Scoop: How Magic's Avatar Expansion Reintroduces Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG players often embrace tribal strategies — what player has not constructed a goblin deck before? — and this forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release is reintroducing two beloved examples that match seamlessly with the setting.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first mechanic, known as "Ally," was debuted with the Zendikar set and gives boosts whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type enter the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" is an enchantment type which originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise gain strength when a player controls additional Shrines on the battlefield.

A Return of the Ally Ability

While Shrine cards have been shown up occasionally in newer releases, the Ally mechanic has been much rarer — but this ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the feature gets heavily featured.

Aang must recruit many companions during the journey to bring back peace to the four nations, and there's no more fitting method to represent that in an Magic set.

Revealed Cards Showcase

After the first set reveal, below are previews at an Ally plus one Shrines cards in the new ATLA release.

Teo: A Fan-Favorite Figure

Teo stands as one beloved minor figure in ATLA, a boy from Earth Kingdom who lived in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his dad's expertise with mechanics, Teo is able to fly in the air with his glider, even dares Aang to a flying contest.

The card Teo reproduces Teo's fondness for flying and his tribe's use on gliders through letting the player draw and discard each time you attack with a flying creature, while additionally boosting your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

Speaking of his dwelling, it is represented in the card The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life upon entering play, based on how many of Shrines you have.

The card also drains an additional life anytime a Shrine comes onto the field.

This appears to be a strong card, given its cheap cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

One big weakness for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides Commander are that these cards are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be effective when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

A Timely Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond products have been receiving significant hate from the community, an iconic series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly just what MTG needs.

Preview period has begun, and the full set will be released November 21st.