Exclusive: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Reintroduces Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics
MTG fans often adopt tribal decks — who has not built a zombie deck before? — while the new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release brings back two well-known mechanics that fit perfectly with its setting.
Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics
The first mechanic, named "Ally," was introduced with the Zendikar and grants bonuses each time additional permanents with the Ally subtype come onto play.
On the other hand, "Shrine" is another enchantment type that first appeared with Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, these enchantments likewise gain abilities when you controls more of them in play.
A Return for the Ally Ability
While Shrines have appeared sporadically in newer sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — until this ends with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the mechanic gets central.
Aang has to recruit a lot of allies on his quest to restore balance to the four nations, and there's no more fitting method to reflect this in a Magic set.
Revealed Card Showcase
Following the initial card announcement, below are previews at an Ally plus one Shrines card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.
Teo: A Fan-Favorite Character
Teo is one popular minor character in ATLA, a young man from the Earth Tribe who lived in an Air Temple after his village was ruined in a flood, an event that rendered him unable to walk.
Thanks to his father's skill with engineering, he can glide through the skies with his glider, and challenges the Avatar to an aerial race.
This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his passion for flying and his tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting you loot each time a player attacks using a flying unit, while additionally pumping your team with counters at the same time.
Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment
Regarding his home, this is represented in a card named Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you control.
The card also drains an additional point anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.
This looks like a strong card, given the card's cheap cost plus good ETB ability.
One big weakness of Shrine decks in formats besides Commander is the fact that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.
The Welcome Collaboration
At a time while Universes Beyond products are receiving a lot of hate by fans, a beloved series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.
Spoiler season has begun, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.