Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you've likely noticed its recent forays into video game crossovers, with notable collaborations including Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. But the latest and perhaps most thrilling crossover is with Final Fantasy. This collaboration isn't just limited to one game; it spans four iconic titles—Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV—each featured in its own preconstructed Commander deck within the upcoming set.
**Flip through the image gallery below** to get an exclusive first look at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Dive deeper into our interview with Wizards of the Coast to learn more about what these decks contain, why these specific games were chosen, 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, accompanied by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, combining reprints with new Final Fantasy-themed art and brand-new cards tailored for the Commander format. Each deck is uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game, providing 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, making it easy to create a full deck around each game's theme,” says Daniel Holt, Senior Game Designer and Commander Lead for the set. “Focusing on one game per deck allowed us to explore the lore in greater detail and capture cherished moments from each storyline.”
The selection of these four Final Fantasy titles was based on a blend of gameplay considerations and the popularity of each game's story. While Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, VI and X required more discussion, ultimately chosen due to their popularity among the development team. “This project saw immense enthusiasm from our team, filled with passionate Final Fantasy fans,” Holt adds.
The Final Fantasy VII Commander deck presents a unique challenge, given the ongoing remake trilogy. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, explains that while the deck's art incorporates elements from both the original and the remakes, the narrative strictly follows the 1997 classic. “We aimed to capture the essence of the original game while enhancing it with modern aesthetics from the remakes,” Deveney says.
For Final Fantasy VI, capturing the essence of the pixel art and limited concept art was crucial. Deveney notes that they worked closely with the Final Fantasy VI team to ensure the character designs felt nostalgic yet fresh. “Our goal was to create designs that resonated with fans' memories of the characters, blending multiple references into something new,” he explains.
Selecting the lead characters for each deck involved careful consideration. While Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy VII, other games required more brainstorming. For Final Fantasy VI, Celes was considered, but Terra was ultimately chosen. Yuna was a contender for Final Fantasy X, but Tidus took the lead. Y’shtola was selected for Final Fantasy XIV due to her popularity and versatile spellcasting abilities, focusing on her Shadowbringers arc.
Each deck's color identity was chosen to reflect the game's themes and gameplay. The Final Fantasy VI deck, centered around the World of Ruin, focuses on bringing creatures back from the graveyard. Final Fantasy VII's deck, with Cloud at the helm, integrates equipment strategies and 'power matters' themes. Final Fantasy X's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, emphasizes empowering creatures through counters. Final Fantasy XIV's deck leans into noncreature spell casting, utilizing a white-blue-black color identity.
While the Commander decks highlight lead characters, the supporting casts from each game are not overlooked. “Final Fantasy games are filled with memorable characters, both heroes and villains, and we made sure to include them in the decks,” Holt states, promising fans will see their favorites as new legendary creatures and in action-packed spells.
Magic’s Final Fantasy set will be released on June 13, and even if your favorite game or character isn't featured in these decks, Holt reassures that “all sixteen mainline games will have their moments to shine in the accompanying products.”
Similar to the Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks from 2022, these Final Fantasy 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 an in-depth look, continue reading our full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney.*
