Exclusive: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Reintroduces 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering players consistently embrace tribal decks — who has not built a goblin deck at some point? — and the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing two well-known examples that match seamlessly with its flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first mechanic, called "Allies," was introduced with the Zendikar and provides boosts each time additional permanents with the Ally type enter the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment-based subtype that originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise become power as you owns more of them in play.

The Return of Allies Mechanic

While Shrine cards have shown up here and there in newer sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — until this ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the mechanic gets central.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble many companions on his journey to bring back balance to the world, and it's no more fitting method to reflect this in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Cards Preview

Following the first set announcement, here is a look of an Allies and one Shrines card from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: A Fan-Favorite Character

This character is a cherished supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed in a disaster, an event that left him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's skill with engineering, Teo is able to fly through the skies using his glider, and challenges Aang to a flying race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his fondness for the skies and the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting the player loot whenever a player attacks with an airborne creature, and additionally boosting your creatures via counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Regarding his home, this is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you have.

It also drains one more point anytime another Shrine enters the field.

This appears to be a powerful addition, considering its low cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

One big weakness of Shrine strategies outside of EDH is the fact that Shrines are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent during the start of your main phase.

A Timely Collaboration

At a time when Universes Beyond products have been garnering a lot of hate by fans, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and all cards will be launched on Nov. 21.

Bruce Allen
Bruce Allen

A seasoned metal artist with over 15 years of experience, specializing in traditional forging techniques and modern design innovations.