Even if you're not a regular player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely familiar with its recent forays into video game crossovers, featuring beloved franchises like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, get ready for an exhilarating addition to this lineup: Final Fantasy. This upcoming collaboration isn't limited to just one game; it spans four iconic titles, represented in preconstructed Commander decks that are sure to excite fans.
**Explore the image gallery below** to get a sneak peek at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Continue reading for an insightful discussion with Wizards of the Coast about what you can expect from these decks, the rationale behind choosing these specific Final Fantasy games, and much more.
Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering - Commander Decks Reveal
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Set to launch on June 13, Magic's Final Fantasy crossover will offer a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, along with four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, blending reprints with new Final Fantasy-themed art and innovative cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around specific Final Fantasy games: 6, 7, 10, and 14.
"Final Fantasy games are brimming with rich narratives, iconic characters, and distinct settings, providing ample material to craft a deck centered around a single game," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. "Focusing on individual games allowed us to delve deeply into their lore, capturing cherished moments that might not have been possible otherwise."
"The selection of these four Final Fantasy titles was driven by a desire to balance gameplay mechanics with the recognition of each game's story," Holt adds. While Final Fantasy 7 and 14 were straightforward choices, 6 and 10 required more deliberation. They were ultimately selected due to their popularity among the team. "This project was a labor of love for our team, filled with passionate Final Fantasy enthusiasts."
With the ongoing Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy influencing this set, the question arises: does the Commander deck for Final Fantasy 7 reflect the original story or its reimagined version? Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast and Narrative Lead for the set, clarifies that the deck's narrative follows the 1997 original, while its art incorporates elements from the modern remakes. "Our goal was to encapsulate the original game's story, enhanced by the updated aesthetics from Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth, to elevate character designs, story moments, and iconic locations," Deveney explains. "We aimed to blend nostalgia with contemporary appeal, offering something for fans of both the classic and the new series."
AnswerSee ResultsFor Final Fantasy 6, capturing the essence of its pixel art and limited concept art presented a unique challenge. Deveney shares that they aimed to stay true to fan expectations while also expanding the visual language. "We worked closely with the Final Fantasy 6 team to ensure our character designs resonated with how fans 'remember' them, even though they're a fusion of various references and new ideas," he says. This process involved synthesizing elements from Yoshitaka Amano's original concept art, the game's sprites, and the Pixel Remaster portraits, allowing artists to enhance details and explore new elements.
Selecting the lead characters for each deck was another crucial aspect. While Cloud was a natural choice for Final Fantasy 7, other selections required thoughtful deliberation. For instance, Celes was considered for Final Fantasy 6, and Yuna for Final Fantasy 10, but they ultimately chose to focus on the games' protagonists. With Final Fantasy 14 being an MMO, choosing Y'shtola was influenced by her popularity and her role as a spellcaster, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc. "We explored the idea of a customizable 'Warrior of Light' commander, but decided to highlight your personal hero through the deck's content," Holt notes.
Crafting a deck that encapsulates an entire game's narrative, characters, and themes within Magic's five-color framework is no small feat. "We had to establish a color identity that reflected not only the game itself but also the gameplay we envisioned," Holt explains. Notably, all four decks include White, facilitating the inclusion of a wide range of heroes. The deck for Final Fantasy 6 focuses on the World of Ruin, centered on reviving party members from the graveyard. For Final Fantasy 7, Cloud's association with large swords aligns with equipment strategies in a white-red deck, with green added to incorporate 'power matters' cards and references to the Planet and lifestream. Final Fantasy 10's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, employs a white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures, while Final Fantasy 14's white-blue-black deck emphasizes noncreature spell casting and includes desired characters.
"Final Fantasy games are known for their memorable characters, both heroes and villains, and it was crucial to feature them in these decks," Holt states. "While I can't reveal specifics about which characters are included or their abilities, fans can look forward to seeing their favorites as new legendary creatures and in action on various spells."
Scheduled for release on June 13, the Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set promises to be a comprehensive celebration of the franchise. Holt reassures fans that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will be represented in the accompanying products. Similar to the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks from 2022, these decks will be available in both a regular version (MSRP $69.99) and a Collector’s Edition (MSRP $149.99), the latter featuring a special Surge foil treatment for all 100 cards in each deck.
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:
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