Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely aware of its exciting collaborations with popular video game franchises like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, we're thrilled to bring you an exclusive preview of one of the most anticipated crossovers yet: Final Fantasy. This collaboration isn't limited to just one game; it spans four iconic mainline Final Fantasy titles, featuring characters from Terra to Y’shtola, each represented in their own preconstructed Commander deck.
**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 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 this June, Magic's Final Fantasy crossover will be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, accompanied by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, featuring both reprints with new Final Fantasy art and brand-new cards tailored for the popular Commander format. Unlike typical Commander precons, these decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game – specifically 6, 7, 10, and 14.
“Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around a single game,” explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. “Focusing on one game allowed us to delve deeply into its lore, capturing cherished moments from the game’s storyline that we might not have been able to otherwise.”
“The team chose these four Final Fantasy games based on a balance of desired gameplay and the overall recognition of each story,” Holt adds. While Final Fantasy 7 and 14 were straightforward choices, 6 and 10 required more discussion but were selected partly because they were favorites among the team. “This project was a labor of love, with many passionate Final Fantasy fans at Wizards of the Coast contributing at every stage of development.”
When it comes to Final Fantasy 7, its ongoing remake trilogy influenced the design of its Commander deck. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, explains that the deck captures the narrative of the original 1997 game while incorporating the modern aesthetics from the remakes. “We aimed to blend the original game's narrative with the enhanced visuals of the remakes, offering a nostalgic yet fresh experience for fans of both versions,” Deveney says.
Final Fantasy 6 presented a unique challenge due to its older art style. Deveney notes that they wanted to stay true to the pixel art and limited concept art while also expanding on them. “We worked closely with the Final Fantasy 6 team to update the character designs, ensuring they feel familiar yet refreshed,” he says. The process involved synthesizing elements from Yoshitaka Amano’s original concept art, the game's sprites, and the Pixel Remaster portraits to create a cohesive new look.
Choosing the lead characters for each deck was another critical decision. While Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy 7, other selections required more thought. Celes was considered for Final Fantasy 6, and Yuna for Final Fantasy 10, but ultimately, the decks focused on the lead characters. For Final Fantasy 14, Y’shtola was chosen due to her popularity and spellcasting abilities, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc. Although the idea of a customizable “Warrior of Light” commander was considered, Holt explains that it was too complex to execute effectively.
Crafting a deck to encapsulate an entire game's story, characters, and themes within Magic's five-color system was a significant challenge. “We had to decide on the color identity for each game and the desired gameplay,” Holt says. All four decks include White to cover a wide range of heroes. The deck for Final Fantasy 6 focuses on rebuilding your party from the graveyard, while Final Fantasy 7's deck leverages Cloud's equipment strategies with a white-red-green color identity. Final Fantasy 10's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, uses a white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures, and Final Fantasy 14's white-blue-black deck emphasizes noncreature spell casting.
While the Commander format centers on the leader, RPGs are about the entire party. Holt assures fans that the decks will include many beloved and villainous characters from each game as new legendary creatures and exciting spells. “Final Fantasy games are full of memorable characters, and we made sure to include them in the 99 cards of each deck,” he says.
Magic’s Final Fantasy set is scheduled for release on June 13. Even if your favorite Final Fantasy game or character isn't featured in these decks, Holt promises 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 decks will be available 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.
*For a deeper dive, read the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney below:*
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