Even if you're not an avid player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely aware of its recent video game crossovers, including Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. The latest and perhaps the most thrilling collaboration yet is with Final Fantasy. This isn't just a nod to a single game; it spans four iconic mainline titles: Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV. Each is represented in the set's preconstructed Commander decks, featuring characters from Terra to Y'shtola.

**Explore the image gallery below** to get an exclusive first look at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, delve into our discussion with Wizards of the Coast to learn more 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, the Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover will offer a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by the four preconstructed decks showcased above. Each deck contains 100 cards, a mix of reprints with new Final Fantasy art and freshly designed cards tailored for the Commander format. While Commander decks typically revolve around themes, characters, or strategies, these unique decks are each dedicated to a specific Final Fantasy game: 6, 7, 10, and 14.

"The rich flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings of Final Fantasy games provided ample material to design a full deck around each game," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. "Focusing on a single game allowed us to delve deep into its lore, capturing cherished moments that we might not have been able to include otherwise."

The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was based on a combination of gameplay desires and the recognition of their stories. Holt notes that 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 within the team. "This project saw immense passion from everyone at Wizards, as we have so many dedicated Final Fantasy fans," Holt adds.

Decisions on the narrative direction were critical, especially with Final Fantasy 7's ongoing remake trilogy. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer at Wizards of the Coast and Narrative Lead for the set, explains that the Commander deck for Final Fantasy 7 will focus on the 1997 classic's story while incorporating the modern aesthetics of the remake series. "We aimed to capture the essence of the original PS1 game while enhancing it with the modern aesthetics of Final Fantasy VII Remake and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth," Deveney states. "We chose to blend scenes from both versions, hoping to evoke nostalgia and familiarity for players of both."

For Final Fantasy 6, the challenge was to stay true to the pixel art and limited concept art while expanding on it. Deveney emphasizes their approach to hybridize various references into a new, yet familiar, design. "We worked closely with the Final Fantasy 6 team to ensure the character designs resonated with fans' memories while introducing new elements," he says.

Selecting the lead characters for each deck was a thoughtful process. While Cloud was an obvious choice for Final Fantasy 7, other selections involved brainstorming. For Final Fantasy 6, Celes was considered but ultimately, the team chose to focus on the lead characters. Final Fantasy 14's Y'shtola was picked due to her popularity and her role as a spellcaster, particularly during her Shadowbringers arc. Although the concept of a customizable "Warrior of Light" was explored, Holt notes the complexities involved, but assures that the deck still honors the player's personal hero.

Crafting a deck that encapsulates an entire game's story and themes within Magic's five-color system was another challenge. "We had to consider both the color identity of the game and the desired gameplay," Holt explains. The deck for Final Fantasy 6 focuses on rebuilding the party from the graveyard, fitting the game's World of Ruin theme. Final Fantasy 7's deck leverages Cloud's equipment strategy with a white-red-green color identity, emphasizing power and the lifestream. Final Fantasy 10's deck, centered on Tidus, reflects the Sphere Grid system with a white-blue-green strategy, while Final Fantasy 14's deck uses a white-blue-black identity to focus on noncreature spell casting.

Commander decks are known for their leaders, but Holt assures fans that the supporting casts of these games will also shine. "Final Fantasy games are filled with beloved and villainous characters, and including them in these decks was crucial," he says. "While we can't reveal specifics yet, fans can look forward to seeing their favorite characters as new legendary creatures and in exciting spells."

The Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy set will launch on June 13. Each of the four 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. Holt reassures fans that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will have their moments in the accompanying products.

For a deeper insight into the set, read on for our full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney: