Wizards of the Coast has released new details on the upcoming Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering crossover. The crossover will showcase various iconic characters in the Commander decks alongside new gameplay mechanics.
The Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering Preview
In an official press release, Wizards of the Coast showcased both new cards and gameplay features coming in the Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering crossover.
As discussed in the initial announcement, this new set, much like Bloomburrow and Lord of the Rings, will include boosters, four Commander decks, and a starter set. Each Commander deck will act as adaptations of a specific iconic Final Fantasy games: Final Fantasy VI, Final Fantasy VII, Final Fantasy X, and the Shadowbringers arc of Final Fantasy XIV.
The release will feature over 100 iconic Final Fantasy characters with over 55 in special booster fun versions. These will be showcasing the influential artwork of several artists in the series including Yoshitaka Amano and Tetsuya Nomura. Those characters will feature in Borderless Character Cards, Borderless Woodblock Cards inspired by Japanese woodblock paintings, and Borderless Final Fantasy Artist cards.
The characters getting this treatment are familiar and beloved. They include the prodigal knight Cecil. the existential threat known as Sin, the goofy Cactuar, and the iconic Moogle merchant.
In addition, this new set will feature Final Fantasy Through The Ages, a collection of classic Magic cards with with Final Fantasy artwork. Examples include Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow as Yuffie Kisaragi and Ancient Copper Dragon as Final Fantasy I's Dragon of Mount Gulg. Both of these cards feature the acclaimed work of Final Fantasy series' artists Yoshitaka Amano and Tetsuya Nomura. The Final Fantasy Through the Ages is a bonus sheet, so will be included in boosters in some form or another that is not yet specified. We have previously seen it in only collector boosters (planeswalkers in collector's boosters for Bloomburrow), multiple types in each play/draft booster (Wilds of Eldraine, and March of the Machine) as examples, and more.
In addition, the Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering Commander decks will introduce new and returning mechanics. First is the return of Double-Faced Cards. Pay the mana cost on the front to play the card, then flip it when the required conditions are met.
Second is the introduction of Saga Creatures, which are depictions of Final Fantasy Summons. They cost a bit of mana and leave the battlefield after a fixed number of turns, but the investment may be worth it with the right combo.
Lastly, Wizards of the Coast will be releasing three Final Fantasy Secret Lair drops alongside the release of these Commander Decks. As for what those Secret Lairs will include, that remains to be seen.
Magic: The Gathering - Final Fantasy will release on June 13, with the pre-release happening a week earlier.
