Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Revives 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts consistently embrace tribal decks — what player has not built an elf deck once or twice? — while this new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release is reintroducing two beloved examples which fit perfectly to its flavor.

Reappearing Tribal Mechanics

The first ability, called "Ally," first debuted in the Zendikar set and gives boosts each time more creatures with the Ally type enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment-based subtype that originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines also become power as a player has more Shrines in play.

The Comeback for Allies Ability

Although Shrines have been appeared sporadically across recent sets, the Ally subtype has been seldom seen — until this changes in ATLA, in which the feature is heavily featured.

Aang has to recruit a lot of friends on his quest to restore balance across the four nations, and there's no more fitting way to represent that in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following the first card reveal, here is a look at an Ally plus a Shrine card from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character

This character is a beloved minor figure in ATLA, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived at an Air Temple after his home was ruined by a flood, which rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's skill in engineering, he is able to soar through the skies using a flying device, and dares the Avatar in a flying race.

This card Teo showcases Teo's passion for the skies and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through allowing the player draw and discard whenever you attack using a flying unit, while also boosting your creatures via counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of Teo's home, it appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you have.

It also removes one more life anytime another Shrine enters the field.

This appears to be an impactful card, given the card's low mana cost plus valuable enter the battlefield ability.

One big weakness for Shrine decks in formats besides Commander is that these cards are typically Legendary, however Northern Air Temple is effective in combination with another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently when crossover products are garnering a lot of hate from the community, an iconic franchise like Avatar can be precisely just what MTG requires.

Spoiler season is already here, with all cards set to be released on Nov. 21.

Kristin Lopez
Kristin Lopez

A historian and writer passionate about uncovering the hidden stories of ancient dynasties and their influence on modern society.