Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering fans consistently embrace tribal tactics — what player hasn't constructed an elf strategy before? — while the new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release is reintroducing 2 well-known examples that match perfectly with its flavor.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

One first mechanic, named "Allies," was debuted in a Zendikar set which gives bonuses whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type enter play.

Alternatively, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based subtype which originated in Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise become abilities as you has more of them in play.

The Return for the Ally Ability

Although Shrine cards have been shown up occasionally across newer sets, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until that changes in ATLA, where this feature gets central.

The protagonist Aang has to gather many allies during the quest to restore balance across the world, and there's no better way to show this in a Magic expansion.

Revealed Card Showcase

Following the initial set reveal, here is a look of an Ally and one Shrine card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Figure

This character stands as a cherished minor character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from Earth Kingdom who resided at an Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's prowess with mechanics, Teo can fly through the skies with his glider, and dares the Avatar in a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his passion of the skies and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through letting you draw and discard whenever you attack using a flying creature, and additionally boosting your team via counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his home, it is represented as a card named Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life when entering play, depending on how many of Shrines you have.

The card furthermore drains an additional life whenever a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

It appears to be a strong card, considering its cheap mana cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

A big weakness for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are always legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple is effective when paired alongside another Shrine, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Welcome Crossover

At a time while Universes Beyond products are garnering a lot of criticism from fans, an iconic franchise such as Avatar could be precisely just what MTG requires.

Preview period has begun, with the full set will be launched on Nov. 21.