Cloud, Tidus in New Final Fantasy Commander Decks Unveiled

Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you've likely noticed its recent surge in video game crossovers, featuring titles like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, we're thrilled to offer an exclusive first look at one of the most anticipated collaborations yet: Final Fantasy. This isn't just any Final Fantasy crossover; it spans four iconic mainline games, from Final Fantasy VI to Final Fantasy XIV, each represented in the preconstructed Commander decks that headline this set.

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 rationale behind selecting these four games, 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 be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented 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. While Commander precons typically revolve around specific characters, colors, or strategies, these decks are uniquely themed around individual Final Fantasy games: 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 selection of these four Final Fantasy games was driven by a balance of gameplay considerations and the overall recognition of each game's story. Holt notes that while Final Fantasy VII and XIV were straightforward choices, VI and X required more deliberation but were ultimately selected due to their popularity among the team. “This project was unique because everyone at Wizards of the Coast was deeply invested in its development, given the high number of passionate Final Fantasy fans within our team.”

When it comes to the direction of each deck, decisions had to be made about which aspects of the games to highlight. For instance, Final Fantasy VII’s ongoing remake trilogy influenced the deck's design. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, explains that the Final Fantasy VII deck will primarily follow the narrative of the 1997 classic while incorporating the modern aesthetics from Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. “Our goal was to capture the essence of the original PS1 game’s story while elevating the visual fidelity of characters, story moments, and iconic locations using the modern series’ aesthetics,” Deveney says. “We aimed to blend elements from both versions to create a deck that feels both nostalgic and fresh.”

Final Fantasy VI posed a unique challenge due to its older art style. Deveney shares that they aimed to stay true to the game's pixel art and limited concept art while also expanding on them. “We wanted the character designs to evoke the nostalgia of how fans remember them, even though they are a blend of various references and new ideas,” he says. To achieve this, Wizards of the Coast collaborated directly with the Final Fantasy VI team to update the characters to meet Magic's art standards.

The process involved synthesizing elements from Yoshitaka Amano’s original concept art, the FFVI sprites, and the FFVI Pixel Remaster character portraits. “We encouraged our artists to enhance details and explore new elements in fabric, patterns, and textures,” Deveney adds. “We then worked closely with the Final Fantasy VI review team to ensure we preserved core elements while incorporating exciting new features.”

Choosing the lead characters for each deck was another critical aspect. While Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy VII, other selections required more thought. Celes was considered for Final Fantasy VI due to the deck's focus on the World of Ruin, and Yuna was a contender for Final Fantasy X as a fan-favorite. Ultimately, they opted for the lead characters, but Final Fantasy XIV presented a unique challenge as an MMO.

Holt explains that Y’shtola was chosen for Final Fantasy XIV due to her popularity and role as a spellcaster, with her Shadowbringers arc providing a rich source of abilities and moments for the deck. They also considered a “Warrior of Light” concept but found it too complex to execute. “Even without being the leader, the Warrior of Light still has significant moments in the deck,” Holt notes.

Crafting a deck that encapsulates an entire game's story, characters, and themes within Magic's five-color system was a complex task. “We had to decide on the color identity for each game and the desired gameplay,” Holt says. Notably, all four decks include White, which helped to cover a wide range of heroes and thematic elements.

The Final Fantasy VI deck focuses on the latter part of the game, emphasizing rebuilding your party by bringing creatures back from the graveyard. For Final Fantasy VII, Cloud's association with equipment aligns well with a white-red deck, but adding green allowed for “power matters” cards and references to the Planet and lifestream. Final Fantasy X leverages Tidus’ ability to pass counters around, drawing inspiration from the Sphere Grid system to empower creatures. Final Fantasy XIV’s white-blue-black color identity enabled a focus on noncreature spell casting while including key characters.

While the Commander format centers on the leader, RPGs often highlight the entire party. Holt assures fans that the supporting casts of these games will not be overlooked. “Final Fantasy games are full of beloved and villainous characters, and including them in these decks was crucial,” he says. “While I can’t reveal specifics yet, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters as new legendary creatures and in action on other exciting spells.”

Magic's Final Fantasy set will be released 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 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.

Read on for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney: