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MTG players frequently embrace tribal decks — what player has not built an elf strategy before? — while the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set is reintroducing 2 beloved examples that fit seamlessly to its setting.

Returning Tribal Mechanics

One first ability, known as "Ally," was debuted in the Zendikar and gives bonuses whenever additional creatures with the Ally type come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments also become abilities as you has additional of them on the battlefield.

A Comeback for Allies Mechanic

While Shrine cards have shown up here and there in recent releases, Allies subtype has been much rarer — until that ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where the feature gets central.

Aang has to recruit a lot of companions on the journey to bring back balance to the four nations, and it's no more fitting method to represent that in an Magic set.

Revealed Cards Showcase

After the initial set reveal, here are a look at an Ally plus a Shrines cards in the new ATLA set.

Teo: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character is one cherished minor figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of Earth Kingdom who resided at the Northern Air Temple after his village was ruined by a disaster, an event that left him unable to walk.

Because of his father's expertise with mechanics, Teo can soar through the skies with his glider, and dares the Avatar to a flying race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider showcases his fondness of the skies along with his tribe's reliance on flying machines through allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks with a flying creature, and additionally boosting your team via +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

Regarding Teo's dwelling, this appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life when entering play, depending on how many of Shrines you control.

The card furthermore drains an additional point whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like a powerful card, considering its cheap cost and good ETB effect.

A major weakness of Shrine-based decks outside of EDH is that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, however this card can be effective in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

A Welcome Collaboration

Currently while Universes Beyond products have been receiving a lot of hate from fans, a beloved series such as Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period is already here, and all cards will be released on Nov. 21.