Wizards of the Coast has just unveiled our first real look at the upcoming Avatar: The Last Airbender Universes Beyond set—and it’s packed with exciting reveals. Not only are several classic Magic: The Gathering mechanics making a return, but we finally have an answer to the big question fans have been asking: what exactly does the new bending mechanic do?

We already knew allies would feature prominently in this set, but this latest card batch gives us an even deeper look—showcasing a wider range of them. And allies aren’t the only familiar mechanic making a comeback.

Shrine fans (especially Go-Shintai of Life’s Origin players) will be pleased to hear there's a new cycle of uncommon shrines. So far, only the Southern Air Temple has been revealed, but given that all four elemental temples appear in the show, it’s likely the others will show up too. While this looks like a cycle, that would typically cover just four colors. Could we see a black shrine tied to the Spirit World or even the Fire Nation’s darker themes? Time will tell.

Unlike previous shrines—which trigger effects each turn and scale with the number you control—these new ones trigger when they enter the battlefield. The Southern Air Temple, for instance, grants all your creatures +1/+1 counters equal to the number of shrines you control. And whenever another shrine enters the battlefield, it distributes that many +1/+1 counters again. Whether you draw it early or late, this shrine is a powerhouse.

Another returning mechanic is Lessons, a subtype of instants and sorceries originally introduced in Strixhaven. These can be pulled from your sideboard mid-game—fitting perfectly into Avatar's narrative of Aang traveling the world and learning from each nation. A quick glance at the 2026 MTG release calendar suggests that even more Lesson support may be on the way.

Now, back to the big reveal: the bending keywords. Ever since Avatar: The Last Airbender spoilers began dropping, fans have been speculating about how elemental bending would work mechanically. Now we know—each element gets its own unique keyword ability:

• Airbending lets you exile a permanent temporarily. Its controller can then replay it by paying two colorless mana. Think of it as a kind of tempo bounce with a tax.

• Waterbending draws inspiration from Convoke, but instead of tapping creatures, you tap artifacts and enchantments to reduce the activation costs of abilities. Each card works a bit differently but leans into synergy with non-creature permanents.

• Firebending is a mana surge mechanic. When a creature with firebending attacks, it generates red mana equal to its firebending value. The mana lasts until the end of combat—ideal for combat tricks or instant-speed spells.

• Earthbending turns lands into temporary hasty creatures. When the land dies, it just comes back tapped. This is especially spicy when paired with land destruction—your lands come back, but your opponent’s? Not so much.