Starting today at 10 am PT, Wizards of the Coast revealed a boatload of information about the upcoming MTG Final Fantasy set. The main set is officially releasing on June 13, and while this is a long way away, there’s a lot to be hyped about.
Beyond just what the main set brings to the table, there are a multitude of other products that players can get their hands on. For Commander enthusiasts, there will be a group of Precons to pick up (whose Commanders have already been revealed). For collectors, there are going to be three Final Fantasy Secret Lair products to pick up.
If you’re a newer player or are looking to teach someone else our beloved game, there will also be two Starter Decks available for purchase. Starter Decks have become a staple of Universes Beyond sets, typically boasting two 60-card preconstructed decks ready for battle. While we don’t know much about the contents of the Starter Decks yet, the two cards that headline each deck have been previewed. Both of which are incredibly iconic. Let’s take a peek at what the Starter Decks have to offer.
Sephiroth Makes Its Magic Debut
Sephiroth is the main antagonist of Final Fantasy VII. Following the discovery that his body was used for experimentation when just a Fetus, he became hellbent on taking control of the Planet and forging a path of destruction on his way to becoming a God.
Despite Sephiroth’s mainstream appeal, appearing as a popular action figure and a playable character in Super Smash Bros Ultimate, Sephiroth is not one of the four face Commanders for the MTG Final Fantasy Precons. As such, Sephiroth’s appearance as in one of the Starter Decks is the card’s first exposure in the Magic the Gathering universe.
Sephiroth, Planet’s Heir is a rather flavorful design. Showing up as a Human Avatar Soldier makes perfect sense. After all, he was one of the fiercest competitors to come out of the Shinra Electric Power Company’s SOLDIER program, before eventually setting out his plot to destroy the world (hence being an Avatar on top of a Human Soldier).
The card’s flavor text is spot on and meshes well with the flavor text of the leader of the other Starter Deck, which we will see next. As for its abilities, Sephiroth does a decent Massacre Wurm impression. Weakening all enemies at once is quite reminiscent of one of Sephiroth’s signature abilities, known as Heartless Angel. Sephiroth then grows as his enemies perish, fueling his end goal of being all-powerful.
From a gameplay perspective, this card is fairly weak in the world of MTG. Six mana for this effect just isn’t that intriguing. There are better legends to lead your squad in Commander, and the mana cost is overwhelming in a Standard setting.
The good news, at least, is that Sephiroth is quite likely to appear in a more powerful form in the main set. The Starter Decks usually contain more simplistic designs, and Sephiroth definitely fits the bill.
Another Cloud Card
As you might expect, Cloud is the main highlight of the other Starter Deck. Cloud is a direct contrast to Sephiroth as a character. He developed a level of compassion for the Planet and works to shield others from the wrath of Sephiroth and the Shinra Electric Power Company.
Once again, Cloud is flavorful in its own right. Cloud’s flavor text is clearly a rebuttal to Sephiroth’s. While Cloud isn’t naturally as powerful, he does an incredible job wielding weapons to aid in his fights.
Unlike Sephiroth, Cloud was spoiled as one of the Commander Precon face legends. Both Cloud, Planet’s Champion and Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER are designed to use equipment to your advantage.
While you might think Cloud, Planet’s Champion would just be a much weaker variant due to its appearance in one of the Starter Decks, the card is surprisingly good as a Commander. Having Indestructible and Double Strike on your turn means that Cloud hits incredibly hard, and you don’t have to fear him getting blocked down in combat.
Cloud pairs exceptionally nicely with equipment that grants haste or hexproof. That way, you can get a huge attack in the turn you play him or help protect him before he loses indestructible and becomes vulnerable to removal during your opponents’ turns.
Cloud isn’t the most efficient beater, but he makes up for that by lessening all of your equip costs. Being able to suit up Cloud with various Swords (such as Sword of Feast and Famine) for free can enable some absurd attacks. Plus, thanks to double strike, connecting in combat will let you get two triggers off your Swords.
Player Reaction
Overall, this product may just be two Starter Decks, but players still seem genuinely excited for the product’s release. A number of Final Fantasy enthusiasts that don’t play Magic have expressed interest in the product as well. Say what you want about Universes Beyond sets, but they do a good job of appealing to less enfranchised players.
As for the individual cards themselves, many players are interested in Cloud as a Boros equipment Commander. There are a lot of Voltron-style legends to choose from, but Cloud, Planet’s Champion is one of the better options.
So, whether you’re a newer player being roped in by the intriguing Final Fantasy designs or you’re an EDH aficionado looking to build a new deck, the Starter Decks seem like sweet investments. There’s still a long way to go before these products go on sale, but make sure to mark your calendars so you don’t miss out.