Even if you're not an avid player of Magic: The Gathering, you've likely heard about its exciting crossovers with popular franchises like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin's Creed. However, the upcoming collaboration with Final Fantasy is set to be one of the most thrilling yet. This set isn't just a nod to one Final Fantasy game but celebrates four iconic entries: Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV. Each game is represented in its own preconstructed Commander deck, offering fans a unique way to experience their favorite worlds.
Explore the image gallery below to get an exclusive first look at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Continue reading for an insightful discussion with Wizards of the Coast about what these decks entail, the rationale behind selecting these specific games, and much more.
Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering - Commander Decks Reveal
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Scheduled for release in June, the Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover will be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, accompanied by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, featuring reprints with new Final Fantasy artwork and brand new cards tailored for the popular Commander format. Each deck is themed around a single Final Fantasy game, specifically VI, VII, X, and XIV.
"Final Fantasy games are so rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings that choosing a single game as the theme provided more than enough material to design a full deck of cards around," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, who leads the Commander aspect of the set. "Approaching each deck as a single game also allowed us to dive deep into the lore, capturing cherished moments from the game's storyline that we might not have been able to otherwise."
"The team decided on these four Final Fantasy games based on a balance of desired gameplay and the overall recognition of each story," Holt continues. While Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, VI and X required more discussion, ultimately chosen because they were favorites among the team. "This was a product where everyone in the building was invested, given our passion for Final Fantasy."
Final Fantasy VII's deck, amidst the ongoing remake trilogy, raises questions about its narrative direction. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast and Narrative Lead for the set, clarifies that the deck follows the 1997 classic's storyline but incorporates modern aesthetics from Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. "Our goal was to capture the original PS1 game's narrative while using modern aesthetics to elevate the fidelity of character designs, story moments, and iconic locations," Deveney explains.
Final Fantasy VI poses a unique challenge due to its older art style. Deveney shares that they aimed to stay true to the fans' expectations while expanding on the pixel art sprites and limited concept art. "We collaborated with the Final Fantasy VI team to update these characters to the standards needed for Magic art," he says, ensuring the designs feel nostalgic yet fresh.
Selecting the leading characters for each deck was another critical decision. While Cloud was a natural choice for VII, other games required brainstorming. Celes was considered for VI, and Yuna for X, but the final selections stuck to the main characters of each game. For XIV, Y'shtola was chosen due to her popularity and spellcasting abilities, representing her Shadowbringers arc.
Crafting a deck to represent an entire game's story and themes within Magic's five-color system is a complex task. "We had to decide on a color identity for each game and the gameplay we wanted," Holt states. All decks include White, which aligns with their themes and helps include a wide range of heroes. The deck for VI focuses on rebuilding your party, VII emphasizes equipment and 'power matters' strategies, X's deck reflects the Sphere Grid system, and XIV's deck leans into noncreature spell casting.
Beyond the lead characters, the supporting casts of these games will also feature prominently. "Final Fantasy games are full of lovable and villainous characters, and including them in these decks was crucial," Holt says, promising fans will see their favorite characters as new legendary creatures and in exciting spells within the 99 cards of each deck.
The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set is set to launch on June 13. If your favorite game or character isn't included, don't fret; Holt assures 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 a regular version (MSRP $69.99) and a Collector’s Edition (MSRP $149.99), the latter featuring all 100 cards in a special Surge foil treatment.
For a deeper dive into the creation of these decks, continue reading the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.
