Scoop: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribal Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering fans frequently adopt tribe-based decks — what player has not assembled a goblin deck before? — and the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release brings back two popular mechanics which align seamlessly to the setting.
Returning Tribal Mechanics
The first ability, named "Ally," first introduced in the Zendikar set and gives boosts whenever more permanents bearing the Ally subtype enter play.
Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment type that first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribal theme, these enchantments likewise gain power when a player owns additional of them on the battlefield.
The Return of Allies Mechanic
Although Shrine cards have appeared here and there across newer releases, the Ally mechanic was far less common — but this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic gets central.
Aang has to assemble numerous companions on his journey to bring back peace to the world, and there's no better way to show that in a Magic: The Gathering set.
Revealed Card Preview
After its first card reveal, here is previews of an Ally plus one Shrine card in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.
Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character
Teo is one beloved supporting figure in ATLA, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived at an Air Temple after his village was ruined in a disaster, an event that left him unable to walk.
Thanks to his father's expertise in mechanics, he can fly through the skies using a flying device, even dares Aang to an aerial contest.
This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's passion of flying along with his tribe's reliance of flying machines through letting you loot whenever you attack with an airborne creature, while also pumping your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.
The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine
Speaking of his home, it appears in the card Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you control.
It furthermore drains an additional point whenever another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.
This appears to be a strong card, considering the card's low cost plus valuable ETB effect.
A big weakness for Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH is that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but this card can be great when paired with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.
A Welcome Crossover
Currently when Universes Beyond sets are receiving significant criticism by the community, a beloved franchise such as Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season is already here, with all cards set to be released on Nov. 21.