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MTG enthusiasts often embrace tribe-based decks — who hasn't assembled a goblin strategy before? — and this new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release brings back two popular mechanics which fit perfectly to its theme.

Returning Tribal Mechanics

The first ability, known as "Ally," first debuted in a Zendikar set which provides bonuses each time additional permanents with the Ally subtype enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents another enchantment-based subtype that first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments also gain power as a player controls additional Shrines in play.

A Return of Allies Ability

While Shrines have shown up occasionally in recent releases, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until this changes in ATLA, in which the mechanic gets prominently used.

Aang has to gather a lot of friends on his journey to restore balance across the four nations, so it's no more fitting method to reflect that through a Magic expansion.

Exclusive Card Preview

After its first set announcement, here is previews of an Allies plus one Shrine card in the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character

This character stands as a popular supporting figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe that resided at an Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, which rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's prowess with mechanics, he is able to glide in the air with his glider, even challenges Aang in an aerial contest.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his fondness of flying and his tribe's reliance on flying machines by allowing the player draw and discard each time a player attacks with an airborne unit, and also strengthening your creatures with +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Speaking of his home, this appears in the card Northern Air Temple, that drains your opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, based on the number Shrine cards you have.

The card also removes an additional life whenever a Shrine comes onto the field.

It appears to be an impactful addition, given its cheap cost and good ETB ability.

A big weakness of Shrine decks outside of EDH is that Shrines are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Welcome Crossover

At a time when Universes Beyond sets have been garnering significant hate by the community, an iconic series like Avatar can be exactly just what MTG requires.

Preview period is already here, with the full set will be launched on Nov. 21.