Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Set Revives Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering players often adopt tribal decks — what player has not constructed a zombie strategy at some point? — while the new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 popular mechanics that match perfectly with the setting.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

One first mechanic, called "Allies," first debuted with a Zendikar which gives bonuses whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type come onto the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not a creature tribe, these enchantments likewise gain power as you owns more Shrines in play.

A Comeback for Allies Ability

While Shrine cards have been appeared occasionally in recent sets, Allies mechanic was much rarer — but that ends with ATLA, in which the feature is heavily featured.

Aang has to assemble numerous allies on his quest to bring back peace across the four nations, so it's no more fitting method to show this in an Magic expansion.

Exclusive Cards Preview

After its first card announcement, here is a look of one Ally plus one Shrine card in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character stands as one cherished supporting character in ATLA, a boy from the Earth Tribe that lived at the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a flood, which rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's prowess in engineering, he can glide through the skies using a flying device, and challenges Aang in an aerial contest.

The card Teo reproduces Teo's fondness of the skies and his tribe's use on gliders through letting the player loot whenever a player attacks using a flying unit, while also pumping your team with +1/+1 counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine

Regarding Teo's home, it is represented as the card Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total when coming into the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card also drains an additional life anytime another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

This appears to be a powerful addition, given the card's low cost and good enter the battlefield effect.

A big weakness of Shrine decks in formats besides Commander is that these cards are always legendary permanents, but this card is effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

A Welcome Collaboration

Currently while crossover sets are receiving a lot of criticism from fans, an iconic series like Avatar can be precisely what MTG requires.

Preview period has begun, and all cards set to be launched November 21st.