A Milestone Crossover in Gaming
Today marks the highly anticipated launch of one of the most significant sets in Magic: The Gathering history: the Final Fantasy set. This set represents the first of Magic‘s occasionally contentious “Universes Beyond” crossovers, offering a full standard-legal experience. The combination of two beloved gaming franchises seeks to satisfy the vast fanbases of both Magic and Final Fantasy by encapsulating the essence and mechanics of 16 mainline games. Early impressions suggest that Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix have crafted something exceptional—here are some of our favorite references to Final Fantasy‘s rich legacy featured in the set.
Innovative Tiered Spells
A notable new feature in the Final Fantasy set is the “Tiered” rule, allowing players to pay an extra cost to unlock one of three levels of power from a card. This mirrors the structure of Final Fantasy magic spells, which often have multiple forms: a base, an upgraded version with the suffix -ara, and the most powerful variant labeled -aga. These tiered spells represent both limit break mechanics from Final Fantasy VII and elemental spells adapted to Magic’s color identities, creating a synergistic experience for both fanbases.
Iconic Moves Like Suplex
One of the standout abilities from Final Fantasy VI is the Suplex, which allows the character Sabin to pick up and throw enemies, even an ethereal entity like the Phantom Train. This is amusingly captured in Magic through a sorcery card named Suplex, dealing damage to a creature or allowing a player to exile artifacts—an homage to the infamous train. This blend of mechanics and references showcases the set’s fun approach to incorporating fan-favorite moments.
Character Synergies and Powerful Abilities
Other cards also cleverly reference infamous Final Fantasy moments. Lightning, Army of One from FF XIII, utilizes keywords that reflect her aggressive fighting style, while simultaneously mimicking the stagger mechanic from the game. Likewise, Sephiroth’s lethal relationship with Aerith encapsulates their tragic lore by providing card interplay that mirrors their narrative, promoting signature gameplay that is rich in context and flavor.
Thematic Lore Resonation
The narrative depth continues with cards referencing critical backstory elements. Zodiark, Umbral God invokes the Ancients’ sacrifice to delay an apocalyptic event, while Emet-Selch, Unsundered ties into themes of regret and restoration. This effectively weaves in the lore of Final Fantasy XIV, showcasing moments that many fans hold dear and bringing them to life in a new gameplay format.
Gameplay with a Nostalgic Twist
Additionally, cards echoing established mechanics and character traits enhance the game’s narrative experience. Examples include Phoenix Down, a classic healing item that can damage undead creatures, and Galuf’s Final Act, which allows power transfer upon death, highlighting both sacrifice and legacy. The dual-functionality of many cards creates engaging interactions that enrich gameplay while remaining faithful to the source material.
Unity of Universes
The set encapsulates the franchise’s essence, allowing players to leverage classic mechanics alongside modern gameplay strategies. The Warrior of Light, while not directly represented, finds a thematic presence through the “Through The Ages” bonus sheet. This comprehensive approach to merging narratives from different titles reflects not just nostalgia but an innovative union, uniting characters and lore across timelines in a dynamic gameplay experience.
