Even if you're not an avid player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely aware of its recent collaborations with popular video game franchises like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. However, the latest crossover is set to be one of the most thrilling yet: Final Fantasy. This collaboration isn't just with one game but spans four iconic titles—Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV—each represented in a unique preconstructed Commander deck.
Explore the image gallery below to get a sneak peek at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, dive into our detailed discussion with Wizards of the Coast to uncover what you can expect from these decks, the reasoning 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, the Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy crossover promises to be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by four preconstructed decks featured in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, a mix of reprints with new Final Fantasy artwork and brand-new cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game, offering a deep dive into the lore and beloved moments of Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV.
"Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around each game," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. "Focusing on a single game allowed us to explore its lore in depth, capturing even more cherished moments from the game's storyline."
The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was driven by a balance of gameplay considerations and the popularity of each game's story. While Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, Final Fantasy VI and X required more deliberation but were ultimately selected due to their popularity among the development team. "This project was a labor of love, with many passionate Final Fantasy fans contributing at every stage," Holt adds.
For Final Fantasy VII, the deck's narrative focuses on the original 1997 game, while incorporating the modern aesthetics from the Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. "We aimed to capture the essence of the original PS1 game's story while enhancing it with the modern visuals from the remakes," says Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set. "This approach allows us to present scenes in a way that feels both nostalgic and fresh."
Final Fantasy VI posed a unique challenge due to its older art style. The team worked closely with the original Final Fantasy VI developers to ensure the character designs felt true to fans' memories while introducing new elements. "We synthesized elements from Yoshitaka Amano's concept art, the original game's sprites, and the Pixel Remaster portraits to create something new yet familiar," Deveney explains.
Choosing the lead characters for each deck involved careful consideration. While Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy VII, other selections required more thought. For Final Fantasy VI, Celes was considered but ultimately, Terra was chosen to lead the deck focused on the World of Ruin. Yuna was a contender for Final Fantasy X, but Tidus was selected to represent the Sphere Grid system. For Final Fantasy XIV, Y'shtola was chosen due to her popularity and spellcasting abilities, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc.
Each deck's color identity was carefully crafted to reflect the game's themes and desired gameplay. The Final Fantasy VI deck, centered on the World of Ruin, focuses on rebuilding your party from the graveyard. Final Fantasy VII's deck, led by Cloud, incorporates equipment strategies with a white-red-green color identity, emphasizing power and the lifestream. Final Fantasy X's deck, led by Tidus, uses a white-blue-green strategy inspired by the Sphere Grid, while Final Fantasy XIV's deck, led by Y'shtola, leans into a white-blue-black color identity for noncreature spell casting.
While the Commander format focuses on the leader, RPGs are about the entire party. "Final Fantasy games are full of beloved and villainous characters, and we made sure to include them in these decks," Holt assures. "Fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters as new legendary creatures and in action on other spells."
The Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy set will be available starting June 13. Each of the four decks will come in both 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. And don't worry if your favorite Final Fantasy game or character isn't included in these decks—Daniel Holt promises that all sixteen mainline games will have their moments in the accompanying products.
For a deeper dive into the creation of these decks, read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.
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