Peanut butter and jelly. Batman and Robin. Chocobos and “Wark!” sounds. What do they all have in common? They absolutely slap as iconic duos. And coming in hot to join that legendary list: Magic: The Gathering and Final Fantasy.
The Magic: The Gathering- Final Fantasy Starter Kit drops on June 14, 2025, bringing together two of gaming’s most enduring franchises in what might be the most perfect pairing in the franchise, in my humble opinion. Pre-orders are already open for this $20 bundle of cardboard joy, featuring Cloud and Sephiroth finally settling their differences through the ancient art of tapping lands instead of dramatic monologues.
Cloud Vs. Sephiroth: The Rivalry Continues
The centerpiece of this starter kit is the two ready-to-battle 60-card decks featuring none other than gaming’s most iconic hero-villain duo. One deck stars Cloud Strife in all his spiky-haired glory as “Cloud, Planet’s Champion” (White/Red), while the other showcases the one-winged angel himself, “Sephiroth, Planet’s Heir” (Blue/Black).
Each deck comes with a foil mythic rare legendary creature card of its respective protagonist. Cloud’s card is particularly nasty, gaining a double strikeandindestructible when equipped, all the while reducing equipment costs by 2.
Sephiroth’s full abilities remain shrouded in mystery, which is…fittingfor the character.With leaked cards already turning heads, the final reveal has a high bar to clear
Exclusive Cards That Will Make Collectors Lose Their Minds
Between the two decks, you’ll score 10 completely exclusive cards (5 per deck) that you won’t find anywhere else in Magic. These aren’t just reskins either, they’re brand-new mechanics designed specifically for this crossover.
Beyond Cloud and Sephiroth, other legendary creatures making their cardboard debut include Rosa, Beatrix, Lightning, Ultimecia, Seymour Flux, and Xande. Characters spanning the entire Final Fantasy universe, from FF4 all the way through FF16, are showing up to throw down.
The artwork alone is worth the price of admission. This starter kit features the largest collection of Final Fantasy-inspired art ever assembled in a single game product. That’s both borderless character cards, and full-art lands based on iconic FF locations, all in one smart package.
Why This Is Perfect For Beginners
Despite the heavy-hitting names involved, this starter kit is refreshingly approachable for newcomers. The $19.99 price tag gets you everything needed to jump straight into gameplay:
The mechanics are deliberately straightforward, focusing on teaching core Magic concepts without too much complexity. Each starter kit also includes digital codes for MTG Arena that unlock both decks for online play. It’s the perfect entry point if you’ve been Magic-curious but intimidated by the game’s 30-year history.
Pre-Order Before The Scalpers Get To It!
With a June 10, 2025, release date, this crossover is practically around the corner in collectible terms. Preorders are live now through local game stores and the usual online suspects like Amazon.
Given how quickly anything with “Final Fantasy” and “limited edition” in the same vicinity tends to vanish, securing your copy early is probably a good move. At $19.99, it’s priced aggressively for what you’re getting, especially considering those exclusive cards will likely end up commanding absolutely blasphemous prices on the secondary market.
It’s worth noting that this starter kit is just the tip of the Mako-infused iceberg. It’s part of a larger Magic: The Gathering—Final Fantasy expansion that includesCommander Decks,Play Boosters,Collector Boosters, andmore.
The starter kit doesn’t include any of the ultra-rare serialized cards (those are hiding in the Collector Boosters), but itdoesprovide the perfect foundation for diving deeper into the crossover.
Consider it your gateway drug to eventually spending way too much money on the rest of the collection.
This starter kit strikes a nice little balance between appealing to newcomers while also offering genuine value to veterans of either franchise. Preorders for the June 13 release are available now. May your draws be better than Cloud’s dating luck.
