Scoop: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering players often enjoy tribe-based strategies — what player hasn't constructed a goblin deck once or twice? — while the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 popular mechanics which match perfectly to its theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first mechanic, known as "Ally," first introduced in a Zendikar set which provides bonuses whenever additional permanents bearing the Ally type come onto play.

Alternatively, "Shrines" is an enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines likewise gain power as you owns additional of them in play.

The Return of Allies Mechanic

While Shrines have shown up here and there across recent sets, the Ally mechanic has been much rarer — but that changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the mechanic is central.

Aang must assemble numerous allies on his journey to bring back balance to the four nations, and there's no more fitting way to show that in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Preview

After the first card announcement, here are a look at one Allies and a Shrine card in the new ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Character

This character is one beloved supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe that lived at an Air Temple following his village was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Due to his father's skill in mechanics, Teo is able to fly in the air with his glider, even challenges the Avatar to a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces Teo's passion of flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of gliders through allowing the player draw and discard each time a player attacks with a flying unit, and additionally strengthening your creatures via +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine

Speaking of his home, this appears in a card named The Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life when entering play, based on the number Shrine cards you have.

The card also drains one more life anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.

It looks like a powerful addition, given the card's low mana cost plus good enter the battlefield ability.

One major weakness for Shrine strategies outside of Commander is the fact that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but this card can be great when paired alongside another Shrine, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Crossover

At a time when Universes Beyond sets have been receiving a lot of backlash from the community, an iconic series like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly what MTG requires.

Preview period is already here, with the full set set to be launched November 21st.