Reveal: How Magic's Avatar Expansion Revives Two Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering fans frequently embrace tribal tactics — what player hasn't constructed a goblin strategy before? — while this upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 beloved examples that match perfectly with its theme.

Returning Tribal Mechanics

The first mechanic, known as "Allies," was debuted with a Zendikar set which gives bonuses whenever additional creatures bearing the Ally type enter the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrine" is an enchantment-based subtype which originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribe, Shrines likewise gain power as a player controls more of them in play.

The Return of Allies Ability

While Shrines have been shown up occasionally in newer sets, Allies subtype was much rarer — but this ends with ATLA, where the feature gets central.

Aang has to recruit a lot of friends during the quest to bring back balance across the four nations, and it's no better way to show that in an Magic expansion.

Revealed Card Showcase

After the initial set announcement, here are a look at one Allies and one Shrine cards in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Figure

Teo stands as one beloved supporting character from ATLA, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed in a flood, an event that left him paraplegic.

Thanks to his dad's skill with engineering, he is able to soar in the air using his glider, and challenges the Avatar in an aerial race.

The card Teo reproduces his passion of the skies along with his tribe's reliance on flying machines by letting you draw and discard whenever a player attacks with a flying unit, and additionally pumping your team with counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine

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

The card also removes an additional life anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.

This looks like a powerful card, considering the card's low mana cost and good ETB effect.

A major weakness of Shrine decks outside of EDH are that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is great when paired alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

A Timely Crossover

Currently when crossover sets have been receiving significant criticism from the community, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be precisely what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period has begun, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.