Scoop: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG fans consistently enjoy tribal tactics — who hasn't built a goblin strategy once or twice? — while the upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release brings back 2 popular examples that fit seamlessly to its theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One initial mechanic, called "Ally," was introduced with the Zendikar and provides bonuses whenever additional permanents with the Ally subtype enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents another enchantment-based type that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise become power when you has more of them in play.

The Return for the Ally Ability

While Shrines have been shown up occasionally across recent sets, the Ally subtype has been seldom seen — but that changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic is central.

Aang must recruit numerous companions during the quest to bring back peace across the world, and there's no more fitting way to reflect this through an Magic expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following its initial set announcement, below are previews at an Ally plus a Shrines cards from the new ATLA release.

Teo: The Beloved Character

This character is a popular supporting figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe that lived in an Air Temple after his home was destroyed by a flood, an event that left him unable to walk.

Because of his dad's prowess with engineering, Teo is able to soar through the skies using his glider, even dares Aang in an aerial contest.

The card Teo showcases Teo's fondness of the skies and his tribe's reliance on flying machines by allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks using a flying creature, and also strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

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

The card also drains an additional point whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.

This appears to be an impactful card, considering the card's low cost plus good ETB ability.

One big weakness for Shrine-based decks in formats besides Commander is that Shrines are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be effective when paired with another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent during the start of your main phase.

The Timely Crossover

Currently when Universes Beyond products have been garnering significant hate by fans, a beloved franchise such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what MTG requires.

Preview period has begun, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.