Scoop: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Brings Back Two Fan-Favorite Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG enthusiasts consistently enjoy tribe-based decks — what player hasn't built a goblin deck at some point? — while this forthcoming ATLA crossover set brings back 2 beloved mechanics which fit seamlessly to its theme.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

One initial mechanic, known as "Ally," first introduced in the Zendikar and grants bonuses whenever additional creatures bearing this type come onto the battlefield.

Alternatively, "Shrine" is an enchantment type that originated in Kamigawa. Although not a creature tribe, Shrines also become abilities when a player has additional Shrines in play.

A Return of the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been shown up occasionally across newer releases, Allies mechanic was far less common — until this ends with ATLA, in which the mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang must recruit numerous companions during his journey to bring back peace to the four nations, so it's no more fitting way to represent that through a Magic: The Gathering set.

Exclusive Card Preview

Following the first card reveal, below is previews at an Allies and one Shrine card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: A Fan-Favorite Character

Teo stands as one popular supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from Earth Kingdom that lived at the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Due to his father's prowess in engineering, he can glide through the skies using a flying device, and dares Aang in an aerial contest.

This card Teo represents his love of the skies along with his tribe's use of flying machines through letting the player draw and discard each time a player attacks using an airborne creature, and also strengthening your team with counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, it appears in the card Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card furthermore removes an additional life whenever a Shrine comes onto the field.

It appears to be an impactful card, given the card's cheap cost and valuable ETB ability.

One big drawback of Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are always Legendary, but this card can be effective in combination with another Shrine, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Collaboration

At a time when crossover sets have been garnering a lot of criticism by fans, a beloved franchise like Avatar can be precisely just what MTG requires.

Spoiler season has begun, with the full set set to be released November 21st.

Jamie Hernandez
Jamie Hernandez

A tech entrepreneur and writer with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and startup ecosystems.