Even if you're not a dedicated player of Magic: The Gathering, you're likely familiar with its recent video game crossovers, such as Fallout, Tomb Raider, and Assassin’s Creed. Now, we're thrilled to offer an exclusive first look at what might be the most exciting collaboration yet: Final Fantasy. This set isn't just about one game—it spans four iconic titles: Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, and XIV. Each of these games is represented in a unique preconstructed Commander deck, featuring characters like Terra and Y’shtola.

Explore the image gallery below for an initial glimpse at the lead card and packaging for each deck. Additionally, dive into our detailed conversation with Wizards of the Coast to learn more about the contents of these decks, the selection process for these specific games, and much more.

Final Fantasy x Magic: The Gathering - Commander Decks Reveal

13 ImagesScheduled for release in June, this Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy collaboration will be a fully draftable, Standard-legal set, complemented by four preconstructed decks showcased in the gallery above. Each deck contains 100 cards, blending reprints with new artwork inspired by Final Fantasy and brand-new cards tailored for the Commander format. These decks are uniquely themed around a single Final Fantasy game, specifically VI, VII, X, and XIV.

“Final Fantasy games are rich with flavor, beloved characters, and unique settings, providing ample material to design a full deck around each game,” explains Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt, the Commander Lead for the set. “Focusing on one game per deck allowed us to delve deeply into each game’s lore, capturing cherished moments that might otherwise have been overlooked.”

The selection of these four Final Fantasy games was based on a combination of gameplay potential and the recognition of each game's story. Holt notes that while Final Fantasy VII and XIV were obvious choices, VI and X required more deliberation but were ultimately chosen due to their popularity among the development team. “This project saw immense passion from our team, many of whom are avid Final Fantasy fans,” Holt adds.

Navigating the narrative direction for Final Fantasy VII was complex, given the concurrent development of its remake trilogy. Dillon Deveney, Principal Narrative Game Designer and Narrative Lead for the set, clarifies that the Commander deck for VII will primarily reflect the narrative of the original 1997 game, while incorporating the modern aesthetics from Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth. “Our aim was to capture the essence of the original game's story while enhancing it with the modern series' visual flair,” Deveney explains.

For Final Fantasy VI, which lacks the modern art references of the other games, Deveney's team worked to blend the pixel art and limited concept art with new interpretations. “We consulted directly with the Final Fantasy VI team to ensure that our character designs felt true to the game's original spirit while introducing fresh elements,” he says.

Choosing the lead characters for each deck involved thoughtful consideration. While Cloud was a clear choice for VII, other games required more brainstorming. Celes and Yuna were considered for VI and X, respectively, but the team ultimately opted for the lead characters. For XIV, Y’shtola was selected due to her popularity and spellcasting abilities, with her deck reflecting her Shadowbringers storyline. Although the idea of a customizable “Warrior of Light” was explored, Holt notes that the final deck still includes plenty of nods to the player’s personal hero.

Adapting an entire game's story, characters, and themes into a single deck while adhering to Magic’s five-color system was a significant challenge. “We had to determine the color identity for each game and the gameplay we envisioned,” says Holt. All four decks include White, facilitating a broad inclusion of heroes. The deck for VI focuses on the latter half of the game, emphasizing rebuilding your party. VII leverages Cloud’s connection to equipment, enhanced by Green to incorporate themes of the Planet and lifestream. X draws from the Sphere Grid system, empowering creatures through a white-blue-green strategy. XIV adopts a white-blue-black identity to focus on noncreature spell casting while including desired characters.

While the Commander format centers on the leader, RPGs often highlight the entire party. Holt assures fans that these decks will feature both beloved and villainous characters from each game. “We’ve included many fan favorites as new legendary creatures and in other exciting spells within the 99 cards of each deck,” he says.

The Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy set is set to launch on June 13. Even if your favorite game or character isn't featured, Holt promises that “all sixteen mainline Final Fantasy games will have their moments in the accompanying products.”

Echoing the successful model of the 2022 Warhammer 40,000 Commander decks, these Final Fantasy decks will be available in both a regular version (MSRP $69.99) and a Collector’s Edition (MSRP $149.99), the latter featuring all 100 cards in a special Surge foil treatment.

Continue reading for the full, unedited interview with Wizards of the Coast’s Daniel Holt and Dillon Deveney: