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Magic: The Gathering fans consistently adopt tribal strategies — what player has not built a zombie strategy once or twice? — and this upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover release brings back two beloved examples that fit seamlessly with the theme.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The initial mechanic, called "Ally," was introduced with a Zendikar set which provides buffs each time more permanents bearing the Ally type come onto play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment type which first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise gain strength as you controls additional of them on the battlefield.

The Comeback for the Ally Ability

While Shrine cards have appeared occasionally across recent releases, the Ally mechanic was much rarer — until this ends with ATLA, in which this feature is central.

The protagonist Aang must recruit a lot of allies during the journey to restore peace across the four nations, so there's no more fitting method to reflect this in a Magic: The Gathering set.

Exclusive Cards Showcase

After the initial set reveal, below are a look at an Allies plus one Shrines card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure

Teo is one beloved supporting figure in ATLA, a young man from Earth Kingdom that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his home was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's expertise with engineering, Teo can fly through the skies with his glider, and challenges the Avatar in a flying contest.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces Teo's passion for flying and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through allowing you loot each time you attack with an airborne creature, and additionally strengthening your creatures via +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Speaking of his home, it is represented as the card The Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life total when coming into the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you control.

It furthermore drains an additional point anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It appears to be a powerful card, given its cheap cost plus good ETB effect.

One big drawback for Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander is that Shrines are always Legendary, however Northern Air Temple is great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Collaboration

At a time when crossover sets have been receiving significant criticism from the community, a beloved franchise such as Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Preview period has begun, and all cards will be released November 21st.