The upcomingMagic: The Gathering -FINAL FANTASYcollaboration has become one of the most eagerly anticipatedUniverses Beyondsets to date. As one of the most emotionally resonant and iconic franchises in video game history,Final Fantasybrings decades of iconic characters, epic storytelling, and unforgettable imagery to theMagic: The Gatheringsetting. Poised to be a landmark entry into theUniverses Beyondline and a celebration of both brands’ legacies, Wizards of the Coast andSquare Enixworked together across a period of multiple yearsin order to bring the video game franchise’siconic characters, lore, and mechanics into theMagicformat.
Ahead of the mid-June release ofMagic: The Gathering - FINAL FANTASY,Collider can exclusively reveal four of the cardsplayers will be able to add to their collections, with both the standard art and full art versions available to see below. The cards bring an aspect of theFinal Fantasygames that has been present for each of the mainline entries in a multitude of different ways, as Legendary Artifacts in theMagic: The Gatheringformat — crystals.
The Crystals in ‘Magic: The Gathering - FINAL FANTASY’
Crystals are legendary objects that were first introduced in the originalFinal Fantasy, embodying the four classic elements of earth, fire, water, and wind. Even in entries into the franchise where crystals were not central to the central plot, crystals are at least referenced, underscoring their importance to theFinal Fantasyuniverse’s overall lore. Serving as a potent source of magical energy, so much so that antagonists are frequently shown to seek them out to harness their power, crystals have evolved with the franchise over time but ultimately remain one of the most iconic and enduring elements inFinal Fantasy, making them a natural inclusion for theMagic: The Gathering - FINAL FANTASYset.
The Legendary Artifacts draw upon the franchise’s origins by providing cards forThe Earth Crystal,The Fire Crystal,The Water Crystal, andThe Wind Crystalwith both standard and full art versions. Legendary Artifacts inMagic: The Gatheringare powerful items that offer unique and often game-changing abilities such as card draw or mana generation, often providing a combination potential. These cards frequently serve as key engines or finishers in decks, with the effects of each card designed to earn their “legendary” name. Suffice to say,Final Fantasy’scrystals were perfectly adapted into theMagic: The Gatheringmechanicsto appropriately reflect their central role within the franchise’s lore and mechanics. Each crystal is assigned a specificMagicmana color:
While each crystal results in a -1 decrease to spell-casting cost, one has its own unique effects and costs associated with playing them, as can be seen in the cards above.
Magic: The Gathering - FINAL FANTASYreleases June 13, so there are still plenty of card reveals to come.
