Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering players frequently enjoy tribal strategies — what player has not constructed a goblin strategy once or twice? — while this forthcoming ATLA crossover set brings back two beloved examples which align perfectly to the flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The initial ability, called "Ally," first debuted in the Zendikar set and gives boosts whenever more permanents bearing this subtype enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is another enchantment subtype that first appeared in Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines also gain power when you controls additional Shrines in play.

The Comeback of Allies Ability

While Shrine cards have appeared here and there in recent releases, Allies mechanic was far less common — until this changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic is heavily featured.

Aang has to assemble numerous companions on his quest to bring back peace across the four nations, and it's no better way to reflect this in an Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Cards Showcase

Following its first card reveal, here is a look at one Ally plus a Shrines card in the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Figure

This character stands as one popular supporting figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe that lived in the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a flood, which rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's expertise in engineering, Teo can fly through the skies using his glider, and challenges the Avatar to a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his passion for the skies and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through allowing you loot each time you attack using an airborne creature, and additionally pumping your team via counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine Enchantment

Regarding Teo's home, this is represented as a card named Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life when coming into the battlefield, based on how many of Shrines you have.

It also drains one more life whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like an impactful card, given its low cost and good ETB effect.

One major drawback of Shrine strategies outside of EDH is the fact that these cards are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that drains all opponents during the start of your turn.

A Welcome Crossover

Currently when Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of hate from the community, an iconic series such as Avatar could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

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

Walter Carter
Walter Carter

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in casino industry trends and slot machine mechanics.