Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Revives 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features
MTG fans consistently adopt tribe-based strategies — who hasn't constructed an elf strategy before? — while the forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release is reintroducing two beloved mechanics which align seamlessly with its theme.
Reappearing Tribal Mechanics
The first mechanic, named "Allies," was debuted in a Zendikar and grants bonuses each time more permanents bearing this type enter play.
Alternatively, "Shrine" represents an enchantment type which originated in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise become abilities when a player owns additional of them in play.
The Comeback for Allies Ability
While Shrines have been appeared sporadically in recent releases, Allies subtype has been much rarer — until this ends with ATLA, in which this feature gets central.
The protagonist Aang must assemble many allies on the journey to bring back balance across the world, and it's no more fitting method to show this through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.
Revealed Card Showcase
Following its initial set announcement, here are a look of an Allies and one Shrine cards from the upcoming ATLA set.
Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character
This character is a cherished supporting figure in ATLA, a boy of the Earth Tribe that resided at the Northern Air Temple following his home was destroyed in a disaster, which rendered him paraplegic.
Thanks to his dad's expertise in engineering, he is able to glide in the air with his glider, and challenges the Avatar to an aerial contest.
This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his love for the skies and his tribe's use on gliders by letting the player draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne creature, and additionally boosting your team via counters at the same time.
The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine Enchantment
Speaking of Teo's dwelling, this appears in a card named Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you have.
The card furthermore removes one more life whenever another Shrine comes onto the field.
This appears to be a strong addition, considering its low mana cost plus good enter the battlefield effect.
One big drawback for Shrine decks in formats besides EDH is the fact that these cards are always Legendary, but this card is effective in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your turn.
The Welcome Crossover
At a time while Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of hate by the community, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what MTG requires.
Spoiler season is already here, with the full set set to be released November 21st.