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Magic: The Gathering fans often adopt tribal strategies — what player has not assembled a zombie strategy before? — while the forthcoming ATLA crossover release revives two beloved mechanics which align perfectly to its setting.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The initial mechanic, named "Allies," first introduced in a Zendikar which gives buffs whenever more creatures bearing the Ally type come onto the field.

On the other hand, "Shrines" represents an enchantment-based subtype that originated with Champions of Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise become abilities as a player controls more of them on the battlefield.

A Return for Allies Ability

While Shrine cards have been shown up sporadically in recent releases, the Ally mechanic was seldom seen — until that ends with ATLA, where the mechanic gets prominently used.

Aang has to assemble a lot of friends on his journey to bring back balance across the four nations, so there's no more fitting way to reflect this through an Magic expansion.

Revealed Card Showcase

After its first set announcement, here is a look at an Ally and one Shrines card in the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Beloved Character

Teo stands as a popular supporting character from ATLA, a boy of Earth Kingdom that lived in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that left him unable to walk.

Due to his father's prowess with engineering, Teo is able to glide in the air using his glider, even challenges the Avatar in an aerial contest.

This card Teo reproduces Teo's love for the skies along with his tribe's reliance of flying machines by letting you draw and discard whenever you attack with an airborne creature, while additionally pumping your creatures with counters in the process.

The Temple Card: The Powerful Shrine Enchantment

Regarding Teo's dwelling, it is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life total upon coming into play, depending on the number Shrine cards you have.

The card also drains an additional point anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.

This looks like an impactful card, given the card's cheap mana cost plus valuable enter the battlefield ability.

A major weakness of Shrine strategies outside of EDH are that these cards are typically Legendary, but Northern Air Temple is effective in combination with another Shrine, that deals damage to all opponents during the start of your main phase.

A Timely Collaboration

At a time while crossover sets are receiving a lot of hate from the community, an iconic franchise like Avatar can be exactly what Magic: The Gathering requires.

Spoiler season is already here, with all cards will be released November 21st.