Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Revives 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering fans consistently embrace tribe-based tactics — who has not built a zombie strategy once or twice? — while this upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set revives two popular examples that fit perfectly to its setting.
Reappearing Tribal Abilities
One first ability, named "Allies," first debuted with the Zendikar and provides bonuses whenever additional creatures bearing this subtype come onto the field.
Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment type that originated in Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribe, these enchantments also gain abilities as you controls additional of them in play.
The Return of the Ally Mechanic
While Shrines have been appeared occasionally across newer releases, Allies mechanic was much rarer — but this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic gets heavily featured.
The protagonist Aang must gather a lot of friends during his quest to bring back balance to the world, and there's no more fitting method to reflect this in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.
Exclusive Card Preview
After its initial card announcement, here are a look of one Allies plus a Shrine card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.
Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure
Teo is one beloved supporting figure from ATLA, a young man from the Earth Tribe who lived at an Air Temple following his home was ruined by a flood, which rendered him unable to walk.
Due to his father's prowess with mechanics, Teo can soar through the skies using his glider, even dares the Avatar in an aerial contest.
The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's love of flying along with his tribe's use of flying machines through letting you loot each time you attack with an airborne creature, and additionally pumping your creatures via +1/+1 counters in the process.
Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine Enchantment
Regarding Teo's home, it appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life when entering play, based on how many Shrine cards you control.
It furthermore removes an additional life whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.
It looks like an impactful card, considering its cheap cost and good ETB ability.
A big drawback of Shrine strategies in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, that deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your turn.
A Welcome Crossover
Currently when crossover products are receiving significant hate by fans, an iconic series such as Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season has begun, with all cards will be launched on Nov. 21.