Reveal: The Way Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Fan-Favorite Tribal Mechanics
MTG fans consistently adopt tribe-based decks — who has not constructed a zombie deck at some point? — and this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set revives 2 popular examples that fit perfectly to its flavor.
Reappearing Tribal Abilities
The initial mechanic, called "Ally," was introduced with a Zendikar and gives buffs each time additional permanents bearing this type come onto play.
Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment type which originated in Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments likewise gain power when a player owns more of them in play.
The Return of Allies Mechanic
While Shrine cards have been appeared here and there across newer sets, the Ally mechanic was seldom seen — but this ends with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic is heavily featured.
Aang has to assemble numerous friends during his quest to bring back peace across the world, and it's no more fitting way to represent that through a Magic expansion.
Revealed Cards Preview
After its initial set reveal, here are previews of an Allies and one Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.
Teo: The Beloved Character
Teo stands as a beloved supporting character in ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe that lived in the Northern Air Temple following his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.
Thanks to his father's expertise with mechanics, Teo is able to fly through the skies using a flying device, even dares the Avatar in a flying contest.
The card Teo reproduces his fondness of flying and his tribe's reliance on gliders by letting the player draw and discard whenever a player attacks using a flying unit, while also pumping your team with counters at the same time.
Northern Air Temple: A Strong Shrine Enchantment
Regarding Teo's home, it appears in the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total upon entering play, based on the number of Shrines you have.
The card furthermore removes one more life anytime a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.
This appears to be a strong card, given the card's cheap cost plus good ETB effect.
One big weakness for Shrine-based strategies outside of EDH are that these cards are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is effective in combination alongside another Shrine, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your turn.
The Timely Collaboration
Currently when crossover products are receiving a lot of criticism by fans, a beloved series like Avatar can be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season is already here, and all cards set to be launched on Nov. 21.