As someone who grew up playing every Final Fantasy release every day until I finished it and newly getting into Magic: The Gathering, I can honestly say: this is the kind of crossover that dreams are made of. Wizards of the Coast has officially pulled back the curtain on Magic: The Gathering—Final Fantasy, and it’s not just good. It’s legendary.
What we’re looking at here isn’t a gimmick. It’s a love letter. Two titans of gaming—one born from epic fantasy deck duels, the other from sprawling JRPG sagas—have finally collided in a way that feels earned, meaningful, and downright emotional. These are franchises that have survived console generations, meta shifts, and entire cultural movements. And yet, they’ve grown stronger and more iconic. So now, seeing Magic’s intricate mechanics and storytelling ability blend with Final Fantasy’s unforgettable characters, summons, jobs, and drama… it just feels right.
The cards themselves. You can tell this wasn’t just a licensing move. The Wizards team studied these games. They internalized the personalities of Terra, Cloud, Zidane, Lightning, and beyond. They brought in classic Final Fantasy artists like Yoshitaka Amano and Tetsuya Nomura, not just for flair, but to anchor these cards in real emotional memory.
One thing that instantly jumped out to me: this set is very Equipment-heavy, and it totally fits. Final Fantasy has always been about weapons, relics, and gear that define your strategy. Whether it’s a sword passed down through generations or a stolen accessory that gives you a combat edge, gear matters in FF—and seeing that come through in Magic’s mechanics is just chef’s kiss. Especially with Job Select tying right into the identity of each piece of Equipment, it feels like you're actually building your character, not just your board.
A mechanic making it’s return in a new way is adventures, adventures on lands. I didn't expect that, and it rules. Towns aren’t just passive resources—they’re active participants in your journey, just like in the games. Every village, every stop on the map becomes a potential move in your story. I love how this set blends the flavor of world-traveling JRPGs with the tactical depth of Magic.
We’re getting over 100 legendary creatures—let that sink in. These are the stories we’ve played through, cried over, and screamed at (you know who you are, Seymour). Now they’re immortalized with mechanics that fit. Saga creatures capture the feeling of iconic summons bursting into battle. One part of the magic in Final Fantasy games is tiered magic, such as Fire, Fira, Firaga. WoTC has implemented this by creating a brand new mechanic called Teired Sorcery cards, where you can pay extra mana to create a stronger spell. And transforming double-faced cards, echo the narrative arcs of the characters themselves, letting their growth play out mid-game.
Even the “Through the Ages” bonus sheet, which uses iconic Final Fantasy artwork on beloved Magic cards, just hits differently. It’s like a museum tour of everything that’s made these games unforgettable—only now you can draw them into your opening hand.
And yes, we're getting the full Magic treatment here. That means Booster Packs, Draft Boxes, Collector Boosters—you name it. But it doesn’t stop there. We’re also getting four brand-new Commander decks, each themed around iconic Final Fantasy factions and characters. And for those of us who love their decks as shiny as a freshly summoned Bahamut, Wizards is going all-in with Collector’s Edition Commander decks—each one loaded with 100 foil cards.
This collaboration is a celebration of what happens when passion meets precision. Final Fantasy and Magic: The Gathering are perfectly harmonized.
June 13th can’t come fast enough. And if you really can’t wait, prerelease starts June 6th.
