Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Set Reintroduces 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering fans consistently enjoy tribal strategies — who has not built a goblin strategy before? — while this upcoming ATLA crossover set brings back 2 beloved mechanics which match perfectly to the theme.
Reappearing Tribal Mechanics
One initial ability, called "Ally," was introduced in the Zendikar set and grants bonuses whenever more permanents with this type come onto the battlefield.
Meanwhile, "Shrine" is another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise gain abilities as a player has more of them on the battlefield.
A Comeback for Allies Ability
While Shrines have been appeared here and there in recent releases, the Ally subtype was much rarer — until this changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where the feature is heavily featured.
Aang has to gather a lot of companions on the journey to bring back peace across the four nations, so it's no better way to reflect this through a Magic expansion.
Exclusive Cards Showcase
After its first card announcement, below are a look of an Ally and a Shrines cards in the upcoming ATLA release.
Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character
This character stands as a beloved minor figure from ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe who lived at the Northern Air Temple after his home was ruined by a flood, which rendered him unable to walk.
Thanks to his father's skill with mechanics, he can glide in the air with his glider, even challenges Aang to an aerial race.
This card Teo reproduces Teo's passion for flying and his tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting you loot whenever a player attacks with a flying unit, while additionally pumping your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.
Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine
Speaking of his home, this is represented as a card named The Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life upon coming into the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you control.
It also drains an additional point whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.
It looks like a powerful addition, considering the card's cheap mana cost and valuable enter the battlefield ability.
A big weakness of Shrine-based decks outside of EDH are that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but this card can be effective in combination with another Shrine, that deals damage to every opponent during the start of your turn.
A Welcome Collaboration
At a time while crossover products have been garnering significant hate from the community, an iconic series such as Avatar can be precisely what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season is already here, with all cards will be released on Nov. 21.