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MTG players frequently enjoy tribal decks — what player has not assembled a zombie deck at some point? — and this forthcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release is reintroducing 2 beloved examples which fit perfectly with the flavor.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

One first mechanic, named "Allies," was introduced in the Zendikar set which grants bonuses whenever additional permanents bearing this type enter the battlefield.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is another enchantment-based type which first appeared with Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribal theme, Shrines also become power when a player has more of them in play.

The Comeback of Allies Ability

Although Shrines have shown up sporadically in recent sets, Allies subtype has been much rarer — until that ends in ATLA, where this mechanic gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to gather many companions during his quest to restore balance to the four nations, and it's no more fitting way to represent that through an Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Exclusive Card Showcase

After its first card announcement, below is a look at one Ally plus one Shrine card from the new ATLA release.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character stands as one cherished supporting figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from Earth Kingdom that lived in an Air Temple after his home was ruined by a disaster, which left him paraplegic.

Thanks to his dad's skill with mechanics, he is able to fly in the air with a flying device, and challenges the Avatar to a flying contest.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his passion for the skies along with the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through allowing you loot each time you attack with an airborne unit, while also strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, this is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains an opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you have.

It furthermore removes an additional point anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.

It appears to be an impactful addition, considering the card's cheap mana cost and valuable ETB ability.

One major weakness of Shrine-based strategies outside of Commander is that these cards are typically legendary permanents, however this card is great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent during the start of your turn.

The Timely Crossover

Currently when crossover products are receiving a lot of hate by the community, an iconic franchise such as Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Spoiler season is already here, with the full set will be released November 21st.