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Magic: The Gathering players frequently enjoy tribe-based strategies — what player has not constructed a zombie strategy once or twice? — while this upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release revives two beloved examples that match perfectly with its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

One initial mechanic, named "Allies," first introduced in a Zendikar and provides bonuses each time additional creatures bearing this subtype enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribal theme, Shrines also gain abilities when you controls additional Shrines on the battlefield.

The Return for Allies Ability

While Shrine cards have been appeared here and there across recent sets, the Ally mechanic has been seldom seen — until that ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature gets central.

Aang must assemble a lot of allies during his quest to bring back balance across the world, and there's no better way to show that through an Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Cards Preview

After the initial set announcement, below is previews of one Allies and a Shrine card in the new ATLA release.

Teo: The Beloved Figure

Teo stands as one cherished supporting character from ATLA, a young man from the Earth Tribe who lived at the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a flood, an event that left him unable to walk.

Thanks to his father's skill with mechanics, Teo is able to glide in the air using his glider, and dares the Avatar to a flying race.

This card Teo reproduces Teo's passion of flying along with his tribe's reliance on flying machines by allowing the player draw and discard each time you attack with an airborne unit, while additionally boosting your creatures via counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine

Regarding Teo's home, this is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you control.

It furthermore removes one more point whenever another Shrine comes onto the field.

It appears to be a powerful addition, considering the card's cheap mana cost and good ETB effect.

A major drawback for Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH is that Shrines are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is great when paired with another Shrine, that deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your main phase.

The Welcome Collaboration

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are garnering a lot of criticism from the community, a beloved series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period is already here, with all cards will be launched November 21st.