Scoop: How Magic's Avatar Expansion Reintroduces 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics

Magic: The Gathering players consistently adopt tribal strategies — who has not built a goblin strategy at some point? — and the forthcoming ATLA crossover set brings back two well-known mechanics which fit perfectly to its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The initial mechanic, named "Allies," was introduced with the Zendikar and grants bonuses whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents an enchantment type that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments also gain strength when a player has additional of them on the battlefield.

The Comeback for Allies Mechanic

Although Shrines have been appeared sporadically across recent releases, the Ally mechanic has been much rarer — until this changes with ATLA, where the mechanic gets central.

Aang must recruit numerous companions during his journey to restore balance to the world, and it's no more fitting method to reflect this through a Magic set.

Revealed Cards Preview

After the initial set reveal, below are previews of an Ally plus one Shrine cards from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character

This character stands as one beloved supporting character from ATLA, a young man from Earth Kingdom who resided in the Northern Air Temple after his village was ruined by a flood, an event that left him paraplegic.

Because of his father's expertise with mechanics, he can soar in the air using his glider, and dares the Avatar to an aerial race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his passion of flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines by allowing you draw and discard each time you attack with an airborne creature, while additionally pumping your creatures via counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

Speaking of his home, it is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life when coming into the battlefield, based on how many of Shrines you control.

It also drains one more point whenever another Shrine enters the field.

This appears to be a powerful card, given its cheap cost plus valuable ETB effect.

One big drawback for Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH are the fact that these cards are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is great in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

A Welcome Crossover

Currently while crossover sets have been receiving significant hate by the community, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period has begun, with the full set set to be launched November 21st.