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Magic: The Gathering's highly anticipated Final Fantasy crossover is almost here! This June, get ready for a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, plus four exciting preconstructed Commander decks, each themed around a different mainline Final Fantasy game: VI, VII, X, and XIV.
A First Look at the Commander Decks:
Browse the gallery below for a sneak peek at the key card and packaging for each deck.
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Each 100-card deck features a blend of reprints with new Final Fantasy art and brand-new cards designed specifically for Commander. The decks aren't just themed around characters; they delve deep into the lore of each individual game.
Deck Selection and Design Choices:
Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt explains the selection process: While FFVII and FFXIV were easy choices, FFVI and FFX required more deliberation, ultimately chosen due to their popularity within the development team. The team's passion for Final Fantasy is evident throughout the development process.
The design of the FFVII deck cleverly incorporates elements from both the original and the Remake trilogy. Principal Narrative Game Designer Dillon Deveney reveals that while the storyline follows the 1997 classic, the art style leverages the modern aesthetics of the Remake, creating a nostalgic yet visually updated experience.
FFVI presented a unique challenge, given its pixel art origins. The team collaborated with the FFVI team, drawing inspiration from Yoshitaka Amano's concept art, original sprites, and the Pixel Remaster, to create updated character designs that feel both familiar and fresh.
Commander Choices and Deck Strategies:
Choosing the right Commander for each deck was crucial. While Cloud was an obvious choice for FFVII, other selections involved careful consideration. The FFVI deck, focusing on the World of Ruin, emphasizes rebuilding your party from the graveyard. FFVII's deck utilizes a white-red strategy, enhanced by green to incorporate "power matters" cards and elements referencing the Planet and lifestream. FFX's deck, inspired by the Sphere Grid, employs a classic white-blue-green strategy to empower creatures. Finally, the FFXIV deck, featuring Y'shtola during her Shadowbringers arc, uses a white-blue-black color identity to focus on non-creature spellcasting.
Beyond the Commanders, each deck includes a variety of beloved Final Fantasy characters, both heroes and villains, as legendary creatures and spell components.
Release and Collector's Editions:
The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set launches June 13th. All four Commander decks will be available in regular and Collector's Editions, the latter featuring Surge foil treatment on all 100 cards. While these four decks represent a starting point, Holt assures fans that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will be represented across the broader product line.
