Magic: The Gathering's Universes Beyond line has taken us across Middle-earth, into the TARDIS, and now - finally - straight to the heart of one of gaming's most iconic franchises: Final Fantasy. Wizards of the Coast has been teasing this one for a while, but with the first previews now out in the wild, we're getting a clearer picture of just how ambitious this set really is.

With a release date of June 13, 2025, and preorders having opened on February 18 (most of which are already gone, by the way), the hype is real. And based on what we've seen so far, this set is shaping up to be an all-time crossover for Commander players and Final Fantasy fans alike.

Let's get into it.

The Product Lineup - And Why You Might Already Be Too Late

If you've been holding off on preorders to see more spoilers first... well, good luck. Most of the major products are already selling out fast. Here's what hit shelves (and in some cases, promptly vanished):

• Play Boosters and Collector Boosters
• Four full Commander decks, each built around one of Final Fantasy's most beloved games
• Prerelease kits and a starter kit (featuring Cloud vs. Sephiroth)
• Bundle and Gift Bundle (dropping June 27)

And yes - this is a draftable set, meaning you'll be able to relive your favorite Final Fantasy moments in Limited formats, too. More product details are available on the official website.

The Commander Decks - Four Legends from Four Iconic Games

This is where things get exciting for Commander players. The set's four Commander precons each showcase a different mainline Final Fantasy title, and their face commanders are already spoiled. Let's take a look at who's leading the charge and what strategies we can expect from each.

Colors: Esper (White, Blue, Black)

Speculation: Expect a grindy control deck with a focus on noncreature spells, incremental card advantage, and some life drain on the side. Y'shtola rewards patient play and clever sequencing, likely leaning into staples like Mystic Remora and Rhystic Study to keep the value flowing. Lifegain may also be a theme, so think of Sanguine Bond and Enduring Tenacity as well.

Colors: Naya (Red, Green, White)

Speculation: Suit up and swing. Cloud's design is all about Equipment synergies, aggressive attacks, and piling on damage. I wouldn't be surprised to see Treasure support, double strike enablers, and a healthy helping of artifact recursion baked into this list. Living weapons may also be a thing. Oh, and I hope the deck has a lot of materia in it!

Colors: Red, White, Black

Speculation: Graveyard value meets combat tricks. Terra wants you to dump big creatures and spells into the bin, then get them back mid-combat for explosive turns. I'm predicting reanimation packages, extra combat steps, and a splash of spell-slinger payoff.

Colors: Blue, White, Green

Speculation: This one's for the counters lovers. +1/+1 counter synergies, proliferation, and a steady snowball of growing threats feel right at home here. Imagine a mix of The Ozolith, Deepglow Skate, and whatever Final Fantasy's version of Contagion Engine ends up being.

Early Spoilers - Heroes, Villains, and Summons

Although the full spoiler season doesn't kick off until sometime in May, Wizards has already shown off a few heavy hitters, and they've wasted no time pulling from across the franchise's history. Here are just some of the legends and iconic creatures we've seen so far:

• Cloud, Planet's Champion - Equipment matters, combat matters, and Cloud absolutely matters.
• Sephiroth, Planet's Heir - Buffing the team while cutting down foes. Classic Sephiroth vibes.
• Yuffie Kisaragi - Ninjutsu is back, and I couldn't be happier. Loving this reskin of Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow.
• Sin, Spira's Punishment - A Leviathan Avatar that's ready to wreak havoc.
• Summon: Shiva - A Saga that transforms into the classic Summon? Yes, please.
• Tonberry -Because of course Tonberry is here, creeping ever closer.

From Jumbo Cactuar to Cecil (both Dark Knight and Redeemed Paladin versions), this set feels less like a sampling of Final Fantasy and more like a full on tribute.

What Mechanics Might We See?

Given the lore of Final Fantasy, and looking at the early designs, here are a few mechanical predictions:

• Job-based tribal synergies (Knight, Warrior, Wizard, Moogle, etc.).
• Equipment matters (Every JRPG min-maxer knows weapons matter).
• Graveyard recursion and big spell payoff (hello, Terra).
• Proliferate and counter mechanics (especially in Tidus's deck).

Should You Be Buying In?

If you're a Final Fantasy fan, yes. If you're a Commander player, also yes. If you're both? Well, then you probably already preordered everything on February 18 like lil ol' me.

The Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy set isn't just a gimmick - it's looking like a fully fleshed-out celebration of the franchise, packed with powerful cards, flavorful callbacks, and amazing art.

Come June, we'll finally get to see Cloud face down Y'shtola, Terra unleash her magic, and Tidus lead the charge - all on the Commander table. Until then, keep an eye out for spoiler season in May, and start theorycrafting your upgrades now.