🔗 Share this article

MTG enthusiasts consistently embrace tribal strategies — what player has not assembled a goblin strategy before? — and the upcoming ATLA Universes Beyond release is reintroducing 2 well-known examples that fit perfectly to the theme.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first ability, named "Ally," was introduced with a Zendikar set which grants bonuses whenever more creatures with this type come onto play.

On the other hand, "Shrines" represents an enchantment-based type which originated in Champions of Kamigawa. Although not a creature tribe, Shrines likewise become abilities as you owns more Shrines in play.

The Comeback for Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have appeared occasionally across recent sets, the Ally subtype was seldom seen — until this ends in ATLA, in which this mechanic gets heavily featured.

Aang has to recruit numerous friends on his quest to restore balance across the world, and there's no better way to reflect this in a Magic set.

Exclusive Card Showcase

After its initial card announcement, below are previews at one Allies and one Shrines card from the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

This character stands as a cherished supporting character from ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe that resided at an Air Temple after his village was ruined in a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Due to his dad's prowess with engineering, Teo can soar in the air using a flying device, and challenges Aang in an aerial race.

The card Teo reproduces his love of flying and his tribe's use of flying machines by letting you draw and discard whenever a player attacks using an airborne creature, and also strengthening your creatures with counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Strong Shrine Enchantment

Regarding his home, this appears in the card Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, depending on the number of Shrines you have.

It furthermore drains an additional life anytime a Shrine comes onto the battlefield.

This appears to be a strong card, given the card's cheap cost and good ETB effect.

A big weakness for Shrine-based decks outside of Commander is that these cards are typically Legendary, however this card can be great in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to every opponent during the start of your turn.

The Timely Collaboration

Currently when Universes Beyond products have been garnering significant backlash from fans, an iconic series like Avatar could be precisely just what MTG needs.

Preview period has begun, and the full set set to be launched on Nov. 21.