Even if you're not a regular player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely familiar with its recent video game crossovers, featuring beloved titles like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. But today, we're excited to offer an exclusive first look at one of the most anticipated collaborations yet: Final Fantasy. This crossover isn't just a nod to one game but celebrates four mainline Final Fantasy titles: VI, VII, X, and XIV, each represented in the set's preconstructed Commander decks.
**Explore the image gallery below** to see the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, delve into our conversation with Wizards of the Coast to learn more about what you can expect from these decks, the reasoning behind choosing these specific games, and much more.
Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering - Commander Decks Reveal
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Scheduled for release in June, Magic's Final Fantasy crossover will be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, accompanied by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery. Each deck contains 100 cards, a mix of reprints with new Final Fantasy art and entirely new cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around specific Final Fantasy games, allowing for a deep dive into the lore and characters of VI, VII, X, and XIV.
"Final Fantasy games are rich with unique settings and beloved characters, providing ample material to craft a complete deck centered around each game," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. "Focusing on a single game per deck allowed us to capture more of the game’s storyline and lore, showcasing cherished moments that might otherwise have been overlooked."
The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was driven by a combination of gameplay considerations and the popularity of each story. While Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, VI and X required more discussion. "These were favorites among our team, and everyone at Wizards was deeply invested in the development process, given our passion for Final Fantasy," Holt added.
When it comes to Final Fantasy VII, the ongoing remake trilogy posed a unique challenge. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, shared that the Commander deck for VII focuses on the narrative of the 1997 original while incorporating the aesthetic enhancements from the remakes. "We aimed to capture the essence of the original PS1 game while elevating it with the modern aesthetics of the remakes, blending elements from both to create a nostalgic yet fresh experience," Deveney said.
Final Fantasy VI, lacking the modern art references of the other games, presented its own set of challenges. "We wanted to stay true to the pixel art and limited concept art while expanding upon them," Deveney noted. "Our approach involved synthesizing Yoshitaka Amano’s original concept art, the game’s sprites, and the Pixel Remaster character portraits to create designs that feel both nostalgic and new. We also worked closely with the Final Fantasy VI team to ensure we captured the essence of these characters accurately."
Choosing the leaders for each deck was another critical decision. While Cloud was an obvious choice for VII, other games required more thought. "For VI, we considered Celes due to the focus on the World of Ruin, and Yuna for X because of her fan-favorite status. Ultimately, we went with the lead characters," Holt explained. For XIV, Y’shtola was selected for her popularity and spellcasting abilities, representing her during the Shadowbringers arc.
Fitting an entire game’s story, characters, and themes into a single deck within Magic's color system was a complex task. "We chose the color identity to reflect the game's theme and desired gameplay," Holt said. For example, the VI deck focuses on rebuilding your party by reviving creatures from the graveyard, while VII's deck leverages Cloud's equipment strategies with a white-red-green color identity.
The deck for X draws inspiration from the Sphere Grid system, using a white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures. For XIV, the white-blue-black color identity allowed for a focus on noncreature spells while including key characters.
"Final Fantasy games are known for their memorable characters, both heroes and villains, and we made sure to include them in these decks," Holt emphasized. "While we can't reveal specifics yet, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters as new legendary creatures and in action-packed spells."
The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set is set to launch on June 13. Even if your favorite game or character isn't included in these decks, rest assured that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will be celebrated in various products. Like 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), with the latter featuring all 100 cards in a special Surge foil treatment.
For a deeper insight into the creation of these decks, read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.
