Magic: The Gathering's Final Fantasy Commander Decks Are Packed With Fun, Surprising References

Wizards of the Coast is stirring excitement in the gaming community with their latest announcement about the highly anticipated Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy crossover set to launch this summer. Over the weekend, they unveiled a substantial selection of cards from both the main set and the specialized Commander decks, sparking joy and nostalgia among fans who spotted familiar characters and iconic moments from their beloved Final Fantasy series.

The Universes Beyond collaboration with Final Fantasy is not just a one-size-fits-all approach; it includes both the popular Commander format and a booster-driven series, offering a vast array of cards to explore. The main set spans the entire timeline of Final Fantasy's mainline games, from Final Fantasy 1 to the upcoming Final Fantasy 16. On the other hand, the Commander Decks are tailored to spotlight four specific games: Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14, each led by their respective Commanders: Terra, Cloud, Tidus, and Y'shtola.

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During the Magic: The Gathering panel at PAX East, several cards were showcased that beautifully captured the essence and journey of characters across their respective games. A standout example is Cecil from Final Fantasy IV, who transitions from a Dark Knight to a Paladin through a unique card mechanic. The Final Fantasy summons are brought to life through a "Saga Creature" setup, which introduces powerful yet fleeting forces to the battlefield, seamlessly blending the worlds of Magic and Final Fantasy.

Among the highlights is Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, featuring artwork by Square's Tetsuya Nomura. This card visually narrates Sephiroth's evolution from a young fighter to his ultimate form, Safer Sephiroth, as depicted on the card Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel.

[FIN] Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER // Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel (Debut Showcase)
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No Final Fantasy crossover would be complete without the iconic Cids. This set includes a Cid from each mainline game, with a notable choice being the older Cid from Final Fantasy XV, rather than his daughter, Cindy.

[FIN] Cid, Timeless Artificer (Debut Stream)
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Following the panel, Wizards of the Coast released the decklists for the four Commander decks, allowing fans to dive deep into the art and thematic elements, which successfully translate the essence of Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14 into the world of Magic: The Gathering.

Reprints and new versions of existing Magic cards have been creatively integrated with Final Fantasy lore. For instance, the card Skullclamp draws inspiration from the Jenova project in Final Fantasy 7. Similarly, Together, Forever resonates emotionally with Final Fantasy 10 enthusiasts, tapping into the game's poignant narrative of a journey through a devastated world.

[FIC] Skullclamp, feat JENOVA
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.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }> [FIC] Together, Forever

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To add a lighter touch, the set includes nods to some of Final Fantasy's more humorous moments. The card Inspiring Call captures a well-known and often memed scene from Final Fantasy 10, while Clever Concealment brings to life the Wall Market scene from Final Fantasy 7, complete with Cloud, Aerith, and Tifa in disguise. The Secret Rendezvous card offers four different versions of the Golden Saucer date scene, featuring potential dates with Aerith, Tifa, Yuffie, and Barret.

[FIC] Inspiring Call
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.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }> [FIC] Clever Concealment

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.reddit-embed-wrapper iframe { margin-left: 0 !important; }> [FIC] Four versions of Secret Rendezvous

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Fans have also been delighted to discover the meticulous details that pay homage to the source material. The Final Fantasy 14 set, in particular, is rich with references to the critically acclaimed MMORPG, such as the Hildibrand Manderville card, which reflects the character's signature disappearances and returns, and the Archaeomancer's Map, which uses a real location from a Gaganaskin Treasure Map.

Final Fantasy 14 players have embraced the crossover with humor and creativity. There's playful speculation about the Thancred card, referencing the "This is Thancred" meme, and a fan's creative addition of alternative flavor text to the Rite of Replication card, commemorating 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 replicates the Wondrous Tails book from Final Fantasy 14, complete with in-game details and the ever-frustrating near-misses at four-in-a-row connections.

Khloe Made It To MTG (Spoilers: Heavensward)
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The attention to detail in these cards has sparked curiosity and excitement for the full set. While the Commander decks have received much love, other reveals like Commune With Beavers hint at the creative adaptations awaiting in the main set for other Final Fantasy games.

The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set is set to release on June 13, 2025, with a pre-release weekend scheduled for the week before.