Final Fantasy Commander Decks Full of Fun, Surprise References

Wizards of the Coast has been building anticipation for the highly awaited Magic: The Gathering crossover with Final Fantasy this summer. Over the weekend, they unveiled a substantial collection of cards from both the main set and the Commander decks, sparking excitement among fans who are thrilled to see familiar faces and iconic moments from their beloved Final Fantasy games.

The Universes Beyond collaboration with Final Fantasy brings us both the traditional Commander format and a new booster-driven series, offering an extensive array of cards to explore. The main set spans the entire mainline series, from Final Fantasy 1 to Final Fantasy 16, capturing the essence of each game. Meanwhile, the Commander Decks hone in on four specific titles: Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14, featuring Terra, Cloud, Tidus, and Y'shtola as their respective Commanders.

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During the Magic: The Gathering panel at PAX East, fans got a glimpse of cards that beautifully depict character journeys. For instance, Final Fantasy IV's Cecil has a unique mechanic reflecting his transformation from a Dark Knight to a Paladin. The summons from Final Fantasy are portrayed as "Saga Creatures," blending the mechanics of Magic with Final Fantasy's iconic summon system.

Notable cards like Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, feature stunning artwork by Tetsuya Nomura, showcasing Sephiroth's evolution from a young fighter to his final form as Safer Sephiroth on the card Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel.

[FIN] Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel (Debut Showcase)
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And no Final Fantasy set would be complete without the iconic Cids. Wizards of the Coast included a Cid from each mainline game, opting for the older Cid from Final Fantasy XV over Cindy.

[FIN] Cid, Timeless Artificer (Debut Stream)
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Following the panel, Wizards released the decklists for the four Commander decks, and fans eagerly analyzed the art and card additions, appreciating how the team creatively adapted elements from Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14 into Magic: The Gathering.

Reprints and new versions of existing Magic cards cleverly integrate Final Fantasy lore. For example, Skullclamp's art references the Jenova project from Final Fantasy 7, while Together, Forever touches on the emotional journey of Final Fantasy 10's protagonists through a ruined world on a somber pilgrimage. Be aware that some cards may contain story spoilers for each game.

[FIC] Skullclamp, feat JENOVA
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To balance the intensity, lighter moments from Final Fantasy 10, like the iconic and often memed Inspiring Call, also found their way into the cards.

[FIC] Inspiring Call
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Wizards creatively incorporated Final Fantasy's humorous scenes into the cards as well. Clever Concealment features the Wall Market scene with Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa in dresses, heading to Don Corneo's, and includes a fitting mechanic. Secret Rendezvous offers four different versions of the Golden Saucer date scene from Final Fantasy 7, featuring Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, and Barret.

[FIC] Four versions of Secret Rendezvous
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Fans have been delighted to find the meticulous details that pay homage to the source material. The Final Fantasy 14 set, in particular, contains numerous references to the acclaimed MMORPG. The Hildibrand Manderville card reflects his characteristic disappearing and reappearing, while the Archaeomancer's Map uses a real location from a Gaganaskin Treasure Map.

Final Fantasy 14 players have enjoyed the cards, with humorous references like the "This is Thancred" meme and a playful alternative flavor text for the Rite of Replication card, echoing a memorable speech from A Realm Reborn.

Honestly, I feel like this was too much flavor text for the MTG collab card...
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The Tome of Legends card even features a Wondrous Tails book, complete with in-game details and missed connections, showcasing the attention to detail in the set.

Khloe Made It To MTG (Spoilers: Heavensward)
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The dedication to detail in these cards has me eager to see the full set. While the Commander games receive much love, other reveals like Commune With Beavers have me curious about how the rest of the Final Fantasy games will be integrated into the Magic: The Gathering set.

Mark your calendars: Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy set is set to launch on June 13, 2025, with a pre-release weekend a week earlier.