Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely aware of its expansive range of video game collaborations in recent years, spanning titles like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. However, the latest crossover to capture fans' attention is the highly anticipated partnership with Final Fantasy. This collaboration isn't just a nod to one Final Fantasy game but celebrates four iconic entries—Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV—each represented in a uniquely crafted preconstructed Commander deck.
Dive into our exclusive image gallery below to catch a glimpse of the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, we've had the opportunity to sit down with Wizards of the Coast to discuss what fans can expect from these decks, the reasoning behind choosing these specific Final Fantasy 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 Final Fantasy crossover promises a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by four meticulously designed preconstructed decks featured in the gallery above. Each deck comprises 100 cards, blending reprints with new Final Fantasy-themed artwork and innovative cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game: VI, VII, X, and XIV.
According to Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, who leads the Commander aspect of the set, "Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around a single game. This approach allowed us to delve deep into the lore, capturing iconic moments from each game's storyline."
The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was driven by a blend of desired gameplay dynamics and the prominence of each game's narrative. Holt notes that while Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, Final Fantasy VI and X required more discussion due to their internal popularity among the team. "This project saw immense enthusiasm from our team, filled with passionate Final Fantasy fans at every stage of development," Holt adds.
Navigating the complexities of Final Fantasy VII's ongoing remake trilogy posed a unique challenge. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, explained, "Our approach with Final Fantasy VII was to encapsulate the narrative of the original PS1 game, while leveraging the modern aesthetics of the remake and Rebirth to enhance character designs, story moments, and iconic locations. We aimed to create a deck that feels both nostalgic and fresh for fans of the original and the modern series."
For Final Fantasy VI, capturing the essence of its pixel art and limited concept art was crucial. Deveney shared, "We worked closely with the Final Fantasy VI team to update character designs, blending Yoshitaka Amano's original art, the game's sprites, and the Pixel Remaster portraits. Our goal was to create designs that resonate with fans' memories while introducing new elements."
Choosing the lead characters for each deck involved thoughtful consideration. While Cloud was a natural fit for Final Fantasy VII, other selections required more deliberation. Holt mentioned, "For Final Fantasy VI, we considered Celes due to the World of Ruin theme, and for X, Yuna was a strong contender. Ultimately, we opted for the lead characters, but with Final Fantasy XIV being an MMO, Y'shtola's popularity and her role as a spellcaster made her an ideal choice, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc."
Crafting a deck to encapsulate an entire game's story, characters, and themes within Magic's five-color system was a significant challenge. Holt elaborated, "We had to decide on the color identity for each game and the desired gameplay. All four decks include White to reflect the heroic themes and to accommodate a wide range of characters."
The deck for Final Fantasy VI focuses on rebuilding your party from the graveyard, reflecting the game's latter half. Final Fantasy VII's deck, led by Cloud, integrates equipment strategies with a white-red-green color identity, emphasizing power and the lifestream. Final Fantasy X's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, employs a white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures, while Final Fantasy XIV's white-blue-black deck leans into noncreature spell casting, featuring beloved characters.
Holt emphasized the importance of including a broad cast of characters, stating, "Final Fantasy games are filled with memorable heroes and villains. Fans can look forward to seeing their favorites as new legendary creatures and in action on other spells within the 99 cards of each deck."
The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set is set to launch on June 13. Even if your favorite Final Fantasy game or character isn't featured in these decks, Holt reassures fans that "all sixteen mainline games will have their moments in the accompanying products."
Echoing the success of the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks from 2022, these Final Fantasy decks will be available in both a standard 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 an in-depth look at the creative process behind these decks, read on for our full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.
