Reveal: How Magic's Avatar Expansion Brings Back 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics

MTG players frequently enjoy tribal strategies — who hasn't built an elf deck at some point? — and this upcoming ATLA crossover set revives 2 beloved examples which fit seamlessly to its theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The initial ability, called "Ally," first debuted in a Zendikar set and grants boosts whenever more permanents bearing the Ally type enter the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrines" is another enchantment-based type which first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribe, Shrines also gain strength when a player controls additional of them in play.

A Comeback of Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been shown up here and there in newer sets, Allies subtype was seldom seen — but that changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this feature is prominently used.

Aang has to assemble many allies during the journey to bring back peace to the world, so there's no more fitting way to show that in a Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Cards Preview

Following its first set announcement, below are a look of an Allies plus a Shrine card in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Figure

Teo is one beloved supporting figure in ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe who lived in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, which rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his father's expertise in mechanics, Teo is able to soar through the skies with a flying device, and challenges Aang in a flying contest.

This card Teo reproduces Teo's passion for the skies along with his tribe's use of gliders through allowing the player draw and discard each time a player attacks using a flying unit, and additionally pumping your team via counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, it is represented in a card named The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life upon coming into play, based on how many Shrine cards you have.

The card also removes an additional point anytime a Shrine enters the field.

This looks like a powerful addition, given the card's low mana cost plus valuable ETB ability.

One big weakness of Shrine-based decks outside of EDH is the fact that these cards are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside another Shrine, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Timely Crossover

At a time when crossover products have been receiving significant backlash from the community, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Spoiler season has begun, and the full set will be launched on Nov. 21.