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MTG enthusiasts often embrace tribal tactics — what player hasn't assembled a zombie strategy before? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set is reintroducing 2 beloved examples which match seamlessly to its setting.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Abilities

The first mechanic, named "Allies," first debuted with a Zendikar set which grants bonuses each time additional creatures bearing the Ally type enter the field.

Meanwhile, "Shrine" represents an enchantment subtype that first appeared with Kamigawa. Although not exactly creature-based tribe, these enchantments likewise gain power as you has additional of them in play.

A Comeback of Allies Ability

Although Shrine cards have been appeared occasionally in recent releases, Allies subtype was seldom seen — but this ends in Avatar: The Last Airbender, in which the mechanic gets prominently used.

The protagonist Aang has to assemble a lot of companions on his journey to restore peace to the four nations, so there's no more fitting way to show this through a Magic: The Gathering expansion.

Revealed Cards Preview

After the first card announcement, below are previews at one Allies plus one Shrine card in the new Avatar: The Last Airbender set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: A Beloved Character

This character stands as a beloved supporting figure from Avatar: The Last Airbender, a boy of the Earth Tribe that resided in the Northern Air Temple after his village was destroyed by a disaster, an event that rendered him unable to walk.

Because of his father's skill in engineering, Teo is able to glide through the skies with a flying device, even challenges Aang in a flying contest.

This card Teo, Spirited Glider represents his passion of flying and the Earth Tribe's use of gliders by allowing the player loot whenever you attack using a flying unit, while also pumping your creatures via counters in the process.

The Temple Card: A Powerful Shrine

Speaking of his dwelling, this appears in a card named The Northern Air Temple, that reduces your opponent's life total upon entering play, depending on the number Shrine cards you control.

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

It looks like an impactful addition, considering the card's cheap mana cost and good enter the battlefield ability.

One big drawback of Shrine strategies in formats besides Commander is that Shrines are always Legendary, however Northern Air Temple can be great in combination alongside Sanctum of Stone Fangs, which drains every opponent during the start of your turn.

The Welcome Collaboration

At a time while crossover sets have been receiving a lot of backlash from fans, a beloved franchise like Avatar: The Last Airbender could be precisely just what MTG requires.

Spoiler season has begun, with the full set set to be launched November 21st.