Reveal: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics

MTG fans frequently embrace tribal strategies — who has not constructed a goblin strategy before? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release is reintroducing two popular mechanics that match perfectly with its theme.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first ability, named "Allies," first debuted with a Zendikar and provides boosts each time more creatures bearing the Ally subtype come onto the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrines" is another enchantment-based type which first appeared with Kamigawa. While not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines also become abilities when you owns additional of them on the battlefield.

The Return for the Ally Mechanic

While Shrine cards have been shown up sporadically in recent sets, the Ally mechanic has been seldom seen — but this changes in ATLA, where the mechanic gets prominently used.

Aang has to gather a lot of allies during the journey to bring back balance across the world, and there's no more fitting way to show that through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Cards Showcase

After the first card reveal, here are a look of an Allies plus one Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character

This character stands as one beloved minor figure in ATLA, a boy from Earth Kingdom that lived at the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined by a disaster, which rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his father's skill with engineering, he is able to soar through the skies using his glider, and challenges the Avatar in an aerial contest.

The card Teo represents his passion for flying along with his tribe's reliance of flying machines through allowing you loot each time you attack using an airborne unit, and also boosting your creatures via +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, it appears in the card The Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life upon entering play, depending on the number of Shrines you control.

It also drains one more life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a strong card, given the card's cheap mana cost and valuable ETB ability.

One major weakness of Shrine strategies outside of EDH is that these cards are typically legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is great when paired with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your main phase.

A Welcome Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of backlash from fans, an iconic series like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be precisely just what MTG needs.

Preview period has begun, and all cards set to be launched on Nov. 21.

Erica Meyer
Erica Meyer

A tech journalist based in Stockholm, covering Nordic startups and digital transformation with over a decade of experience.