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Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts often embrace tribe-based decks — what player has not built a zombie deck before? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release revives 2 well-known mechanics which match perfectly to its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One initial mechanic, known as "Ally," first introduced with a Zendikar set and provides boosts each time more permanents bearing this subtype come onto play.

Alternatively, "Shrine" is an enchantment type that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines also gain abilities as a player has more Shrines in play.

The Comeback for the Ally Mechanic

While Shrines have been shown up here and there in recent sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — but that changes with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this feature is prominently used.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble many friends on his journey to bring back peace across the world, so it's no more fitting way to represent that in a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Revealed Cards Preview

Following its first card reveal, here is a look of one Ally and a Shrines cards in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure

This character stands as one popular minor figure in ATLA, a boy of Earth Kingdom that resided in an Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, an event that left him paraplegic.

Due to his father's expertise in mechanics, he can soar in the air with a flying device, and challenges the Avatar to a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's passion for the skies along with his tribe's reliance on flying machines by letting you draw and discard each time you attack using a flying unit, while additionally pumping your creatures with +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, this appears as the card Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, based on how many of Shrines you control.

The card furthermore drains an additional life anytime another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

It looks like a strong card, considering the card's low cost and valuable ETB effect.

One major weakness for Shrine-based decks outside of EDH are that Shrines are always Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is great when paired alongside another Shrine, which drains all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Crossover

At a time while Universes Beyond sets are receiving a lot of backlash by the community, an iconic franchise such as Avatar can be precisely what MTG needs.

Spoiler season has begun, and all cards will be launched November 21st.