Exclusive: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Revives 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often enjoy tribe-based decks — what player has not built an elf strategy before? — while this upcoming ATLA crossover set revives 2 popular examples that match perfectly to the flavor.

Returning Tribal Mechanics

The initial ability, called "Ally," was debuted with a Zendikar and gives buffs whenever additional permanents with this subtype come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment subtype that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments also become strength when you has more Shrines in play.

The Return for the Ally Mechanic

While Shrines have appeared here and there across recent sets, the Ally mechanic was far less common — until this changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic is central.

The protagonist Aang must recruit a lot of companions on his journey to restore peace to the world, so it's no better method to show that through an Magic set.

Revealed Cards Preview

After its first set reveal, here are a look of an Ally plus one Shrine card from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo: A Beloved Character

Teo is one beloved minor character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his village was ruined in a flood, which rendered him paraplegic.

Because of his father's prowess in engineering, he can fly through the skies with a flying device, even challenges Aang to an aerial race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's passion of the skies and his tribe's reliance of flying machines through letting you draw and discard each time you attack with a flying unit, while additionally strengthening your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine

Speaking of his home, this appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total upon entering the battlefield, based on how many of Shrines you have.

It also drains an additional life anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a strong card, considering its cheap cost and valuable ETB effect.

One big weakness for Shrine-based decks in formats besides Commander are the fact that these cards are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent during the start of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently when crossover sets have been receiving significant hate from fans, an iconic franchise such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period is already here, with the full set set to be launched on Nov. 21.

Christopher Carr
Christopher Carr

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