Scoop: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Revives 2 Popular Tribal Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often embrace tribe-based tactics — who has not built a zombie deck once or twice? — and this upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release is reintroducing two beloved mechanics that fit perfectly to the flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

One initial ability, known as "Ally," was introduced in a Zendikar set which provides buffs each time additional creatures bearing the Ally subtype enter the battlefield.

On the other hand, "Shrines" represents an enchantment type which first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribe, Shrines likewise gain power as you has more of them in play.

The Return of Allies Ability

While Shrines have been shown up occasionally across recent releases, Allies mechanic was much rarer — until this ends with ATLA, in which the mechanic gets central.

The protagonist Aang must recruit numerous friends on his quest to bring back peace to the four nations, and there's no more fitting method to represent that through a Magic expansion.

Revealed Cards Preview

After the first card announcement, here are a look at one Ally and a Shrine cards in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo: A Beloved Figure

This character is a cherished supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived at an Air Temple after his home was ruined in a flood, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his dad's skill in mechanics, Teo is able to soar in the air using his glider, and challenges the Avatar in an aerial contest.

The card Teo represents his fondness for flying and his tribe's use on gliders through allowing the player loot whenever a player attacks with an airborne creature, while additionally strengthening your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Regarding his home, this is represented as a card named Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life upon entering play, depending on how many Shrine cards you control.

The card furthermore drains an additional life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like a strong card, considering the card's cheap cost and good ETB ability.

A major weakness for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides EDH are the fact that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your main phase.

A Welcome Crossover

At a time when Universes Beyond sets have been garnering a lot of hate from the community, a beloved series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender can be precisely just what MTG needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and the full set will be released on Nov. 21.