The long-awaited Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY set will soon release on June 13! In anticipation of this exciting event, we're introducing some of the cards in the set – sixteen articles for sixteen mainline games in the series!
The elements we showcase here range from iconic characters to defining moments—aspects that encompass the essence of the FINAL FANTASY franchise.
For our very first showcase, we’d like to show you two cards from FINAL FANTASY I.
“Starting Town” features the beautiful kingdom of Cornelia, the first location in which the protagonist, the Warrior of Light, sets foot on their journey. The card illustration not only depicts the grand castle in the distance but also the lush woodland path leading up to the town gates.
“Town Greeter” depicts the same kingdom, but this card instead illustrates the various residents of Cornelia who warmly welcome the traveler to their fold. For those who started playing the series with FINAL FANTASY I, these may be the first NPCs they ever encountered.
These two cards evoke a sense of nostalgia, taking you back to the very beginnings of the FINAL FANTASY franchise, don’t you think?
We’ve received some additional comments on them from Magic: The Gathering’s very own Principle Narrative Game Designer: Dillon Deveney!
Starting Town
We created a series of "RPG" flavored cards that capture the spirit and essence of NES/SNES-era RPGs. Starting Town is a classic trope in any good RPG, it’s the first place you begin your adventure! FINAL FANTASY I inspired this idea of trying to recall the spirit of embarking on many gamers' very first RPG adventure. This card pairs well with Town Greeter!
Town Greeter
Welcome to Cornelia! FINAL FANTASY I began in the much-beloved kingdom of Cornelia. When you first enter the town, you can start talking with NPCs, many of which are citizens and soldiers. They kindly welcome you to their town and tell you many stories about their home. The very first worldbuilding elements of FINAL FANTASY I are founded in Cornelia, so we wanted to capture the experience of meeting an in-game NPC for the first time who really wants to tell you all about their history and kingdom. It was a great chance to flesh out the visual scale of how big this kingdom was in our imagination!
Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY will be available for purchase on June 13. Until then, why not come (re-)familiarize yourself with the world of FINAL FANTASY? If you simply can’t wait, be among the first to play with the collaboration cards via prerelease at authorized retailers come Friday, June 6!
FINAL FANTASY I
The elements of wind, water, earth, and fire, embodied by the four Crystals, once brought balance and prosperity to the world. Now, a preternatural paradox throws the forces of nature into disarray, threatening to engulf the land in darkness. Although fear grips the populace, hope remains in a prophecy:
"When darkness veils the world, four Warriors of Light shall come."
One fateful day in the kingdom of Cornelia, four young travelers arrive with no memory of their past, each clutching a Crystal. Could they truly be the prophesied Warriors of Light?
Led by the light of the Crystals, they venture forth to restore peace to the realm; the first of their trials a battle with a fell knight. Little do they realize that this is only the beginning of an adventure that transcends time and space.
©2025 Wizards.
