Scoop: How Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Expansion Brings Back Two Popular Tribal Gameplay Features

MTG players often enjoy tribe-based tactics — who has not built a goblin strategy at some point? — while the forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond set revives 2 well-known examples which match perfectly with the theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The initial ability, called "Allies," first introduced with a Zendikar set and grants boosts whenever more permanents bearing the Ally type enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrine" represents another enchantment type that originated in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribal theme, these enchantments also gain abilities when a player controls additional of them on the battlefield.

A Return of Allies Mechanic

While Shrine cards have appeared here and there across recent releases, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — but that ends in ATLA, where this mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang must recruit a lot of allies on his quest to restore peace across the four nations, so there's no more fitting method to show that in an Magic set.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following the initial set announcement, here is a look of one Allies and a Shrines card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Figure

This character is one popular supporting character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from Earth Kingdom who lived in the Northern Air Temple following his home was ruined by a disaster, which rendered him unable to walk.

Because of his dad's expertise in engineering, he can soar in the air using his glider, even challenges Aang to a flying race.

This card Teo showcases Teo's love for flying along with his tribe's reliance on flying machines through allowing the player draw and discard whenever a player attacks with a flying unit, while additionally strengthening your team via counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, it is represented in the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total upon coming into play, based on the number of Shrines you control.

It also drains an additional life anytime a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

This appears to be a powerful addition, considering its cheap cost plus valuable enter the battlefield ability.

One major weakness for Shrine decks outside of Commander is the fact that these cards are typically Legendary, however Northern Air Temple is effective in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent during the start of your main phase.

The Timely Crossover

At a time while crossover products are receiving a lot of hate by the community, an iconic series such as Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Spoiler season has begun, and the full set set to be released November 21st.

Catherine Foster
Catherine Foster

A seasoned casino analyst with over a decade of experience in online gaming, specializing in slot machine strategies and game reviews.