Reveal: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Reintroduces 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features

Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts consistently embrace tribal strategies — what player hasn't assembled an elf strategy once or twice? — while this new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release is reintroducing two beloved mechanics that fit seamlessly to the setting.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

One first ability, named "Allies," was debuted with the Zendikar set and gives buffs whenever more creatures bearing this type enter play.

Alternatively, "Shrines" is an enchantment subtype that originated in Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribe, Shrines likewise gain strength as a player owns more Shrines on the battlefield.

The Return of Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have been shown up sporadically in recent sets, Allies mechanic has been seldom seen — until this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature is central.

Aang has to gather numerous allies during his quest to bring back peace to the world, and there's no better method to represent this through a Magic set.

Revealed Cards Preview

Following its initial card reveal, below is previews at an Allies plus a Shrines card in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

Teo stands as a beloved supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe who resided in an Air Temple after his village was ruined by a disaster, which left him unable to walk.

Due to his father's skill in engineering, he can fly through the skies with his glider, and challenges the Avatar in an aerial contest.

The card Teo represents his love of flying and the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines by allowing you loot whenever you attack with an airborne creature, while additionally strengthening your team with counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Speaking of Teo's home, this is represented as the card Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total upon coming into play, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card furthermore drains one more life whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful addition, considering the card's low cost and valuable enter the battlefield ability.

A big weakness of Shrine decks in formats besides EDH are that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple is effective in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your main phase.

A Timely Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are garnering a lot of backlash by fans, an iconic franchise like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period is already here, with the full set will be launched November 21st.

Ryan Melendez
Ryan Melendez

Mikael is a seasoned casino gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in slot machine mechanics and online gambling trends.