Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Brings Back 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often adopt tribe-based tactics — what player hasn't assembled a zombie deck once or twice? — and this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release revives 2 popular examples which fit seamlessly to its setting.
Reappearing Tribal Mechanics
The initial ability, named "Allies," was debuted with a Zendikar set and provides buffs each time more creatures with the Ally type come onto the field.
Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment subtype that originated in Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, these enchantments likewise gain power as a player controls additional of them on the battlefield.
A Return for Allies Mechanic
While Shrines have been shown up here and there in recent releases, Allies mechanic was much rarer — until this changes in ATLA, in which the mechanic gets heavily featured.
Aang must assemble many companions during the quest to restore peace across the four nations, so it's no more fitting way to reflect this in an Magic set.
Revealed Cards Preview
Following its first card reveal, below are a look at one Ally plus one Shrine card in the new ATLA release.
Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character
This character stands as a cherished supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe who resided in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed in a flood, an event that left him unable to walk.
Due to his father's skill with engineering, he is able to glide in the air with a flying device, even dares the Avatar in an aerial contest.
The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's passion of the skies along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines through letting the player draw and discard whenever you attack with a flying creature, and additionally boosting your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.
The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine Enchantment
Speaking of Teo's home, this appears as the card Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, depending on how many Shrine cards you have.
The card furthermore drains an additional life whenever a Shrine enters the field.
This looks like a powerful addition, given the card's low cost plus valuable enter the battlefield effect.
A major drawback of Shrine decks outside of Commander is that these cards are always legendary permanents, however this card is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which drains every opponent during the start of your main phase.
The Timely Collaboration
At a time when Universes Beyond sets have been receiving a lot of criticism from fans, a beloved series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Preview period is already here, with the full set set to be launched on Nov. 21.