Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely familiar with its exciting array of video game crossovers in recent years, including Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, we bring you an exclusive sneak peek at what might be the most thrilling crossover yet: Final Fantasy. This isn't just a nod to one Final Fantasy game; it encompasses four iconic titles—Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV—each represented in unique preconstructed Commander decks that headline the upcoming set.
Dive into the image gallery below for an exclusive first look at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Continue reading for an insightful conversation with Wizards of the Coast about the contents of these decks, the rationale behind selecting these four games, and much more.
Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering - Commander Decks Reveal
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Set to launch on June 13, this Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover will offer a fully draftable, Standard-legal set alongside four meticulously crafted preconstructed decks featured in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, blending reprints with new Final Fantasy-inspired art and innovative cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game, delving deep into their lore and beloved moments.
“Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around each game,” says Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for this set. “Focusing on one game per deck allowed us to capture even more of the beloved moments from each game's storyline.”
The selection of Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV was driven by a combination of gameplay considerations and the popularity of each game's story. Holt mentions that while Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, VI and X were selected after extensive discussions, partly due to their popularity among the development team. “This project was a labor of love, with many passionate Final Fantasy fans contributing to its development,” he adds.
For Final Fantasy VII, the deck navigates the narrative of the 1997 classic while embracing the modern aesthetics from the Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast and Narrative Lead for the set, explains, “Our goal was to capture the original game's narrative while using the modern aesthetics to elevate character designs, story moments, and memorable locations.”
Final Fantasy VI, with its pixel art legacy, posed a unique challenge. Deveney shares that they aimed to blend the original pixel art sprites and concept art with new ideas, striving to create designs that resonate with fans’ memories. “We collaborated closely with the Final Fantasy VI team to ensure the character designs met the high standards required for Magic art,” he notes.
Choosing the lead characters for each deck was another critical decision. Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy VII, but other selections required more deliberation. For Final Fantasy VI, Celes was considered due to the deck's focus on the World of Ruin, while Yuna was a contender for Final Fantasy X. Ultimately, the lead characters chosen were Terra, Cloud, Tidus, and Y'shtola. For Final Fantasy XIV, Y'shtola's selection was influenced by her popularity and the range of abilities her story offers, specifically during her Shadowbringers arc.
Crafting a deck to encapsulate an entire game's story and themes within Magic's color system was a delicate balance. Holt notes that all four decks include White, aiding in the inclusion of a wide range of heroes. The Final Fantasy VI deck focuses on rebuilding your party from the graveyard, reflecting the latter half of the game. Final Fantasy VII's deck, led by Cloud, integrates equipment strategies with the addition of Green to tie in 'power matters' and lifestream themes. For Final Fantasy X, Tidus' deck revolves around the Sphere Grid system, empowering creatures with a white-blue-green strategy. Final Fantasy XIV's deck, with its white-blue-black identity, emphasizes noncreature spell casting while featuring key characters.
While the Commander format often centers on the deck's leader, the supporting casts from these games are not forgotten. Holt assures fans that “each deck will include many of your favorite characters as new legendary creatures and on exciting spells, capturing the essence of the games’ rich casts.”
Magic’s Final Fantasy set will launch on June 13, and while not every fan's favorite game or character may be featured in these decks, Holt promises that “all sixteen of the mainline games will have their moments to shine in accompanying products.”
Similar to the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks from 2022, these Final Fantasy decks will be available in both a regular version (MSRP $69.99) and a Collector’s Edition (MSRP $149.99), with the latter featuring all 100 cards in a special Surge foil treatment.
For an in-depth look at the creative process behind this crossover, continue reading our full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.
