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Magic: The Gathering players consistently enjoy tribal decks — what player has not constructed a goblin deck once or twice? — and the forthcoming ATLA crossover set is reintroducing two well-known mechanics which align seamlessly with the flavor.

Returning Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

The first mechanic, known as "Allies," first debuted in the Zendikar set which grants boosts each time additional permanents bearing this type come onto play.

Alternatively, "Shrine" is an enchantment-based subtype which first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not a creature tribe, these enchantments likewise become power when a player controls more of them on the battlefield.

A Return for Allies Mechanic

Although Shrine cards have shown up occasionally across recent sets, Allies mechanic was much rarer — until that changes with ATLA, in which the mechanic gets central.

Aang has to recruit many allies during his journey to bring back balance across the world, and it's no better way to represent that in a Magic set.

Revealed Card Showcase

After its initial set reveal, below are a look of one Ally plus a Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure

This character is one cherished minor character in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a young man from the Earth Tribe who lived at the Northern Air Temple following his village was ruined by a flood, which left him paraplegic.

Thanks to his dad's skill with mechanics, he is able to fly through the skies using a flying device, and challenges Aang in an aerial race.

The card Teo represents his passion of flying along with his tribe's use of flying machines by allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks with an airborne unit, while additionally boosting your creatures via +1/+1 counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, this appears in the card Northern Air Temple, that drains an opponent's life when entering play, based on how many Shrine cards you have.

The card also removes an additional life anytime another Shrine comes onto the field.

This appears to be an impactful card, given its low mana cost plus good enter the battlefield effect.

A big weakness of Shrine-based decks in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are typically Legendary, however Northern Air Temple can be effective in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that drains every opponent at the beginning of your main phase.

The Timely Collaboration

At a time when Universes Beyond sets have been garnering a lot of hate from the community, a beloved series like Avatar can be exactly what MTG needs.

Preview period is already here, with all cards set to be released on Nov. 21.