Final Fantasy

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This article discusses story elements that are not considered canon. The story discussed here is based on Final Fantasy. It has no bearing on Magic continuity.
This article discusses story elements that are not considered canon. The story discussed here is based on Final Fantasy. It has no bearing on Magic continuity.
Final Fantasy
Set Information
Set symbol
Symbol description FF and a crystal
Design Yoni Skolnik (lead), Zakeel Gordon
Development Gavin Verhey (lead)
Release date June 13, 2025
Set size TBA
Expansion code FIN[1]
Standard
Tarkir: Dragonstorm Final Fantasy Edge of Eternities
Universes Beyond
Assassin's Creed Final Fantasy Marvel's Spider-Man
Magic: The Gathering Chronology
N/A Final Fantasy Through the Ages
Expansion symbol featuring a crystal.

Final Fantasy (stylized as Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY) is Magic: The Gathering's upcoming 105th expansion, and will be the first Standard-legal Universes Beyond product. It will be released on June 13, 2025.[2][3][4][5] The first cards were shown on February 17, and several additional character cards have been spoiled since, each on that character's birthday. The preview season for the set begins on May 10.[6]

Like another previous Universes Beyond set, The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth, Final Fantasy is designed to be drafted. The decision to release Final Fantasy into Standard was made during its development, but before play design, so the cards are appropriately tuned for the relatively low-power format.[7][8]

Set details

“  Shape Your Magic Story  ”
Key art featuring the mage Kefka Palazzo

Final Fantasy is a cross-over product based on Final Fantasy, a Japanese science fantasy anthology media franchise created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and developed and owned by Square Enix. The franchise centers on a series of role-playing video games which variably combine elements of medieval fantasy, urban fantasy, and science fiction. The first game in the series was released in 1987, with 16 numbered main entries having been released to date as well as numerous spinoff entries. Each main entry is not a direct sequel to the one before it but a new story in a different universe, although many of these universes share elements such as creatures (ex. chocobos, moogles, summoned monsters and battle enemy types), themes, and recurring names for characters and places. A handful of main entries have had direct sequels, such as Final Fantasy X-2 and Final Fantasy XIII-2.

The franchise has since branched into other video game genres, as well as other media, including CGI films, anime, manga, and novels.

The set references all mainline entries released so far, from Final Fantasy to Final Fantasy XVI, but not the supplemental entries, remakes, sequels or spin-offs.[9] It features artwork from Magic artists alongside classic artwork from Final Fantasy artists, as well as brand new artwork by FF artists specially made for this set.

Final Fantasy features TBA regular cards (), and includes randomly inserted traditional foil versions of all cards. Alternate card frames have a different card number than the original version.[5] Borderless "character" cards (#TBA-TBA) are illustrated by Japanese anime artists, with a roman numeral in the background, correlating to each character's first game appearance. Borderless Showcase "Woodblock" cards (#TBA-TBA) are inspired by the Japanese "Ukiyo-e" technique (this treatment was first used in Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty). Borderless Final Fantasy artist cards, with new art by original video game artists are #TBA-TBA. Other borderless cards are #TBA-TBA, and extended art cards are #TBA-TBA. Japan Showcase cards in traditional foil are #TBA-TBA and in fracture foil #TBA-TBA. Promo cards are numbered #TBA-TBA. Starter Kit cards are #551-.

Each card in the set features a "game identifier" in the information below the text box, identifying the specific FF video game that its art and mechanics relate to.[9]

Storyline

The central conflict in many Final Fantasy games focuses on a group of characters battling an evil, sometimes ancient, antagonist that dominates the game's world. Stories frequently involve a sovereign state in rebellion against a larger empire, with the protagonists participating in the rebellion. The heroes are often destined to defeat the evil as "Warriors of Light" and occasionally gather as a direct result of the antagonist's malicious actions. Another staple of the series is the existence of two villains; the main antagonist introduced at the beginning of the game is not always the final enemy, and the characters must continue their quest beyond what appears to be the final fight. The game's setting is usually not the planet Earth, though it may have similarities to it, but rather an expansively mapped science fantasy world that may or may not have a name of its own. Typically, magic and advanced technology both exist to varying degrees and blend. Crossovers such as Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin and the fighting game sub-series Dissidia Final Fantasy have established that the various Final Fantasy dimensions share a multiverse.

Stories in the series frequently emphasize the internal struggles, passions, and tragedies of the characters, and the main plot often recedes into the background as the focus shifts to their personal lives. Magical orbs and crystals are recurring in-game items that are frequently connected to the themes of the games' plots. Other common plot and setting themes include the Gaia hypothesis, an apocalypse, the heroes' defiance against fate and the gods, and conflicts between advanced technology and nature.

Marketing

Bundle

This set is considered a tentpole release, comparable with The Lord of the Rings: Tales of Middle-earth.[7] In October 2024, it was announced that starting with the release of Final Fantasy, Universes Beyond tentpole sets would be made legal in all formats going forward. The goal was to make set legality simpler and easier to understand.[10][11] The set is available in Play Boosters, Collector Boosters, four Commander decks, the Final Fantasy Bundle, a Gift Bundle and a Starter Kit. There are no Special Guests in this set.

Final Fantasy will also become available in MTG Arena.

In early April 2025, A Brazilian distributor issued an urgent statement to retailers after identifying a distribution error involving Final Fantasy products sent erroneously by Wizards of the Coast. The company requested the immediate return of said products.[12][13] Two days later, Spanish-language cards from the Starter Kit were leaked - reportedly from Chile - two months before the release of the set.[14]

At the release of Hasbro's First Quarter 2025 Financial Report in April 2025, CEO Chris Cocks revealed that that even as a pre-order, Final Fantasy already was the best-selling set in Magic history.[15][16]

Bonus sheet

Main article: Through the Ages

Through the Ages is a separate set of cards associated with Final Fantasy, with the set code FCA. In Through the Ages, Wizards of the Coast have reprinted TBA creatures on skinned cards with existing art from the Final Fantasy series, which highlights original Final Fantasy artists such as 天野喜孝 / YOSHITAKA AMANO[17] and 野村哲也 / TETSUYA NOMURA.[5] Play Boosters contain TBA cards from Through the Ages and Collector Boosters contain TBA. These will only be legal in formats that they are already legal in and in Historic. They are not part of the Standard environment, but the cards may be used in Limited events.

Secret Lairs

Wizards of the Coast will be releasing three Secret Lair drops alongside this set.[5]

Holiday Release

In addition to the June 13 release, this set features a holiday release on December 5, 2025. The release includes Scene Boxes and a special Chocobo Bundle.[18]

Events

Promos

Tokens and markers

Final Fantasy has 22 tokens[9]:

  1. TBA
  2. TBA
  3. TBA
  4. TBA
  5. TBA
  6. TBA
  7. TBA
  8. TBA
  9. TBA
  10. TBA
  11. TBA
  12. TBA
  13. TBA
  14. TBA
  15. TBA
  16. TBA
  17. TBA
  18. TBA
  19. TBA
  20. TBA
  21. TBA
  22. {C} Food artifact for Sidequest: Catch a Fish.

Themes and mechanics

A summon showing the modified frame used for Saga creatures.

Double-faced cards return for this set. By casting the front face of the card for its mana cost and fulfilling its required conditions, you can transform it to experience its alternate form. These cards range from the representations of favorite characters to minigames and story moments across the videogame series.

The chocobos of the set have a Landfall theme.

There are two new mechanics in the set.[5] One is "Choose a Job" (translated name).[21] (When this equipment enters create a colorless 1/1 Hero creature token and attach this to it.) This is similar to Living weapon and For Mirrodin!, except with a colorless 1/1 hero instead of a 0/0 black Phyrexian Germ or a red 2/2 rebel.

The set makes use of flavor words.

Card types

This set introduces the Moogle creature type.

Summons are one of the most iconic recurring aspects of the Final Fantasy franchise. To reflect this, the set introduces the first Saga Creatures to the game. These have a power and toughness as well as a text box that can fit abilities or flavor text, and the Saga reminder text is stretched across the top of the card to give it some vertical symmetry. Call the summons for aid in battle, and they enter with a single lore counter, granting you an immediate effect. After your draw step, you add a lore counter. The creature is sacrificed after the final chapter ability resolves. Thus, you have only an limited time to use the creature to attack.[5]

Legendary creatures also appear in uncommon.

Final Fantasy also introduces the City land type.[21]

Counter types

Lore counters are used for the Saga Creatures.

Limited archetypes

Final Fantasy features the following Draft Themes:

  • {W}{U}:
  • {U}{B}:
  • {B}{R}: Self-Mill and Reanimator
  • {R}{G}: Landfall
  • {G}{W}:
  • {W}{B}:
  • {U}{R}:
  • {B}{G}:
  • {R}{W}: Equipment
  • {G}{U}:

Cycles

Cycle name {W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Sidequests Sidequest: Catch a Fish // Cooking Campsite
Five uncommon double-faced minigames.

Preconstructed decks

Commander decks

Final Fantasy features four commander decks. While Commander precons are usually themed around certain characters, colors, or strategies, the twist with these is that each one is built around a single Final Fantasy game – specifically VI, VII, X, and XIV.[22] All four of these decks are available in both a regular version and a Collector’s Edition.

Theme
deck name
Color Identity Commander
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Revival Trance W B R Terra, Herald of Hope
Limit Break W R G Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER
Counter Blitz W U G Tidus, Yuna's Guardian
Scions & Spellcraft W U B Y'shtola, Night's Blessed

Starter Kit

The Starter Kit comes with two Standard-legal 60-card decks, designed to create an interactive learning experience for two. All cards in the Starter Kit are Standard legal.[23]

Starter kit
deck name
Colors Included Commander
{W} {U} {B} {R} {G}
Cloud W R Cloud, Planet's Champion
Sephiroth U B Sephiroth, Planet's Heir

Gallery

References

  1. Information below the text box
  2. Matt Jarvis (October 4, 2022). "Magic: The Gathering is getting Final Fantasy and Assassin’s Creed cards". Dicebreaker.com.
  3. 30th Anniversary Panel at GenCon – A Recap of MTG's Past, Present & Future (Video). Magic: The Gathering. YouTube (August 5, 2023).
  4. Nick Miller (October 24, 2024). "Hasbro CEO Teases Third Universes Beyond Product Announcement In 2025 Following Final Fantasy And Marvel". StarCityGames.
  5. a b c d e f Zakeel Gordon & Jubilee Finnegan (February 18, 2025). "A First Look at Magic: The Gathering®—FINAL FANTASY™". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Emma Partlow (Feb 21, 2025). "Everything We Know (So Far) About Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY". TCGPlayer.
  7. a b Mark Rosewater (August 5, 2023). "The Final Fantasy set was described as a "tentpole booster release"; does that mean it will be draftable?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Mark Rosewater (February 19, 2025). "Was Final Fantasy ever considered for something other than standard?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. a b c Blake Rasmussen, Gavin Verhey, Zakeel Gordon (February 18, 2025). "Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY First Look (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.
  10. Aaron Forsythe (October 25, 2024). "Aligning the Universes: Making All Our Sets Legal in All Our Formats". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. Magic: The Gathering (October 25, 2024). "We are making Universes Beyond tentpole sets legal in all formats going forward.". Twitter.
  12. Romeu (April 4, 2025). "Wizards asks for return of Final Fantasy kits sent mistakenly to Brazil". Cardsrealm.com/.
  13. Josh Nelson (April 4, 2025). "Final Fantasy Prerelease Kits Recalled In Brazil After Error". Commandersherald.com.
  14. [deleted] (April 4, 2025). "FF starterkit". Reddit.
  15. Nick Miller (April 24, 2025). "MTG—FINAL FANTASY Already The Best-Selling Set Of All Time". Star City Games.
  16. Charlie Hall (April 24, 2025). "Final Fantasy Magic cards are helping protect Hasbro from Trump tariffs". Polygon.com]].
  17. Wizards of the Coast (February 17, 2025). "We couldn't do #MTGxFINALFANTASY without going back to the beginning and working with an artist who inspired generations of #FinalFantasy fans.". Twitter.
  18. Aggressive_Debate_80 (February 18, 2025). "Two other Final Fantasy Bundles planned for December?". Reddit.
  19. WPN (February 18, 2025). "Magic Presents: Chocobo Racing Event Series". Wizards Play Network.
  20. Editorial Department: Chihiro (April 4, 2025). ""Magic: The Gathering -- FINAL FANTASY" will be holding a Japan-only campaign on June 6th where players can receive three types of promo cards". 4gamer.net.
  21. a b [deleted] (April 4, 2025). "FF starterkit". Reddit.
  22. Tom Marks (February 17, 2025). "Final Fantasy Commander Decks Revealed, Feature Cloud, Tidus, and More". IGN.com.
  23. Blake Rasmussen, Gavin Verhey, Zakeel Gordon (February 18, 2025). "Magic: The Gathering – FINAL FANTASY First Look (Video)". Magic: The Gathering. YouTube.

External links