Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Reintroduces Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics

MTG fans consistently enjoy tribe-based decks — who hasn't built a zombie strategy once or twice? — while this forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set brings back two popular examples which align perfectly to its flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One first ability, known as "Allies," was introduced in a Zendikar set which grants bonuses whenever additional creatures bearing the Ally subtype enter play.

On the other hand, "Shrine" represents another enchantment-based type which originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribal theme, these enchantments likewise become abilities when you controls more Shrines in play.

A Return for the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have appeared here and there across recent sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — until this ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang must gather a lot of companions on the quest to restore peace across the four nations, and there's no more fitting method to represent this through an Magic set.

Exclusive Card Preview

Following its first set announcement, below are a look of an Ally plus a Shrine card in the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo: The Beloved Character

Teo stands as a beloved minor figure in ATLA, a boy from the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a disaster, which rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's prowess with engineering, Teo can fly through the skies using his glider, and dares Aang to a flying race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his passion of the skies along with the Earth Tribe's use on flying machines by letting you loot whenever you attack with an airborne unit, and additionally strengthening your creatures with counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine

Regarding Teo's dwelling, it appears as a card named The Northern Air Temple, that reduces an opponent's life when entering play, based on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card also drains an additional point anytime a Shrine enters the field.

It appears to be a strong addition, considering the card's cheap cost plus good enter the battlefield ability.

One major weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander are that these cards are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

A Timely Crossover

At a time while crossover products have been receiving a lot of backlash by fans, a beloved franchise such as Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly what MTG needs.

Spoiler season is already here, and all cards set to be launched November 21st.

Larry Miranda
Larry Miranda

A former casino manager turned gaming analyst, Felix specializes in slot machine mechanics and probability theory.