Exclusive: The Way Magic's Avatar: The Last Airbender Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribe-Focused Gameplay Features
Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often adopt tribe-based strategies — what player hasn't assembled an elf strategy before? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set is reintroducing 2 beloved mechanics that fit perfectly with the setting.
Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities
One initial mechanic, named "Ally," was introduced in the Zendikar set which gives bonuses each time more permanents bearing this type come onto play.
Alternatively, "Shrines" is another enchantment subtype which first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments likewise gain strength as you controls additional Shrines on the battlefield.
The Return of Allies Ability
Although Shrine cards have been appeared here and there in recent sets, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until that ends with ATLA, in which this mechanic gets prominently used.
Aang has to recruit many companions during the journey to restore balance across the four nations, so it's no better method to show this in a Magic expansion.
Exclusive Card Showcase
Following its initial set reveal, here are a look at one Allies plus one Shrine card from the upcoming ATLA set.
Teo: A Beloved Figure
This character is one popular supporting figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from Earth Kingdom who resided at the Northern Air Temple following his village was destroyed by a flood, an event that rendered him unable to walk.
Because of his dad's prowess in mechanics, Teo is able to fly in the air with a flying device, even challenges the Avatar in a flying contest.
The card Teo showcases his fondness of flying along with the Earth Tribe's reliance on flying machines through letting you draw and discard each time a player attacks using an airborne creature, and additionally pumping your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.
The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine
Speaking of his home, this is represented as the card Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life total when coming into play, based on the number Shrine cards you have.
It furthermore removes one more life whenever a Shrine enters the field.
This looks like an impactful card, considering the card's cheap mana cost and good enter the battlefield ability.
One major weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander are the fact that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but this card is great when paired alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to all opponents during the start of your main phase.
The Timely Collaboration
At a time when Universes Beyond sets are garnering significant backlash from fans, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly just what MTG requires.
Preview period has begun, and the full set will be launched on Nov. 21.