🔗 Share this article Reveal: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Reintroduces 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics MTG fans often enjoy tribal tactics — what player has not assembled an elf strategy once or twice? — and the upcoming ATLA crossover release revives two popular examples that match perfectly with its setting. Returning Tribal Abilities One initial ability, called "Allies," was debuted in a Zendikar which grants bonuses each time more creatures with the Ally type enter play. Meanwhile, "Shrines" is another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise become abilities when you has more Shrines on the battlefield. The Return of the Ally Mechanic Although Shrine cards have been shown up here and there across recent releases, the Ally subtype was seldom seen — until that ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic gets heavily featured. Aang must gather a lot of allies on the journey to restore peace to the world, and there's no more fitting method to represent this in a Magic set. Exclusive Cards Showcase Following its first card announcement, below is previews at an Allies plus one Shrines cards from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release. Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Character Teo is one cherished minor character from ATLA, a boy from the Earth Tribe who resided in an Air Temple after his village was ruined by a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk. Because of his father's prowess with mechanics, he is able to fly through the skies using a flying device, even dares the Avatar in a flying contest. This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's love for the skies along with the Earth Tribe's use of flying machines through allowing the player loot whenever you attack with an airborne unit, and also boosting your creatures via +1/+1 counters at the same time. The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine Speaking of Teo's dwelling, this is represented in a card named The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you control. It furthermore drains an additional point anytime another Shrine enters the field. It looks like a powerful card, given the card's low mana cost plus good ETB effect. One big weakness of Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH is the fact that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but this card is great in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your main phase. A Welcome Crossover At a time while Universes Beyond products are receiving significant backlash by fans, a beloved franchise such as Avatar can be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering requires. Preview period has begun, with the full set set to be launched November 21st.