🔗 Share this article

Magic: The Gathering players frequently embrace tribal decks — who has not built an elf deck at some point? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set brings back two beloved examples that match perfectly with its theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first ability, named "Ally," first debuted with the Zendikar set which grants buffs whenever more permanents with the Ally type enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment type that originated in Kamigawa. While not exactly a creature tribal theme, Shrines also gain abilities when a player has more Shrines on the battlefield.

The Comeback for Allies Ability

While Shrines have appeared here and there across newer sets, the Ally subtype was much rarer — but this changes in ATLA, where this feature gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble a lot of friends during his journey to restore balance across the four nations, and there's no more fitting method to represent this through an Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Card Showcase

After its first card reveal, below are previews at an Allies and one Shrine card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Character

Teo is a popular minor figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy of the Earth Tribe who resided in an Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Due to his father's prowess with mechanics, Teo is able to soar in the air with a flying device, and dares the Avatar to an aerial contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's fondness of flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting you loot whenever you attack using a flying creature, and additionally boosting your creatures with +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Strong Shrine

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, it appears in a card named Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total upon entering the battlefield, depending on how many Shrine cards you control.

The card also drains an additional life anytime another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

It looks like an impactful addition, given its cheap cost and valuable enter the battlefield effect.

One major drawback of Shrine decks in formats besides Commander are the fact that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however this card is great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

At a time when Universes Beyond products have been receiving significant criticism from the community, an iconic franchise like Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

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