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Magic: The Gathering fans frequently embrace tribe-based tactics — who has not built a goblin strategy at some point? — and the new Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back two beloved mechanics that align seamlessly to its setting.

Reappearing Tribal Mechanics

The first ability, known as "Allies," first introduced with a Zendikar set and grants buffs whenever additional permanents with this type enter the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" represents an enchantment subtype which originated with Kamigawa. Although not creature-based tribal theme, these enchantments likewise gain strength as you controls additional of them in play.

The Return of Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have been shown up here and there across recent sets, the Ally subtype was much rarer — but that changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which this feature gets central.

The protagonist Aang must gather a lot of allies on the quest to bring back balance to the world, and there's no better way to show that in a Magic expansion.

Revealed Cards Preview

Following the first set reveal, below is a look of one Allies and a Shrines cards in the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Character

Teo is a beloved minor figure in Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy from the Earth Tribe who resided at an Air Temple after his village was ruined by a flood, an event that rendered him paraplegic.

Thanks to his father's skill in engineering, he is able to glide in the air using a flying device, even dares the Avatar in a flying race.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's fondness for flying and his tribe's use of gliders by allowing you draw and discard each time a player attacks using a flying creature, and also strengthening your team with +1/+1 counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: The Powerful Shrine

Speaking of Teo's dwelling, it appears in a card named The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life total upon coming into the battlefield, depending on how many of Shrines you control.

The card furthermore drains one more point whenever a Shrine enters the battlefield.

This appears to be a strong addition, given the card's low cost plus good ETB ability.

A major weakness of Shrine decks outside of EDH are the fact that Shrines are always legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is great in combination with Sanctum of Stone Fangs, that deals damage to all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

The Welcome Crossover

At a time while crossover products have been garnering a lot of hate by the community, a beloved series such as Avatar can be exactly what MTG requires.

Spoiler season has begun, and all cards set to be released November 21st.