🔗 Share this article

Magic: The Gathering fans frequently embrace tribe-based strategies — what player hasn't assembled a zombie strategy before? — while this upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release revives 2 popular mechanics that align seamlessly to its theme.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The initial mechanic, known as "Allies," was debuted with a Zendikar which gives bonuses whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents another enchantment-based subtype that originated in Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise gain power when a player has additional of them in play.

The Return of Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been shown up occasionally in newer releases, Allies mechanic was far less common — until this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic is heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang must gather many friends during the journey to bring back balance across the world, so it's no more fitting method to reflect this in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

After its first card reveal, below are previews of one Allies and a Shrines cards in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: A Beloved Character

This character is a cherished minor character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of Earth Kingdom who lived in the Northern Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, which rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his father's skill in engineering, Teo is able to soar in the air using his glider, and dares the Avatar in a flying contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his passion of the skies along with his tribe's use of flying machines through allowing you draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne creature, and additionally pumping your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of his home, this appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you have.

It also drains one more point anytime a Shrine comes onto the field.

This looks like a powerful addition, given the card's low mana cost and good ETB effect.

One big weakness for Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH is that these cards are always Legendary, however Northern Air Temple is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently while crossover products have been garnering significant backlash from fans, an iconic series like Avatar could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period has begun, and the full set set to be launched November 21st.