"Final Fantasy Commander Decks Unveiled: Cloud, Tidus Featured"

Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you've likely heard about its exciting video game crossovers in recent years, spanning titles like Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, we're thrilled to offer an exclusive sneak peek at one of the most anticipated collaborations yet: Final Fantasy. This crossover isn't just featuring one game but showcases four iconic mainline Final Fantasy titles—6, 7, 10, and 14—each represented through unique preconstructed Commander decks.

**Flip through the image gallery below** for an initial glimpse at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, dive into our detailed discussion with Wizards of the Coast to uncover what awaits inside these decks, why these specific games were selected, 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 offer a fully draftable, Standard-legal set alongside the four preconstructed decks highlighted above. Each deck contains 100 cards, a mix of reprints adorned with new Final Fantasy artwork and innovative cards tailored for the beloved Commander format. Each deck is meticulously themed around a single Final Fantasy game, allowing for a deep dive into the lore and beloved moments from each title.

"Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around," explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. "Focusing on individual games enabled us to delve deeply into their narratives, capturing even more cherished moments."

The selection of Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14 for these decks was driven by a combination of gameplay considerations and the overall recognition of each game's story. Holt notes that while Final Fantasy 7 and 14 were obvious choices, the inclusion of 6 and 10 sparked more debate, ultimately chosen because they are favorites among the team. "This project saw high engagement from our team, filled with passionate Final Fantasy fans," Holt adds.

When it comes to Final Fantasy 7, with its ongoing remake trilogy, the Commander deck aims to honor the original 1997 game's narrative while incorporating the modern aesthetics of the remakes. "Our approach was to capture the essence of the original PS1 game's story, enhancing it with the visual fidelity of the remakes," says Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set. "We chose to blend elements from both versions, hoping to evoke nostalgia while offering a fresh experience."

Final Fantasy 6 presents a unique challenge due to its more limited art resources. Deveney highlights their aim to stay true to the pixel art sprites and concept art while expanding on them. "We worked closely with the Final Fantasy 6 team to update the character designs to meet Magic's art standards, ensuring they resonate with fans' memories," he says.

Choosing the lead characters for each deck involved thoughtful consideration. While Cloud was a natural choice for Final Fantasy 7, other selections like Terra for 6, Tidus for 10, and Y'shtola for 14 required more deliberation. Holt explains that Y'shtola's deck reflects her Shadowbringers arc, and although a "Warrior of Light" concept was considered, they opted to celebrate the personal hero within the deck's 99 cards.

Crafting a deck to encapsulate an entire video game's story, characters, and themes within the framework of Magic's five colors posed a significant challenge. "Deciding the color identity for each game and the desired gameplay was crucial," Holt states. Each deck's design reflects its game's essence: Final Fantasy 6 focuses on reviving party members, 7 emphasizes equipment and power matters, 10 channels the Sphere Grid system, and 14 explores noncreature spell casting.

While the Commander decks spotlight their leaders, Holt reassures fans that the supporting casts will not be overlooked. "Final Fantasy games are filled with memorable characters, and we've made sure to include them as new legendary creatures and exciting spells within each deck."

Magic's Final Fantasy set is slated for release on June 13. Whether your favorite game or character is represented here or not, Holt promises that all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will have their moments to shine in accompanying products. Echoing the success of 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 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:*