shrines" is an enchantment subtype which first appeared in Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise become power when you owns additional of them on the battlefield.

A Return for the Ally Ability

Although Shrine cards have been appeared occasionally in recent releases, Allies subtype has been seldom seen — but this changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature is central.

The protagonist Aang must assemble many companions during his quest to bring back balance across the world, and there's no better way to reflect this in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following its first card reveal, below are a look of an Allies and a Shrines cards from the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Figure

This character is a cherished minor character in ATLA, a boy of the Earth Tribe that lived in an Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's expertise in engineering, Teo can glide in the air with a flying device, and dares the Avatar in a flying race.

The card Teo showcases Teo's passion for flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of gliders through letting you loot each time you attack with an airborne creature, while additionally strengthening your team with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Speaking of Teo's home, this is represented as the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life total when entering play, depending on the number of Shrines you have.

The card furthermore removes an additional life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful addition, considering the card's cheap cost plus good ETB effect.

A big drawback for Shrine decks outside of EDH is the fact that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however this card is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

A Timely Crossover

Currently when Universes Beyond products have been receiving a lot of criticism from fans, an iconic series such as Avatar could be precisely just what MTG requires.

Preview period is already here, and the full set will be released on Nov. 21.