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MTG players often enjoy tribal tactics — who has not built an elf strategy at some point? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 beloved mechanics which align seamlessly with its flavor.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first mechanic, named "Ally," first introduced with a Zendikar set and grants buffs each time more permanents with the Ally type enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment-based type that originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments also become strength when a player has more of them on the battlefield.

The Return for the Ally Mechanic

While Shrine cards have shown up here and there in recent sets, the Ally mechanic has been far less common — but this ends in ATLA, where the feature gets heavily featured.

Aang has to gather numerous friends on the quest to bring back peace to the world, and it's no more fitting method to represent this in an Magic expansion.

Revealed Cards Preview

After its first set announcement, below is a look of an Allies plus one Shrines card in the new ATLA set.

Teo: A Fan-Favorite Character

Teo is a cherished minor character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe that lived at the Northern Air Temple following his home was destroyed by a flood, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Because of his dad's expertise with engineering, Teo is able to glide in the air with a flying device, and dares the Avatar to an aerial contest.

This card Teo reproduces his passion for the skies along with his tribe's use on flying machines by allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks with an airborne creature, and additionally pumping your creatures with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Regarding Teo's dwelling, it is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life total upon entering the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card also removes an additional life whenever another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

This appears to be an impactful addition, considering its cheap cost plus good enter the battlefield ability.

A major drawback for Shrine decks outside of Commander is that these cards are always legendary permanents, however this card is effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

A Timely Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond products are receiving a lot of backlash by the community, an iconic series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and the full set set to be released on Nov. 21.