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Magic: The Gathering players often enjoy tribe-based strategies — what player has not constructed a goblin deck once or twice? — while the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing 2 popular examples that align perfectly to its theme.

Returning Tribal Abilities

The initial mechanic, known as "Ally," first debuted with a Zendikar and grants bonuses each time more permanents with this type come onto the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based subtype which originated in Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, these enchantments also become power as you has more Shrines on the battlefield.

The Comeback of the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have been appeared occasionally in recent sets, Allies mechanic was much rarer — but this ends with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where this mechanic gets prominently used.

Aang has to assemble numerous friends during the journey to bring back balance across the world, and there's no better method to show that through a Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Card Showcase

After the initial card reveal, below are a look at one Allies and one Shrines cards from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character

Teo stands as one popular minor figure in ATLA, a young man of Earth Kingdom that lived at the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's skill in mechanics, Teo is able to fly in the air with a flying device, and challenges Aang in a flying race.

This card Teo reproduces his fondness for flying and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders through allowing you loot whenever a player attacks using an airborne unit, while additionally pumping your team with counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Strong Shrine

Speaking of Teo's home, this appears as the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces your opponent's life total when entering play, based on how many Shrine cards you control.

The card also removes an additional life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like a powerful addition, given the card's low cost and valuable ETB ability.

A big drawback of Shrine decks outside of EDH are that these cards are always legendary permanents, however this card is effective when paired with another Shrine, that drains all opponents during the start of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently while Universes Beyond products have been garnering a lot of hate from the community, a beloved franchise such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period has begun, with all cards will be released on Nov. 21.