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Magic: The Gathering players frequently enjoy tribal strategies — who has not constructed an elf strategy before? — while this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 well-known examples that match perfectly to its setting.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The initial mechanic, named "Allies," first debuted with a Zendikar set which provides bonuses whenever more permanents bearing the Ally type enter the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" is another enchantment-based subtype which originated with Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise become strength when you has more of them on the battlefield.

A Comeback for the Ally Ability

While Shrine cards have shown up occasionally across newer sets, the Ally mechanic has been seldom seen — until this changes in ATLA, in which this mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang has to assemble a lot of friends during the quest to restore balance to the world, and it's no better way to reflect this through a Magic set.

Revealed Cards Preview

After its initial set announcement, here are previews of an Ally plus a Shrine card from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo: The Beloved Figure

Teo is one cherished supporting figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived at an Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a flood, which left him paraplegic.

Due to his dad's expertise with engineering, Teo is able to fly through the skies using his glider, and dares the Avatar in a flying race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his fondness for the skies and the Earth Tribe's use of gliders by letting the player draw and discard whenever a player attacks using an airborne creature, and also boosting your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine

Regarding his home, this appears as the card The Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you control.

It also drains one more life whenever a Shrine enters the field.

It appears to be a strong card, considering the card's low mana cost plus good enter the battlefield ability.

A major drawback for Shrine decks outside of EDH are that Shrines are always Legendary, however this card can be great in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent during the start of your main phase.

A Timely Crossover

Currently when Universes Beyond products are receiving significant backlash from the community, an iconic series like Avatar could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period is already here, with the full set set to be launched November 21st.