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MTG enthusiasts frequently adopt tribe-based strategies — what player has not constructed an elf strategy before? — while this upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set revives 2 popular mechanics that align seamlessly with the theme.

Returning Tribal Abilities

One first mechanic, named "Allies," first debuted with the Zendikar and grants bonuses each time more creatures with the Ally type enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents an enchantment-based subtype which first appeared in Champions of Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribe, Shrines likewise gain strength as a player has additional of them on the battlefield.

A Comeback of Allies Mechanic

While Shrine cards have shown up sporadically in newer sets, the Ally subtype has been seldom seen — but this ends with Avatar: The Last Airbender, where the feature is heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble a lot of friends during his journey to bring back peace to the four nations, so there's no more fitting way to reflect that through a Magic expansion.

Exclusive Cards Showcase

After the initial card announcement, below is a look at an Ally and one Shrines cards in the new ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Figure

This character is one beloved supporting character in ATLA, a boy from the Earth Tribe that lived in an Air Temple following his home was ruined by a flood, an event that left him unable to walk.

Thanks to his dad's prowess in mechanics, Teo is able to glide in the air using his glider, and dares Aang to a flying race.

This card Teo reproduces his love of the skies along with his tribe's use on gliders through allowing the player draw and discard whenever you attack using a flying creature, while also strengthening your creatures with counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Strong Shrine

Regarding his dwelling, this is represented as a card named Northern Air Temple, which drains your opponent's life total when coming into play, based on how many Shrine cards you have.

The card furthermore drains an additional life anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

It looks like an impactful addition, given its cheap mana cost plus good ETB effect.

A big drawback for Shrine decks outside of Commander is that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, however this card is effective when paired with another Shrine, which deals damage to all opponents during the start of your turn.

A Timely Collaboration

At a time when Universes Beyond products have been garnering a lot of hate from fans, an iconic franchise like Avatar: The Last Airbender can be precisely just what MTG needs.

Spoiler season is already here, and all cards will be launched November 21st.