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MTG players often enjoy tribe-based tactics — what player hasn't built a zombie deck once or twice? — while this new Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set is reintroducing two beloved mechanics that fit seamlessly with its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first ability, named "Allies," first introduced with a Zendikar and grants buffs each time additional permanents with this type enter play.

Meanwhile, "Shrines" represents another enchantment-based type which first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribal theme, Shrines likewise become abilities as a player owns more Shrines on the battlefield.

A Return of the Ally Mechanic

While Shrines have shown up here and there across recent releases, Allies subtype was seldom seen — until this changes with ATLA, in which this feature gets prominently used.

The protagonist Aang must gather many friends on his journey to bring back balance across the world, and there's no better method to reflect this through an Magic expansion.

Exclusive Cards Preview

Following its initial set reveal, here are previews at one Allies and one Shrines cards in the new ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Fan-Favorite Figure

Teo stands as one popular minor character in ATLA, a young man of Earth Kingdom who lived in the Northern Air Temple following his village was destroyed in a flood, an event that left him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's prowess in engineering, Teo can fly through the skies using a flying device, even dares Aang to an aerial contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his fondness of flying along with his tribe's reliance of gliders by allowing the player loot whenever a player attacks with an airborne unit, while also strengthening your team via +1/+1 counters in the process.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, this is represented as the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life total when entering play, based on how many Shrine cards you have.

The card furthermore removes an additional point anytime a Shrine comes onto the field.

It looks like a powerful addition, given its cheap mana cost plus valuable enter the battlefield ability.

A big drawback of Shrine decks outside of EDH is that these cards are always legendary permanents, but this card is great in combination alongside another Shrine, which deals damage to every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

At a time while Universes Beyond products have been receiving a lot of hate from fans, an iconic series such as Avatar: The Last Airbender could be exactly just what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period is already here, and the full set will be released November 21st.