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. However, the latest collaboration is set to thrill fans and newcomers alike: Magic: The Gathering is teaming up with Final Fantasy. This isn't just any crossover; it spans four iconic mainline Final Fantasy games, represented through specially designed preconstructed Commander decks.

**Explore the image gallery below** to get an exclusive first look at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Dive deeper into our discussion with Wizards of the Coast to learn about the contents of 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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Scheduled for release in June, this Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover will offer a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, a mix of reprints with new Final Fantasy artwork and brand-new cards tailored for the popular Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game – specifically, 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."

The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was driven by a blend of gameplay considerations and the popularity of their stories. While Final Fantasy 7 and 14 were straightforward choices, Final Fantasy 6 and 10 required more deliberation but were ultimately selected due to their popularity among the development team. "This project saw immense enthusiasm from our team, filled with passionate Final Fantasy fans," Holt adds.

Navigating the narrative direction within these chosen games posed its own challenges. For instance, the ongoing Final Fantasy 7 remake trilogy influenced the design of its Commander deck. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, clarifies that while the deck's art incorporates elements from both the original and the remakes, the story itself remains true to the 1997 classic. "Our goal was to capture the essence of the original PS1 game's narrative while enhancing it with the modern aesthetics of the remakes," Deveney states.

Final Fantasy 6 presented a unique challenge due to its older, pixel art style. Deveney explains that they aimed to stay true to the fans' expectations while expanding on the original designs. "We worked closely with the Final Fantasy 6 team to update the characters to meet Magic's art standards, ensuring the designs felt familiar yet fresh," he says.

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 the team ultimately opted for the lead characters. For Final Fantasy 14, Y'shtola was chosen due to her popularity and versatility as a spellcaster, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc.

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 balance the game's color identity with the desired gameplay," Holt notes. Each deck's color combination was carefully chosen to reflect its theme and gameplay mechanics. For example, Final Fantasy 6's deck focuses on rebuilding your party, while Final Fantasy 7's deck leverages Cloud's equipment strategies.

While the Commander format centers on the leader, RPGs are about the entire party. Holt assures fans that the decks will feature a range of beloved and villainous characters from each game, integrated as new legendary creatures and exciting 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 included in these decks, Holt promises that all sixteen mainline games will have their moments in the accompanying products. Like 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.*