Reveal: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Revives 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts consistently adopt tribal decks — who hasn't built a goblin strategy at some point? — and the new ATLA crossover release revives 2 beloved mechanics which fit seamlessly with the theme.
Reappearing Tribal Mechanics
The first ability, known as "Allies," first debuted in the Zendikar which provides bonuses whenever more permanents with the Ally type come onto the battlefield.
Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment type which first appeared with Kamigawa. While not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines also become strength as you controls additional of them on the battlefield.
The Return for the Ally Mechanic
While Shrine cards have appeared occasionally across recent releases, the Ally mechanic has been far less common — but that ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this feature gets central.
Aang must gather many allies during the journey to restore balance to the four nations, and it's no more fitting way to show that through an Magic expansion.
Revealed Card Preview
After its initial card reveal, below are previews of an Allies plus one Shrine cards in the upcoming ATLA set.
Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character
Teo is a cherished minor figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from Earth Kingdom who lived at the Northern Air Temple following his home was ruined by a flood, which left him unable to walk.
Because of his father's prowess with mechanics, Teo can glide in the air using a flying device, and dares Aang to a flying contest.
The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his fondness of flying and the Earth Tribe's reliance of gliders through letting the player draw and discard whenever you attack with a flying unit, while additionally boosting your creatures with +1/+1 counters at the same time.
Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine
Regarding Teo's dwelling, this is represented as a card named The Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total when coming into the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you control.
The card also drains an additional point anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.
This looks like a strong card, considering its cheap mana cost and good enter the battlefield effect.
One big weakness of Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH are that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however this card can be effective when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that drains all opponents at the beginning of your turn.
The Welcome Crossover
At a time when Universes Beyond sets are garnering significant backlash from fans, an iconic franchise like Avatar could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.
Preview period is already here, with all cards will be released on Nov. 21.