Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Reintroduces 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features
Magic: The Gathering players frequently adopt tribal strategies — what player hasn't assembled an elf strategy once or twice? — and this forthcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release brings back two popular examples that align perfectly to the setting.
Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities
The first mechanic, named "Allies," was debuted in a Zendikar which provides buffs whenever additional permanents bearing the Ally type come onto the field.
Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents another enchantment type which first appeared with Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise become power as a player has more Shrines on the battlefield.
A Return of Allies Ability
While Shrine cards have appeared occasionally across recent sets, Allies subtype was much rarer — until this changes with ATLA, in which this feature gets prominently used.
Aang must recruit numerous friends during his journey to bring back peace to the world, and it's no more fitting method to represent this in a Magic set.
Exclusive Cards Showcase
Following the initial card reveal, below are previews at one Ally and a Shrine cards from the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.
Teo: The Beloved Figure
This character is a popular supporting character from ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.
Because of his father's skill with engineering, Teo is able to fly through the skies with a flying device, even challenges Aang to an aerial race.
This card Teo represents Teo's love for flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance on flying machines by allowing you loot each time you attack using a flying creature, while additionally strengthening your team via counters at the same time.
Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine
Regarding his dwelling, this is represented in the card The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, based on how many Shrine cards you have.
The card also drains an additional life whenever a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.
It looks like an impactful card, given the card's cheap mana cost plus valuable ETB ability.
One major drawback for Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH is the fact that these cards are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple can be effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.
The Welcome Collaboration
Currently while Universes Beyond products are garnering a lot of criticism by fans, an iconic series such as Avatar could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season is already here, with all cards will be released on Nov. 21.