FINAL FANTASY TRADING CARD GAME, abbreviated FFTCG, is played all around the world.
We’re excited to bring you an FF Portal-exclusive sneak peek of three cards from the newest FFTCG booster packs, Hidden Legends, which will be released on November 15!
Once again, we bring you new card introductions from FFTCG producer Tarou Kageyama and comments on their art from the illustrators who drew them!
A Sneak Peek at Hidden Legends
Hello, everyone! This is FFTCG producer Tarou Kageyama. I use this opportunity to give a sneak peek at a few illustrated cards before the release of every booster pack, and this time, I’m here to talk about cards from Hidden Legends, slated for release on Friday, November 15. I’ll be introducing three wonderful illustrations, so I hope you stick around!
[24-025L] Genesis
Let’s start with [24-025L] Genesis from CRISIS CORE –FINAL FANTASY VII– REUNION illustrated by Rubi Asami.
The normal and full-art versions both have a stunning design. Is the apple in his right hand a Banora White? Paired with the pale colors, it really stirs my imagination.
Now let’s see what the card can do. Genesis has a cost of 5, power of 9000, and is an Ice Forward. He has an auto-ability with selectable actions that’s triggered when Genesis or a Job SOLDIER enters the field. His specs are fairly standard otherwise, so let’s take a closer look at that auto-ability. As mentioned, it allows you to select one of three actions. The three actions are as listed below:
- Your opponent discards 1 card.
- Choose up to 2 Characters. Dull them and Freeze them.
- During this turn, the cost required to cast your next Job SOLDIER is reduced by 3 (it cannot become 0).
The card isn’t too effective if used just once when [24-025L] Genesis enters the field, but it triggers whenever a Job SOLDIER enters the field, so your opponent will be in trouble if they let you keep the card in play.
If you really want to press your opponent, the third cost-reducing action is invaluable. You can also make your opponent discard several of their cards, or dull and freeze any characters in your way. Another strength of this card is the fact that it can be triggered not just by Forwards, but Backups too, like [22-004H] Angeal. It also pairs well with [22-032L] Sephiroth and the LB Card [22-112R] Zack.
[Comments from the Illustrator: Rubi Asami]
The four characters I was assigned for Hidden Legends were all from different titles, so I didn’t strive for a consistent style, and instead decided to draw each character and story using different methods on a blank canvas.
Genesis left a strong impression on me and reminds me of the memories I had playing the game. He changes as the story progresses, and I remember feeling a sense of wistfulness, almost as if he was fading in color. I wanted to depict that image, so after I added color, I removed some of it, and then added a little more... It was an odd process, so I’m not sure I could produce a similar drawing even if I tried.
[24-065H] Fenrir
Next are two summons from FINAL FANTASY IX illustrated by Yuya Ishihata.
First, let’s look at [24-065H] Fenrir. Eiko being part of the picture gives the sense of a story, and the beautiful color scheme definitely makes it perfect for any collection.
The card is of course a Summon, with a cost of 2, and is a Wind element card. As for the effects, first, if you cast Fenrir, you can discard a card as an extra cost. You can then choose a Forward controlled by your opponent, and if the card’s cost is equal to the cost of the card discarded by the extra cost, you can break it and draw a card. So even though it first requires you to discard one, it allows you to draw another so there’s no loss. If anything, it’s a chance to get rid of a card you don’t need at that time and replace it with a new one. You can also choose not to discard any cards, in which case, nothing will happen.
[24-106H] Leviathan
Next, I’d like to introduce another card by Mr. Ishihata: [24-106H] Leviathan!
The illustration depicts Garnet, and like [24-065H] Fenrir, it’s an enchanting piece that looks as though it’s a scene right out of the story.
This is a Water element Summon with a cost of 3. When you cast Leviathan, you can remove four Card Name Leviathan in your Break Zone. Your opponent must select a Forward or Monster they control, and put it into the Break Zone. If you removed four Card Name Leviathan when you cast [24-106H] Leviathan, your opponent must select up to two (or as many as possible) Forwards or Monsters, and put them into the Break Zone. This can be two Forwards, two Monsters, or one of each. It’s an excellent card to use at any time, but if possible, it’s best to wait until you can take out two at once.
[Comments from the Illustrator: Yuya Ishihata]
To differentiate them from past summons, I thought about how best to incorporate the FINAL FANTASY IX feel. With the red planet, Terra, in the background, I drew Fenrir and Eiko in rocky terrain, which is reminiscent of Titan who is summoned alongside Fenrir.
Leviathan wasn’t able to unleash its full power during its introduction in the original game, so I drew the eidolon with Garnet to give them a chance to wreak havoc. I hope Leviathan gets a chance to wreak havoc on the board too.
I hope you enjoyed learning about these cards! There are plenty of other beautifully illustrated and powerful cards in Hidden Legends, so I hope you check them out for yourself.
That’s it for this pack, but I’ll see you again perhaps around February of 2025 for the next reveal!
What is FFTCG?
FFTCG is a one-on-one tactical card game featuring FINAL FANTASY characters and summons. Not only is there fun in collecting cards featuring familiar faces, the main draw of the game is the simplicity of the rules combined with the complexity of the gameplay. The art drawn for the game by famed illustrators is also a popular aspect of FFTCG!
Play the FFTCG tutorial:
https://sqex.to/FinalFantasyTCG
