Exclusive: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Revives Two Popular Tribal Mechanics

MTG fans frequently adopt tribal decks — who has not built a zombie deck before? — while this forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set is reintroducing two beloved examples which align seamlessly with the setting.

Returning Tribal Abilities

The first ability, known as "Ally," was introduced in the Zendikar and provides bonuses whenever additional permanents bearing the Ally subtype enter the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment-based type which originated in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise gain power as a player has additional of them on the battlefield.

A Comeback of Allies Ability

While Shrine cards have shown up sporadically across newer releases, Allies subtype was far less common — until this changes in ATLA, in which the feature gets central.

Aang has to recruit many companions during the quest to restore peace across the world, and there's no better way to show that through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Revealed Card Showcase

After its initial card reveal, here is a look of one Allies plus a Shrine cards from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo: The Beloved Figure

Teo is a beloved minor character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy of the Earth Tribe who lived in the Northern Air Temple following his home was ruined in a flood, which left him paraplegic.

Thanks to his dad's skill with mechanics, Teo can glide through the skies with a flying device, even challenges the Avatar to an aerial race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases Teo's love of the skies and his tribe's reliance on gliders through letting the player loot whenever you attack with a flying unit, and also pumping your creatures with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, this appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life upon coming into the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you have.

The card also removes one more point whenever another Shrine comes onto the field.

This looks like an impactful addition, considering the card's cheap mana cost plus good enter the battlefield ability.

One big weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are typically Legendary, however this card is great when paired alongside another Shrine, which drains all opponents during the start of your main phase.

A Timely Collaboration

Currently when crossover products have been garnering a lot of backlash from fans, a beloved franchise such as Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

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

Dan Wilkerson
Dan Wilkerson

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