Reveal: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Brings Back Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics
MTG players frequently embrace tribal strategies — what player hasn't built a zombie strategy at some point? — and the new ATLA crossover release is reintroducing two well-known examples that fit seamlessly to its theme.
Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities
The first mechanic, called "Ally," was debuted in a Zendikar which grants boosts whenever more permanents bearing this subtype come onto play.
Meanwhile, "Shrine" is another enchantment subtype that first appeared with Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribe, these enchantments also gain power as a player controls additional Shrines on the battlefield.
The Comeback of Allies Ability
Although Shrine cards have been shown up here and there in newer releases, the Ally subtype has been much rarer — until that changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the feature gets central.
Aang must gather a lot of allies on his journey to bring back peace across the world, and it's no better way to reflect that through an Magic: The Gathering set.
Revealed Cards Preview
After the first card announcement, here are previews of an Ally and one Shrines card from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.
Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character
Teo stands as one popular supporting character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe who resided at the Northern Air Temple following his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.
Thanks to his dad's prowess with engineering, he is able to soar through the skies using his glider, even challenges Aang in an aerial contest.
The card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his fondness for the skies and his tribe's use of gliders by letting you draw and discard each time you attack with an airborne creature, and also boosting your team via counters at the same time.
The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine
Regarding Teo's home, it is represented as a card named The Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life upon coming into the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you control.
It also removes an additional point whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.
This appears to be a powerful addition, given the card's low cost and valuable enter the battlefield effect.
A major drawback for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides EDH is that Shrines are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is effective when paired with another Shrine, which drains every opponent during the start of your turn.
The Welcome Crossover
Currently when Universes Beyond sets have been garnering a lot of backlash from fans, a beloved series like Avatar can be precisely just what MTG needs.
Spoiler season is already here, and all cards will be launched on Nov. 21.