🔗 Share this article Exclusive: The Way Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Revives 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Mechanics Magic: The Gathering fans consistently embrace tribal strategies — what player hasn't constructed an elf deck before? — and the forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release is reintroducing two beloved mechanics that align perfectly to its flavor. Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities One first ability, known as "Ally," was introduced with a Zendikar which provides boosts each time more permanents with this type come onto play. Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment subtype that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, these enchantments also gain abilities when a player owns additional of them on the battlefield. A Return of the Ally Mechanic While Shrines have appeared here and there in recent sets, Allies subtype has been much rarer — but that ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic is prominently used. Aang has to gather numerous allies during his journey to restore balance to the world, and it's no better way to reflect this through an Magic set. Exclusive Cards Preview Following its initial set reveal, here are previews of one Allies plus a Shrine cards from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set. Teo: A Beloved Character Teo is one popular supporting character in ATLA, a boy from Earth Kingdom that lived at the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined in a disaster, which left him unable to walk. Thanks to his dad's skill in engineering, Teo is able to fly in the air with his glider, and dares the Avatar in an aerial contest. The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his fondness for the skies along with his tribe's use on gliders by allowing you loot whenever you attack using a flying creature, while additionally strengthening your team via counters at the same time. Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine Regarding Teo's dwelling, it appears as the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you have. The card furthermore drains one more point anytime a Shrine comes onto the battlefield. It looks like a powerful addition, considering its low mana cost and valuable enter the battlefield ability. One major weakness of Shrine-based strategies in formats besides EDH are that these cards are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is great in combination alongside another Shrine, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase. The Timely Collaboration At a time when Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of hate by the community, a beloved series such as Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering needs. Preview period has begun, and all cards set to be launched November 21st.