Scoop: The Way Magic: The Gathering's Avatar Set Brings Back 2 Popular Tribal Gameplay Features
Magic: The Gathering fans consistently embrace tribe-based decks — who has not constructed a goblin deck before? — while this forthcoming ATLA crossover release brings back 2 beloved examples that match perfectly to the setting.
Returning Tribal Mechanics
The first ability, called "Ally," was debuted with the Zendikar set and gives boosts whenever more permanents bearing the Ally type enter play.
Alternatively, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based type which first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribe, Shrines also gain abilities when a player owns more Shrines on the battlefield.
The Return for Allies Ability
Although Shrine cards have been appeared sporadically across newer releases, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until that changes in ATLA, in which this feature is central.
Aang must recruit many allies during his journey to restore peace across the four nations, so there's no better way to show that through a Magic: The Gathering set.
Exclusive Card Showcase
Following its first set reveal, here is a look at an Allies plus one Shrine cards from the new ATLA set.
Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Character
This character stands as a beloved minor figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy of the Earth Tribe that resided at an Air Temple following his village was destroyed by a disaster, which left him paraplegic.
Thanks to his dad's prowess with mechanics, he is able to soar in the air using his glider, even challenges Aang to a flying race.
This card Teo represents Teo's love of the skies and the Earth Tribe's use of gliders through allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks using an airborne unit, and also boosting your creatures via counters at the same time.
The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine
Speaking of his dwelling, it is represented in a card named The Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life when entering play, based on the number Shrine cards you control.
The card furthermore drains one more life whenever another Shrine enters the field.
It looks like an impactful card, given its cheap cost plus good enter the battlefield effect.
A big weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides EDH are that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, but this card can be effective when paired alongside another Shrine, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.
The Timely Crossover
At a time while Universes Beyond sets have been garnering a lot of backlash from the community, an iconic series such as Avatar could be precisely what Magic: The Gathering requires.
Spoiler season is already here, and the full set set to be released November 21st.