Wizards of the Coast has announced a new collaboration between Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy, with four preconstructed Commander decks featuring characters and themes from Final Fantasy 6, 7, 10, and 14. The decks, which will be released on June 13, include 100 cards each, with a mix of reprints and new cards designed specifically for the Commander format. The Commander decks are led by iconic characters from each game, including Terra from Final Fantasy 6, Cloud from Final Fantasy 7, Tidus from Final Fantasy 10, and Y'shtola from Final Fantasy 14.

The decision to focus on a single game for each deck allowed the design team to "dive deep into the lore of each, capturing even more beloved moments from across the game's storyline," according to Senior Game Designer Daniel Holt. The team chose the four games based on a combination of factors, including their popularity and the number of fans among the Wizards of the Coast staff. Final Fantasy 7 and 14 were clear choices due to their popularity, while Final Fantasy 6 and 10 were selected partially due to their fan base within the company. The gameplay of each deck is designed to reflect the unique themes and mechanics of its respective game, with the Final Fantasy 6 deck focusing on graveyard synergies and the Final Fantasy 7 deck revolving around weapon synergies.

The choice of commanders for each deck was not always straightforward, with some characters being considered but ultimately not selected. Celes was considered for the Final Fantasy 6 deck, while Yuna was considered for the Final Fantasy 10 deck. Y'shtola was chosen for the Final Fantasy 14 deck due to her popularity and role as a spellcaster, although ideas were floated for a highly customizable Warrior of Light commander. The design team worked closely with the Final Fantasy team to ensure that the characters and themes were accurately represented in the Magic: The Gathering cards.

Each of the four Commander decks will be available in two versions: a regular version with a MSRP of $69.99 and a Collector's Edition with a MSRP of $149.99. The Collector's Edition will feature all 100 cards in each deck with a special Surge foil treatment. The release of the Final Fantasy Commander decks is part of the Universes Beyond series, which has previously featured collaborations with other popular franchises such as Fallout and Assassin's Creed. The series is designed to bring new and exciting themes and characters to the world of Magic: The Gathering, and the Final Fantasy collaboration is sure to be a hit with fans of both games.

In addition to the Commander decks, there will be other Final Fantasy-themed products released as part of the collaboration. Fans of the series can expect to see a range of cards and products featuring their favorite characters and themes, including some that may not be included in the initial Commander decks. With the release date set for June 13, fans of Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to get their hands on these exclusive cards and experience the unique gameplay and themes of the Commander decks.