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Magic: The Gathering enthusiasts frequently adopt tribe-based strategies — what player has not assembled an elf strategy once or twice? — while this new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set brings back two popular examples which align perfectly with the theme.

Returning Tribal Abilities

The initial mechanic, named "Ally," was introduced with the Zendikar which grants buffs whenever more creatures bearing this type come onto the battlefield.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents an enchantment-based type that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly a creature tribe, Shrines likewise gain strength as you has additional of them in play.

The Comeback for the Ally Ability

While Shrines have shown up occasionally across recent releases, the Ally subtype has been much rarer — but this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where the mechanic gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to gather many friends during his journey to bring back balance across the world, and it's no more fitting method to reflect that in an Magic set.

Revealed Card Preview

After the initial set reveal, here are a look of an Allies plus one Shrines card from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo: A Beloved Figure

Teo is one popular minor figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man of the Earth Tribe who resided in an Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, which left him unable to walk.

Due to his dad's expertise in mechanics, Teo is able to soar through the skies using a flying device, even challenges Aang in an aerial race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's fondness of flying and the Earth Tribe's reliance of gliders through allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks with an airborne creature, while additionally strengthening your creatures with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Regarding his home, this appears in the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.

The card also removes an additional point whenever another Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like a powerful addition, given its low mana cost and valuable enter the battlefield effect.

One big drawback of Shrine-based strategies outside of Commander is the fact that these cards are always legendary permanents, but this card is effective in combination with another Shrine, that drains all opponents during the start of your turn.

The Welcome Collaboration

Currently when Universes Beyond sets have been receiving significant hate by the community, a beloved series like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Spoiler season has begun, with the full set will be released on Nov. 21.