Exclusive: How Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Expansion Brings Back 2 Fan-Favorite Tribe-Focused Mechanics
Magic: The Gathering fans consistently adopt tribal tactics — what player has not built a goblin deck before? — while this new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 beloved mechanics which align seamlessly to the setting.
Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics
One first mechanic, known as "Allies," first introduced with a Zendikar which gives bonuses whenever more creatures with this subtype come onto the battlefield.
Alternatively, "Shrine" represents another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribal theme, Shrines likewise become power as you controls additional of them in play.
The Comeback of the Ally Ability
Although Shrine cards have shown up here and there in recent sets, Allies mechanic was far less common — but this ends in ATLA, where this feature gets central.
The protagonist Aang must gather many friends on his journey to restore peace to the world, and there's no more fitting method to show this through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.
Revealed Card Showcase
After the first set reveal, here are previews at one Allies plus one Shrines card from the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.
Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure
This character stands as one beloved supporting figure in ATLA, a boy of Earth Kingdom who lived in the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined by a disaster, which left him unable to walk.
Thanks to his dad's skill with mechanics, he can soar through the skies using a flying device, and challenges Aang to an aerial contest.
This card Teo represents Teo's love for the skies along with the Earth Tribe's reliance of gliders through allowing the player draw and discard whenever a player attacks using a flying creature, and additionally strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters at the same time.
The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine
Speaking of Teo's home, this is represented as a card named Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life total upon entering the battlefield, based on how many Shrine cards you control.
It also drains an additional point anytime another Shrine enters the field.
This looks like a strong addition, given its cheap mana cost and valuable enter the battlefield effect.
One big drawback of Shrine decks outside of Commander is that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is effective when paired with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your turn.
The Welcome Collaboration
At a time while Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of criticism by fans, a beloved franchise like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely what MTG requires.
Preview period has begun, with the full set will be launched November 21st.