Magic: The Gathering's highly anticipated Final Fantasy crossover is almost here! This June, get ready for a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by four exciting preconstructed Commander decks, each themed around a different mainline Final Fantasy game: VI, VII, X, and XIV.
A First Look at the Commander Decks
Check out the image gallery below for an exclusive sneak peek at the key card and packaging for each deck.
13 Images
Each 100-card deck features a blend of reprints with new Final Fantasy artwork and brand-new cards designed specifically for Commander. The decks aren't just themed around characters; they delve deep into the lore of each individual game.
Deck Selection and Design Choices
Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt explains that the team chose these four games based on gameplay potential and story recognition. While FFVII and FFXIV were easy choices, FFVI and FFX required more discussion but ultimately won out due to team favorites. The development process involved passionate Final Fantasy fans across the team.
For FFVII, the deck's narrative follows the 1997 original, but incorporates the modern aesthetics of the Remake trilogy in its artwork, creating a nostalgic yet updated experience. Principal Narrative Game Designer Dillon Deveney highlights this fusion of old and new.
FFVI, with its pixel art origins, presented a unique challenge. The team collaborated with the FFVI team, drawing inspiration from Yoshitaka Amano's concept art, original sprites, and the Pixel Remaster, creating a modernized yet faithful representation of the beloved characters.
Commander Choices and Deck Strategies
Choosing the right Commander for each deck was crucial. While Cloud was an obvious choice for FFVII, other selections involved careful consideration. Terra was selected for FFVI, reflecting the game's focus on rebuilding your party from the graveyard. FFVII's deck uses a white-red strategy, enhanced with green to incorporate 'power matters' cards and references to the Planet and lifestream. FFX's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, uses a white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures. Finally, FFXIV's deck, featuring Y'shtola during her Shadowbringers arc, uses a white-blue-black strategy focusing on spellcasting.
Beyond the Commanders, each deck features a host of beloved Final Fantasy characters, both heroes and villains, as legendary creatures and spell components. While specific details remain under wraps, fans can expect to see many familiar faces.
Release and Collector's Editions
The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set launches June 13th. Both regular and Collector's Editions will be available for each of the four Commander decks, with the Collector's Editions boasting Surge foil treatment for all 100 cards. Holt assures fans that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will have their moments to shine in future products. Don't miss out!
