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Magic: The Gathering players consistently embrace tribal strategies — what player has not assembled an elf deck once or twice? — while this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 beloved mechanics which align seamlessly to its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One first mechanic, called "Allies," first debuted with a Zendikar set and provides buffs each time additional creatures bearing the Ally subtype come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment-based subtype which first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, these enchantments also gain power when you owns additional of them on the battlefield.

The Return for Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have appeared here and there across newer releases, the Ally mechanic has been seldom seen — but this ends with ATLA, where the feature gets heavily featured.

Aang must recruit a lot of allies on the journey to bring back balance to the world, and it's no better method to reflect this in an Magic expansion.

Revealed Cards Showcase

Following the first card reveal, here is previews of one Allies and a Shrines card in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo: The Beloved Figure

Teo is a popular minor character in ATLA, a young man from the Earth Tribe that lived at the Northern Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, an event that left him unable to walk.

Because of his dad's prowess in mechanics, he can glide through the skies with his glider, and dares Aang in a flying contest.

This card Teo represents his love for the skies along with the Earth Tribe's use of flying machines by letting you draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne creature, and additionally boosting your creatures via +1/+1 counters at the same time.

Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine

Regarding his home, it appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life when entering the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you control.

It furthermore drains one more life whenever a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

It appears to be an impactful card, considering its low mana cost plus good ETB effect.

One major weakness of Shrine decks outside of Commander are the fact that Shrines are typically Legendary, but this card can be great when paired alongside another Shrine, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

A Timely Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are garnering a lot of hate by the community, a beloved series such as Avatar can be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period is already here, with all cards will be launched November 21st.