🔗 Share this article

MTG enthusiasts consistently embrace tribe-based decks — who has not assembled a goblin deck once or twice? — and this new ATLA Universes Beyond release brings back 2 well-known examples that fit seamlessly to its flavor.

Returning Tribal Abilities

The initial mechanic, known as "Ally," first introduced in a Zendikar and grants bonuses whenever additional creatures with this type enter play.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment subtype which originated with Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise gain power when you controls additional of them on the battlefield.

The Return for Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have been shown up sporadically across recent sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — until that ends in ATLA, in which the mechanic gets central.

Aang has to gather numerous companions during his quest to restore peace to the four nations, so there's no better method to show this in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Preview

Following its initial set reveal, here is a look of one Allies plus one Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: The Beloved Character

Teo is a cherished minor character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from Earth Kingdom that lived at the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed in a flood, an event that left him unable to walk.

Because of his dad's prowess with engineering, Teo can fly through the skies using his glider, and challenges Aang to a flying contest.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his passion of the skies along with the Earth Tribe's reliance on gliders through allowing the player loot whenever you attack with an airborne creature, while also boosting your team with counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of his home, this appears in the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you have.

The card also removes an additional life whenever a Shrine enters the field.

It looks like a powerful card, considering the card's low cost and valuable ETB ability.

One big weakness of Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH are that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple can be effective when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent during the start of your turn.

The Welcome Crossover

Currently while crossover products have been garnering a lot of criticism by fans, an iconic franchise such as Avatar could be precisely what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period is already here, and the full set set to be launched November 21st.