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Magic: The Gathering players often adopt tribe-based decks — what player has not built a goblin strategy once or twice? — and the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender crossover set brings back 2 well-known examples that match perfectly with the theme.

Reappearing Tribe-Supporting Mechanics

One initial mechanic, named "Allies," was debuted in the Zendikar which provides buffs whenever more creatures with the Ally type come onto the field.

Alternatively, "Shrines" is another enchantment-based type that first appeared with Champions of Kamigawa. While not creature-based tribe, Shrines also become abilities as a player controls additional of them in play.

A Return for the Ally Mechanic

Although Shrines have shown up here and there in newer sets, Allies mechanic was seldom seen — until that ends in ATLA, in which the feature gets prominently used.

Aang has to gather numerous allies on the journey to restore peace to the four nations, so it's no more fitting way to reflect that in a Magic: The Gathering set.

Revealed Card Showcase

After its first set reveal, below is a look of an Allies and a Shrines card from the upcoming ATLA set.

Teo, Spirited Glider: The Fan-Favorite Figure

Teo stands as a popular minor figure from ATLA, a young man of the Earth Tribe that lived in the Northern Air Temple after his home was destroyed by a disaster, which left him paraplegic.

Due to his dad's expertise with engineering, he is able to glide through the skies with his glider, and dares the Avatar to an aerial race.

The card Teo, Spirited Glider represents Teo's fondness of the skies and the Earth Tribe's use on gliders by letting the player draw and discard each time a player attacks with an airborne creature, while also boosting your team via counters at the same time.

The Temple Card: The Strong Shrine Enchantment

Speaking of Teo's home, it appears as a card named Northern Air Temple, which reduces an opponent's life total when entering the battlefield, based on the number of Shrines you control.

The card furthermore drains an additional life anytime a Shrine enters the battlefield.

This looks like a strong card, given its low cost and valuable ETB ability.

A big drawback of Shrine-based strategies in formats besides EDH are the fact that Shrines are typically legendary permanents, however Northern Air Temple is great in combination with another Shrine, that drains all opponents at the beginning of your turn.

The Timely Collaboration

At a time when crossover sets have been receiving a lot of hate from fans, a beloved series such as Avatar could be exactly what Magic: The Gathering needs.

Preview period has begun, and all cards set to be released on Nov. 21.