The MTG Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release is a dream crossover for fans of Magic: The Gathering and Square Enix’s legendary RPG series. It encompasses a wide range of products launching in mid-2025, from draft-ready Booster Boxes to collectible Secret Lair drops. This Part 1 of our 3-part review series will break down the official product lineup and release timeline – including all the Magic x Final Fantasy products, their release dates, set codes, contents, and ideal gameplay uses. By the end, you’ll know exactly which product fits your needs, whether you’re a drafter, collector, Commander player, or brand-new to Magic. (Stay tuned for Part 2, where we’ll dive into gameplay mechanics, card legality, and design!)
MTG Final Fantasy Release Overview
Release Date: The main Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy set releases worldwide on June 13, 2025. This Universes Beyond set features beloved characters and moments from all 16 mainline Final Fantasy games, from Final Fantasy I through Final Fantasy XVI, represented on Magic cards. Iconic heroes (like Cloud Strife and Terra Branford), villains (like Sephiroth), summons, and monsters from across the series make appearances. It’s not just a celebration of the FF franchise’s history – it’s also a fully playable Magic set, marking the first Universes Beyond release to be Standard-legal (set code FIN) and designed for drafting/sealed play. Alongside the base set, there are associated Commander deck exclusives (set code FIC) and a special “Through the Ages” bonus sheet (set code FCA) featuring reprints of classic Magic cards with Final Fantasy-themed art. Below is a rundown of each product in the lineup and when you can get your hands on them.
*(Timeline Highlights: Prerelease events run June 6–12, 2025 using Prerelease Packs; the full product line launches June 13, 2025; a special Gift Bundle arrives June 27, 2025. Additional Secret Lair tie-ins are expected later in 2025.)
Booster Boxes (Play Boosters)
Booster packs are the heart of any Magic release, and MTG Final Fantasy introduces the new Play Booster format for the first time in a Universes Beyond set. Play Booster Boxes contain 30 Play Booster packs (each pack has 14 Magic cards plus an ad/token or art card). These packs are optimized for both exciting pack openings and gameplay – they’re ideal for booster drafts, sealed deck play, or just cracking packs for collectibles. In fact, Play Boosters are the best way to discover what Magic has to offer in this set; they’re “perfect for building decks, playing Limited games with friends, and are tons of fun to open”.
Each Final Fantasy Play Booster is loaded with at least 1 Rare or Mythic Rare (and up to 4 in one pack thanks to bonus slots). Every pack also contains a guaranteed foil card (with a chance of an extra foil basic land in about 20% of packs). These boosters include cards from the main set (code FIN) as well as the special “Through the Ages” subset (code FCA) – a bonus sheet of iconic reprints with Final Fantasy artwork (e.g. Yuffie from FFVII appearing on Yuriko, the Tiger’s Shadow). That means when you open a pack, you might not only pull a brand-new Final Fantasy-themed spell or character, but also a famous Magic card reimagined with FF art.
Key details for Booster Boxes:
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (full set release)
- Contents: 30 Play Booster packs per display box (14 cards per pack, each pack with 1–4 Rares/Mythics and 1 foil minimum)
- Set Code: FIN (Standard-legal main set cards in boosters)
- Gameplay Use: Ideal for Draft and Sealed deck play with friends, or for expanding your collection with all the Standard-legal cards in the Universes Beyond: Final Fantasy set. A Final Fantasy booster box gives you enough packs to host a draft or plenty of cracking enjoyment for collectors.
Collector Boosters
If standard boosters are about playing, Collector Boosters are all about premium collectible content. A Collector Booster Box contains 12 shiny booster packs specifically made for collectors and bling enthusiasts (15 cards per pack). These packs are bursting with foils, alternate art, and special card treatments. As Wizards of the Coast puts it, “Collector Boosters are the ultimate way to add unique and exclusive cards to your collection; tons of foils, special card treatments, and more await you inside every pack.” Each pack can include 5–6 cards of Rare or higher rarity on average – meaning you’ll see multiple rares, mythics, or Commander-exclusive cards in every Collector pack.
Collector Boosters are the only place you can open certain exclusive variant cards, like Surge Foil treatments or extended-art versions, that don’t appear in regular boosters. In fact, in less than 0.1% of Collector Boosters, you might even find an ultra-rare serialized card – a special card numbered uniquely, making it a true one-of-a-kind treasure for hardcore collectors. These packs also include cards from the “Through the Ages” bonus sheet and other showcase frames, all in premium printings. From gorgeous full-art land cards to legendary characters in borderless art, Collector Boosters are built to impress.
Key details for Collector Boosters:
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (same as main set)
- Contents: 12 Collector Booster packs per box, 15 cards each (all-foil contents with 5–6 Rares/Mythics and loads of special-frame or alternate-art cards per pack). Possible chance at serialized numbered cards in some packs for the lucky few.
- Gameplay Use: These packs are not for draft; they are perfect for collectors or players looking to pimp out their decks. Expect alternate-art versions of Final Fantasy’s most iconic characters, extended-art spells, and foil upgrades that will shine in a binder or on the battlefield. If you want the flashiest versions of MTG Final Fantasy cards (or just enjoy cracking high-end boosters), the Collector Booster is for you.
Commander Decks
Fans of multiplayer Commander (EDH) have a lot to be excited about. The MTG Final Fantasy release brings four Commander Decks, each a preconstructed 100-card deck themed around a different Final Fantasy game and storyline. Each deck is ready-to-play out of the box and packed with legendary characters and spells that “match thematically with Final Fantasy”, making them a great introduction to the Commander format for FF fans. In fact, each Commander deck “tells the story of an individual game from the franchise”, letting you relive that game’s themes in Magic form.
The four deck titles and their inspirations are: “Revival Trance” (Final Fantasy VI) – a white/black/red deck themed around reanimation and the world of ruin; “Limit Break” (Final Fantasy VII) – a green/white/red deck focused on equipment and the lifestream-powered heroes of FFVII; “Counter Blitz” (Final Fantasy X) – a white/blue/green deck highlighting counter manipulation and leveling up your team (evoking the progression of FFX); and “Scions & Spellcraft” (Final Fantasy XIV) – a white/blue/black deck built around iconic characters of Eorzea and a “noncreature spells matter” theme reminiscent of the MMO’s magic and job mechanics. Each deck features a face commander (legendary creature) that is a famous character from that FF title (for example, expect favorites like Terra for FFVI or Cloud for FFVII to lead their respective decks).
Each Commander deck contains 100 cards, including a mix of brand-new cards (unique to these decks) and reprints of staple Commander cards – all given Final Fantasy-flavored art where appropriate. (Notably, about 25 cards in each deck are completely new to Magic, created to bring FF characters or events to life, while the rest are reprints with a new coat of paint, so to speak.) The decks come with helpful accessories as well: you’ll get 10 double-sided token cards, a deck box, and a life tracker dial. As a bonus, each deck also includes a 2-card Collector Booster Sample Pack – a small taste of the premium cards, containing 1 rare or mythic (with a showcase or alternate frame) and 1 uncommon/common showcase card from the set. This sample pack gives Commander players a glimpse at the shiny variants available in Collector Boosters.
Key details for Commander Decks:
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (available at launch alongside the main set products)
- Deck Contents: 100-card preconstructed deck per box (with 2 foil legendary creature cards as commanders and 98 non-foils). Includes 10 double-sided tokens, 1 deck box, 1 life counter, 1 Collector Booster Sample pack, and a strategy insert.
- Set Code: FIC (Commander-exclusive cards in these decks). These new cards are legal in Commander, Legacy, Vintage (not Standard) – we’ll explore format legality more in Part 2.
- Gameplay Use: Ready to play Commander right out of the box – just unwrap and start a multiplayer game. Each deck is tuned to showcase the storyline and playstyle of a particular Final Fantasy installment, making them terrific for thematic play or even just display for collectors. Whether you side with heroes or villains, these decks let you re-enact Final Fantasy battles on the Commander table. They’re also a great product if you love FF but are new to Magic – a built, playable deck with some of your favorite characters awaits.
Collector’s Edition Commander Decks
For the collectors who want the Commander decks in the most premium form, Wizards is also releasing Collector’s Edition versions of all four Final Fantasy Commander decks. The Collector’s Edition Commander Decks contain the exact same 100 cards and contents as the regular decks, but every single card comes in a special Surge Foil finish. Surge Foil is a flashy foiling treatment (introduced in recent Universes Beyond products) that makes the entire deck gleam with a rainbow sheen. Essentially, these are fully-foiled, deluxe versions of the decks, aimed at collectors or dedicated fans who want the fanciest edition possible.
Each Collector’s Edition deck is packaged separately, and some retailers also offer a set of all four in one bundle. Because of their high-end nature and likely limited print run, these are significantly pricier – but they are the ultimate centerpiece for a Final Fantasy collector. Imagine showcasing a Commander deck where every card – from Cloud’s Limit Break to Terra’s summons – is in foil! Even the exclusive new cards in these decks get the Surge Foil treatment here.
Key details for Collector’s Edition Commander Decks:
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (same time as the regular Commander decks, though availability may be more limited)
- Contents: 100-card precon deck, all cards in Surge Foil. Includes the same token cards, deck box, life wheel, etc., but those components (tokens especially) may also have foil printing where applicable. No booster sample pack is included (since you’re already getting the premium card treatments in the deck itself).
- Gameplay Use: Identical to the normal Commander decks for gameplay – you can absolutely play them – but primarily aimed at collectors. These look stunning as a display item or centerpiece of your collection. (Of course, you can sleeve them up and play, but many collectors might keep these pristine.) If you’re a die-hard fan of, say, Final Fantasy VII, you might grab the Limit Break deck in this edition to have a shiny, commemorative item featuring Cloud and company.
(Note: Due to their collectability, some stores may impose one-per-customer limits on Collector’s Edition decks. If you want these, it’s wise to preorder early!)
Bundles (Regular & Gift Edition)
For players who want a bit of everything, Bundles are the perfect all-in-one product. There are two bundle versions for MTG x Final Fantasy:
- Standard Bundle (Release: June 13, 2025): The regular bundle is great value for fans to jumpstart their collection. It includes 8–9 Play Booster packs (exact pack count TBD, but Amazon product info indicates 9 packs), a set of Final Fantasy full-art basic lands (likely one of each artwork, around 20–32 lands total), plus 2 extended-art promo cards featuring characters from the set. You also get handy accessories: an oversized Spindown life counter themed for Final Fantasy, and a collector’s storage box to hold your cards. The Bundle is perfect if you want a bunch of packs to open along with exclusive extras like the beautiful basic lands (each depicting iconic FF locales) and promo cards. (The lands in particular are a highlight – expect scenic art drawn from various Final Fantasy worlds, in a full-art panorama style.)
- Gift Bundle (Release: June 27, 2025): Arriving a couple weeks later, the Gift Bundle is a leveled-up version intended as the ultimate gift for a Final Fantasy MTG fan. According to Wizards, “the perfect present for Magic and FINAL FANTASY enthusiasts” comes with foil lands, an exclusive Spindown, and a Collector Booster in addition to the normal bundle contents. In practice, the Gift Bundle contains 9 Play Boosters + 1 Collector Booster (so you get one of those premium packs as a bonus), 32 full-art basic lands (that’s 16 nonfoil + 16 foil — one of each artwork in both regular and foil form), 2 Traditional Foil extended-art promo cards, the special oversized Spindown d20, and a storage box. Essentially, it adds more shine: all the basic lands are foil (as well as non-foil), and the promo cards are foil, and of course the inclusion of a Collector Booster means a shot at rare foils and variants. The Gift Bundle has a later release date (June 27) to spread out the product launches, so mark your calendar if you’re after this deluxe package.
Both bundles are fantastic for casual players or as gifts, as they provide a sampler of the set along with unique collectibles. If you or a friend adore Final Fantasy’s art and flavor, a bundle gets you a nice chunk of packs to open plus the exclusive land set (and that cool oversized die featuring Final Fantasy iconography). The Gift Bundle in particular is aimed at holidays or special occasions – it’s a bit pricier but you’re getting that added Collector Booster and foil extras.
Set Codes: The cards in the boosters are from FIN (and the bonus sheet FCA), and the promos have the set code FIN as well (they are variants of FIN cards). The bundles themselves don’t introduce new cards; they compile goodies from the main set.
Gameplay Use: Bundles aren’t used for a specific format, but they’re great for deck-building. After opening your bundle boosters, you’ll have a pile of cards and lands to start constructing decks – whether Standard, Commander, or casual. The exclusive promo cards are typically fun casual cards or alternate-art versions that you can add to your decks as well. And if you’re a collector, having one of each full-art FF basic land is a big draw for completing your set’s aesthetic.
Secret Lair Drops
In addition to the main set and its accessories, Wizards of the Coast has teased Secret Lair drops tied to the Final Fantasy universe. Secret Lair is a series of limited-edition mini releases, usually containing a small number of cards with special art, and for Final Fantasy it’s no different. In fact, Wizards hinted that we’re likely to see three Secret Lair drops, each showcasing Final Fantasy worlds or characters not fully explored in the main set. These drops will be sold directly (and often as time-limited offers), making them true collector’s items.
While details are still forthcoming (as of this writing), we do know that fan-favorite characters “Lightning” (FFXIII) and “Noctis” (FFXV) have been specifically mentioned as appearing via Secret Lair. This suggests that some main characters or content from later Final Fantasy games, which might only be referenced lightly in the main set, could get dedicated cards in these special drops. Each Secret Lair could focus on a particular game or theme – for example, one might feature Final Fantasy XIII’s cast (Lightning, et al.), another could highlight Final Fantasy XV’s heroes, and perhaps a third could be a fun roundup of iconic Chocobos, Moogles, or Cids from across the series (the possibilities are endless, but the speculation of a “15 different Cids” Secret Lair has already made rounds in the community in jest!).
Release Timeline: These Secret Lair drops are expected later in 2025, likely after the main set release. They could potentially be spaced out, with one dropping in the summer and others in the fall or winter. Secret Lairs are usually announced a few weeks before they go on sale, so keep an eye out on official channels for Final Fantasy-themed announcements.
Product Contents: A Secret Lair pack typically contains 3–5 cards (sometimes a few more) with exclusive artwork (often alternate art that ties heavily into the theme – in this case, maybe using art from Final Fantasy concept artists or unique interpretations of FF characters). The cards themselves are usually reprints of existing Magic cards chosen to flavorfully match the Final Fantasy characters or items. For instance, we might see a Magic card whose mechanics suit Lightning given new art where the character depicted is Lightning herself. All cards will be in the Universes Beyond Final Fantasy frame and will be legal in eternal formats (Commander/Legacy/Vintage) just like other UB cards. Secret Lairs often come in both foil and non-foil options.
Gameplay Use: Secret Lair cards are primarily collectibles and conversation pieces. They’re legal for play in formats where the original cards are legal, so you can absolutely sleeve them up in your Commander decks or even Legacy decks if applicable. However, these drops are limited-print and tend to become rare, so many fans get them to collect their favorite character on a Magic card. If you’re a completionist or a die-hard fan of a specific Final Fantasy installment, keep some funds ready – you won’t want to miss these one-off specialty products.
(We’ll update this section once Wizards reveals the specifics of the Final Fantasy Secret Lair drops. But given the promise of seeing characters like Lightning and Noctis in Secret Lair, it’s something to look forward to beyond the main set’s release.)
Starter Kit
Are you new to Magic, or introducing a friend to the game? The Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy Starter Kit is tailor-made for you. This product is a beginner-friendly two-player starter set that features two ready-to-play 60-card decks: one deck represents the heroes of Final Fantasy and the other the villains. In fact, the Starter Kit lets you enact the classic rivalry of Cloud vs. Sephiroth! One deck is built around Cloud, the beloved hero, while the other highlights Sephiroth, his infamous nemesis. It’s a perfect setup to grab a friend and jump straight into a duel between Light and Darkness, Final Fantasy style.
Each deck in the Starter Kit is designed to be simple enough for newcomers, but still flavorful. They feature Final Fantasy-themed art on every card, including some cards that are entirely new to Magic – there are 5 new cards in each deck (10 new cards total) created to showcase key characters or moments for Cloud and Sephiroth. The rest of the cards are chosen to provide a balanced, fun play experience (with helpful reminder text and a smooth learning curve). Notably, each deck contains 5 Rare cards and 1 Mythic Rare legendary creature (the Mythic is likely the leader, e.g. Cloud or Sephiroth) and these legendary cards come in shiny Traditional Foil, giving new players a taste of a foil rare right away.
Also included is a Learn-to-Play guide booklet that walks new players through the basics of Magic. The packaging even doubles as a convenient tray to hold the decks during play. Essentially, the Starter Kit provides everything you need to play your first Magic games – you can open the box and start a hero vs. villain showdown immediatelydraftsim.com. The decks are slightly simplified compared to regular boosters’ contents, which is great for learning, but they’re also fully compatible with the rest of the set. As you grow more comfortable, you can take cards from boosters to upgrade these decks, or vice versa, take the unique cards from here into your other decks.
Key details for Starter Kit:
- Release Date: June 13, 2025 (available at launch).
- Contents: 2 Decks (60 cards each) – one themed as a Hero deck (likely Cloud’s deck) and one as a Villain deck (Sephiroth’s deck). Each deck has 5 rares and 1 mythic (foil). The kit includes a Beginner’s Guide booklet, and likely 2 deck boxes or a divider for the cards.
- Set Codes: The new cards in these decks use the main set code FIN or possibly a unique code if they’re numbered separately, but they are considered part of the Final Fantasy product pool. They are Standard-legal if they’re in FIN (though often Starter Kit exclusive cards tend to also be in the main set or have equivalent versions, but we’ll clarify in Part 2).
- Gameplay Use: Ideal for learning Magic in a familiar setting. If you love Final Fantasy’s story, this kit eases you into Magic by letting you play out a duel between famous characters without deck construction or prior knowledge. Even for experienced players, the Starter Kit can be a fun collectible (hello, foil Cloud Strife card!) or a product to play quick games with a friend who doesn’t have a deck. The decks are balanced against each other for casual play, offering an awesome “Final Fantasy meets Magic” mini-game right out of the box.
Prerelease Packs
Finally, we come to the product that kicks off the whole release: the Prerelease Pack. A week before the official launch, local game stores will host Prerelease events (between June 6–12, 2025) where players can get an early taste of MTG Final Fantasy. If you attend one of these events (highly recommended for the full experience!), you’ll receive a Prerelease Pack.
Each Final Fantasy Prerelease Pack contains 6 Play Booster packs of the set, plus some extra goodies to build and play a Sealed deck at the event. Notably, it includes 1 premium foil promo card – a Rare or Mythic from the set, stamped with the year and the Planeswalker symbol – which you can include in your deck. It also comes with a spindown life counter (a special 20-sided die) themed for the set, used to track your life total in gamesmagic.wizards.com. All of this comes packaged in a deck box shaped kit, which you can use to hold your cards during the event.
Using the contents, players at prerelease will build a 40-card deck and battle others in a friendly tournament celebrating the new set. It’s the first chance to crack packs and see the cards in action. For Final Fantasy, expect a lot of excitement as fans open heroes or summons from their favorite games and get to play them that very day!
Prerelease Pack contents recap:
- 6 Play Booster packs (each booster has 14 cards randomized from the set).
- 1 Foil Promo Card (Rare or Mythic, with gold year stamp — could be any top card from the set, adding some excitement).
- 1 Spindown d20 life counter (oversized, Final Fantasy-branded).
- 1 deck-building aid insert (with tips and maybe a checklist of the set).
After the prerelease weekend, any leftover Prerelease Packs may be sold by stores, but generally this product is tied to the event experience. If you’re eager to play ASAP or love the thrill of sealed deck play, mark your calendar for prerelease weekend. Not only do you get cards early, but the environment is a blast – you’ll be swapping stories of which FF character you opened and figuring out synergistic combos on the fly. Gameplay use for Prerelease Packs is primarily Sealed Deck play (build a deck from those 6 packs and play), but you can also just open it for fun at home if you get one, simulating that sealed experience with a friend.
With this rich product lineup, Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy truly offers something for every kind of player and collector:
- Draft players can grab Booster Boxes to enjoy drafting the entire Final Fantasy saga at their kitchen table.
- Collectors will chase the Collector Boosters and premium variants, as well as Secret Lair drops featuring their favorite protagonists.
- Commander aficionados have four new decks to battle with, straight out of FF lore, with a premium foil option to show off.
- New players or gifts: Bundles and Starter Kits provide an accessible entry, packed with value and flavor to delight any FF fan joining the Magic community.
- Early birds will dive in at Prerelease, experiencing the set in action before anyone else.
In Part 2 of our blog series, we’ll dive deeper into the gameplay aspects – examining how Final Fantasy’s mechanics and themes are implemented on cards, discussing format legality (yes, this set is Standard legal and what that means), and highlighting some of the most exciting card designs (from Limit Breaks to Summons). Whether you’re a competitive player or a lore enthusiast, there’s plenty to explore in how this set plays.
Next up: Dive into the gameplay, format legality, and mechanics behind the Final Fantasy set in Part 2 of our series.