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Magic: The Gathering players often adopt tribal strategies — what player hasn't assembled a goblin deck before? — while the new ATLA crossover set revives two beloved examples that fit perfectly with its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The initial mechanic, named "Allies," was introduced with a Zendikar set which grants boosts each time more permanents bearing the Ally type enter the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrine" represents another enchantment-based subtype which originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribe, Shrines also become abilities when a player has additional of them in play.

A Return for the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been appeared sporadically in recent releases, Allies mechanic was much rarer — but this ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic is prominently used.

Aang must gather many companions during the journey to restore balance across the four nations, so it's no more fitting method to show that in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Preview

After the initial set announcement, here are a look at an Allies plus a Shrines card from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Figure

Teo is a beloved supporting character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe that lived at an Air Temple following his home was destroyed in a disaster, which left him unable to walk.

Because of his father's expertise in engineering, he can fly in the air using a flying device, and challenges the Avatar in an aerial race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces Teo's passion for flying and his tribe's use of gliders by letting the player draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne creature, while also boosting your team via +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of his dwelling, it appears as the card Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life when coming into the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you control.

It furthermore removes one more life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful card, given its low cost and good ETB effect.

A big drawback for Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander are that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple can be effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

A Timely Collaboration

At a time when Universes Beyond sets are garnering significant backlash by fans, an iconic franchise such as Avatar can be precisely what MTG needs.

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