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Magic: The Gathering players often enjoy tribe-based decks — what player hasn't assembled a goblin strategy once or twice? — while the upcoming ATLA crossover release is reintroducing two well-known examples that match seamlessly to its setting.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One first mechanic, known as "Ally," was debuted in a Zendikar and gives bonuses whenever additional permanents with the Ally subtype come onto the battlefield.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" is an enchantment-based subtype that originated with Champions of Kamigawa. While not exactly creature-based tribal theme, Shrines also become power as a player controls additional of them in play.

A Comeback of Allies Mechanic

Although Shrines have shown up here and there in newer sets, the Ally subtype was far less common — until this changes in Avatar: The Last Airbender, where the mechanic gets heavily featured.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble many friends on his quest to bring back balance across the world, so there's no more fitting method to show that in an Magic: The Gathering set.

Exclusive Card Showcase

Following its initial card announcement, here are previews at one Ally and one Shrines card from the upcoming ATLA release.

Teo: The Beloved Figure

Teo is one popular supporting character in ATLA, a young man from Earth Kingdom who resided in an Air Temple after his home was destroyed in a flood, which rendered him unable to walk.

Thanks to his father's skill with mechanics, he can soar through the skies using a flying device, and challenges Aang in an aerial contest.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider reproduces his love of the skies along with his tribe's reliance on gliders through letting the player loot whenever a player attacks using an airborne unit, and also pumping your creatures with counters in the process.

Northern Air Temple: A Powerful Shrine

Regarding Teo's home, it is represented in the card Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life when coming into the battlefield, based on how many Shrine cards you control.

It also removes an additional life anytime another Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like an impactful addition, considering its low cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

A major drawback for Shrine-based strategies in formats besides Commander are that these cards are typically legendary permanents, but Northern Air Temple can be great when paired alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which deals damage to every opponent during the start of your turn.

A Welcome Crossover

At a time while crossover products are receiving a lot of hate by fans, an iconic franchise like Avatar can be precisely just what Magic: The Gathering requires.

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