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Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often enjoy tribe-based tactics — what player has not assembled a zombie deck before? — and the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 beloved mechanics which match seamlessly with the setting.

Returning Tribal Mechanics

One first ability, named "Allies," first introduced in a Zendikar and provides boosts each time more creatures bearing the Ally subtype enter the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents an enchantment subtype which first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribal theme, these enchantments likewise become power when a player controls more of them on the battlefield.

The Return of the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrines have been appeared here and there in recent releases, Allies mechanic was much rarer — but that ends in ATLA, in which the mechanic gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to gather many allies on the quest to restore balance to the world, so it's no better way to reflect this through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Cards Preview

Following the first set announcement, here are a look of an Ally plus a Shrine card from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character is a beloved supporting figure in ATLA, a young man from the Earth Tribe who resided at an Air Temple following his village was destroyed by a flood, which left him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's prowess in mechanics, he is able to fly through the skies with his glider, and challenges Aang to a flying contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his passion of the skies along with his tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting you draw and discard each time you attack using a flying unit, and additionally pumping your creatures with +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of his home, it appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life upon entering play, based on the number of Shrines you have.

The card furthermore drains one more point anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like an impactful addition, given the card's low cost plus valuable enter the battlefield effect.

One major weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides EDH is that these cards are typically Legendary, however this card can be effective when paired with another Shrine, which drains all opponents during the start of your turn.

The Timely Crossover

At a time when Universes Beyond products are receiving a lot of backlash by the community, an iconic franchise like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly just what MTG requires.

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