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Magic: The Gathering fans consistently enjoy tribe-based decks — who has not constructed an elf strategy at some point? — and this upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 beloved mechanics that match perfectly to its setting.

Reappearing Tribal Abilities

One first ability, known as "Allies," was introduced with the Zendikar which provides bonuses whenever additional creatures bearing the Ally type enter the battlefield.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is another enchantment-based type that originated with Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise become abilities when a player has more Shrines on the battlefield.

The Return for Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have appeared sporadically across newer releases, the Ally mechanic has been much rarer — but this ends with Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang has to recruit a lot of companions on his quest to bring back balance to the world, and there's no better method to show that in a Magic: The Gathering set.

Exclusive Card Preview

After its initial set reveal, here is a look at an Ally plus one Shrine card in the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character

Teo stands as a beloved minor character in ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe that lived at an Air Temple after his home was ruined by a flood, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's prowess with engineering, Teo can fly in the air with a flying device, even dares Aang to an aerial race.

The card Teo reproduces Teo's passion for flying along with his tribe's reliance of flying machines through allowing the player loot each time a player attacks with a flying unit, and additionally strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Regarding Teo's dwelling, this appears as a card named The Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life upon entering the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you control.

It furthermore drains one more point anytime another Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

It looks like a strong card, considering its cheap cost and valuable enter the battlefield ability.

One big weakness of Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander is that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however this card is effective in combination with another Shrine, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Crossover

Currently while Universes Beyond sets are garnering significant hate by fans, a beloved franchise such as Avatar could be precisely what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Spoiler season is already here, and the full set will be launched November 21st.