Reveal: The Way Magic's Avatar Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG fans frequently adopt tribal tactics — what player has not built an elf deck before? — while this forthcoming ATLA crossover set brings back two beloved examples which align seamlessly to the flavor.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first ability, named "Allies," first debuted with the Zendikar which gives bonuses each time additional permanents with this subtype come onto the field.

On the other hand, "Shrine" is an enchantment subtype which originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines also gain strength as you owns more of them in play.

A Return of Allies Mechanic

While Shrines have appeared sporadically in newer releases, the Ally subtype has been much rarer — until that changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang must gather numerous companions on the quest to bring back balance to the world, and there's no better way to show that in an Magic set.

Revealed Cards Showcase

Following its initial set announcement, here is previews of one Allies plus a Shrine cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure

This character is one popular supporting character in ATLA, a boy from the Earth Tribe that resided at the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his father's expertise with engineering, he is able to glide in the air using a flying device, and dares the Avatar to an aerial contest.

This card Teo reproduces Teo's love of flying along with his tribe's reliance of gliders through letting the player draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne unit, and also pumping your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his home, this appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life total upon coming into play, based on the number of Shrines you control.

The card also drains an additional point whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful card, considering the card's low cost plus good ETB ability.

One major weakness for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides Commander is the fact that Shrines are typically Legendary, but this card can be effective in combination alongside another Shrine, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are garnering a lot of criticism by the community, an iconic series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly what MTG requires.

Preview period has begun, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.

Michael Herrera
Michael Herrera

Maya is a tech journalist and AI researcher with a passion for exploring how emerging technologies shape our digital future.