Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Revives 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features
Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts frequently embrace tribal decks — what player hasn't constructed a goblin deck once or twice? — and the new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond release brings back two well-known mechanics that match seamlessly with the theme.
Returning Tribal Mechanics
One first ability, called "Allies," first introduced with a Zendikar which provides buffs each time additional permanents with the Ally type come onto the battlefield.
On the other hand, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based type which originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, these enchantments likewise gain power when a player has additional of them in play.
The Comeback for Allies Mechanic
Although Shrines have appeared occasionally in recent releases, the Ally subtype has been much rarer — until that changes with ATLA, where this feature is prominently used.
The protagonist Aang has to recruit many companions during the journey to restore peace to the four nations, and there's no better method to show this through a Magic: The Gathering expansion.
Revealed Card Showcase
After the initial card reveal, below are a look of one Ally and one Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.
Teo: A Fan-Favorite Character
This character stands as one cherished supporting character from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a disaster, which left him unable to walk.
Because of his father's skill with engineering, Teo can soar in the air using his glider, even challenges Aang in a flying race.
This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his love of flying and his tribe's reliance of gliders through allowing the player loot whenever you attack using an airborne unit, and also strengthening your team with counters in the process.
The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine Enchantment
Regarding his home, this is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life when entering the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.
The card also drains an additional point whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.
This looks like an impactful card, given the card's cheap cost plus good enter the battlefield effect.
One big weakness for Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH are that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple can be effective when paired with another Shrine, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your main phase.
The Timely Collaboration
At a time while Universes Beyond products are garnering a lot of criticism from the community, a beloved series like Avatar could be precisely what MTG requires.
Spoiler season has begun, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.