Reveal: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Reintroduces 2 Popular Tribal Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering fans consistently embrace tribe-based strategies — what player has not constructed a goblin strategy before? — and this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back two beloved mechanics that align seamlessly to its flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first mechanic, called "Allies," was debuted with the Zendikar which provides bonuses whenever more permanents with the Ally type come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment type which originated with Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, these enchantments also become power as a player has additional of them on the battlefield.

A Return of Allies Ability

While Shrines have appeared occasionally in recent releases, Allies subtype was much rarer — until this ends with ATLA, in which this mechanic is prominently used.

Aang has to gather a lot of friends during his journey to restore peace across the four nations, so it's no better method to reflect that in an Magic: The Gathering set.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following its initial card announcement, here are a look at an Ally plus a Shrine cards from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

Teo is a beloved supporting figure from ATLA, a boy of the Earth Tribe that resided at an Air Temple following his home was ruined in a disaster, which left him unable to walk.

Thanks to his father's expertise with engineering, Teo is able to glide through the skies using a flying device, even challenges the Avatar in a flying race.

This card Teo represents his fondness of the skies and the Earth Tribe's use of flying machines through allowing the player draw and discard each time a player attacks using an airborne creature, while also strengthening your team with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: The Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of Teo's home, this is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life total upon entering play, based on how many Shrine cards you control.

The card also removes an additional life anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

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

A big drawback of Shrine strategies outside of EDH is the fact that these cards are always Legendary, but this card can be great in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to every opponent during the start of your main phase.

A Welcome Crossover

At a time when crossover products have been receiving a lot of backlash by fans, an iconic series like Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and the full set will be launched November 21st.