Exclusive: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Brings Back 2 Popular Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG enthusiasts often embrace tribe-based strategies — what player hasn't built a zombie strategy before? — and the upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 popular examples that fit seamlessly with its flavor.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first mechanic, known as "Ally," was debuted in a Zendikar and grants boosts whenever more permanents with the Ally type come onto the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrine" is another enchantment subtype that originated with Kamigawa. While not a creature tribal theme, these enchantments also become abilities as a player has additional Shrines in play.

The Comeback of Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have shown up occasionally across newer sets, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until that changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature gets central.

Aang has to gather a lot of friends during the journey to bring back balance across the world, and there's no more fitting way to show that through an Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Cards Preview

Following its initial set reveal, here is a look at one Allies and a Shrines cards in the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character stands as one popular supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe that lived at an Air Temple after his home was ruined by a flood, an event that left him paraplegic.

Because of his dad's prowess with engineering, Teo is able to fly in the air with his glider, even dares the Avatar in a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his passion for flying along with his tribe's use on gliders by allowing you loot whenever you attack using an airborne creature, while additionally strengthening your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of Teo's home, it is represented in the card The Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, based on how many of Shrines you control.

It also removes an additional life anytime another Shrine enters the field.

It appears to be a powerful card, considering the card's low mana cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

One big drawback of Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH is the fact that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple is effective when paired with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Crossover

Currently when crossover sets are receiving a lot of hate from the community, a beloved series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what MTG requires.

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

Elijah Goodman
Elijah Goodman

A seasoned gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online casinos, specializing in slot mechanics and player psychology.