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Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often embrace tribe-based decks — who has not constructed a zombie deck at some point? — while this new ATLA crossover release revives two popular mechanics which match seamlessly with the flavor.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

One first mechanic, called "Ally," first introduced in a Zendikar set and provides boosts whenever more permanents bearing this subtype enter the field.

On the other hand, "Shrine" is an enchantment subtype that originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribal theme, these enchantments likewise gain power when you controls additional of them in play.

The Return for Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have shown up occasionally in recent releases, Allies subtype was seldom seen — but this changes in ATLA, in which this feature gets prominently used.

The protagonist Aang has to recruit a lot of companions on his quest to restore balance to the four nations, and there's no more fitting way to reflect this in an Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Cards Preview

After its initial card announcement, here are previews of one Allies and one Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character is a beloved minor character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of Earth Kingdom who resided in an Air Temple after his home was ruined by a flood, which left him paraplegic.

Due to his father's expertise with mechanics, Teo can glide in the air using his glider, and challenges the Avatar to an aerial race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his love of flying and his tribe's use on flying machines through allowing the player loot whenever you attack using a flying unit, and also boosting your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine Enchantment

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

The card also drains one more life whenever a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

This looks like an impactful card, given the card's cheap cost plus good enter the battlefield effect.

One big drawback of Shrine-based strategies outside of Commander are the fact that these cards are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is effective when paired alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

At a time while Universes Beyond products are receiving a lot of backlash from the community, a beloved franchise like Avatar could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period is already here, and the full set set to be released on Nov. 21.