Final Fantasy cards: Magic or Final Fantasy TCG?
There are two completely different card products called Final Fantasy cards, and they are constantly mixed up. One is Final Fantasy Trading Card Game from Square Enix, a card game of its own that has been around for many years. The other is the Final Fantasy edition of Magic: The Gathering, where Final Fantasy characters are printed on Magic cards. They cannot be mixed and are bought for different reasons.
Quick facts
| Two products | Final Fantasy TCG and the Final Fantasy edition of Magic: The Gathering |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Square Enix and Wizards of the Coast respectively |
| Compatible | No |
| Card size | Standard, 63 × 88 mm, in both |
| Most common mix-up | Buying the Magic edition believing it is the card game from Square Enix |
The difference, side by side
| Final Fantasy TCG | A card game of its own from Square Enix. Its own rules, its own sets, its own tournament scene. Cards marked with crystal symbols and element colours. |
|---|---|
| The Final Fantasy edition | A Magic edition in the Universes Beyond series. The cards follow Magic's rules and are played in Magic decks. |
| What they share | The setting and the characters. Nothing else. |
The Magic edition explained
- The cards are Magic cards. They have Magic's frames, symbols and rules text.
- They are played in Magic. Which formats they are legal in follows Magic's own rules.
- The products are Magic's. Play booster, collector booster, starter kit and Commander deck.
- Demand comes from two directions. Both Magic players and Final Fantasy fans buy them, which makes the edition unusually sought after.
- The collector value lies in the special versions. Alternate illustrations and surge foil treatments.
Read more about Magic's products and formats in the guide to the Magic editions and in the guide to how Magic is played.
Final Fantasy Trading Card Game explained
| Deck size | 50 cards |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 |
| Win condition | Seven points of damage to the opponent |
| Elements | The cards' colours, such as fire, ice and wind |
| Crystals | The payment system, generated by your own cards |
| Products | Boosters, starter decks and themed releases |
Which one should you buy
| You already play Magic | The Magic edition. The cards fit in your decks. |
|---|---|
| You want a game of its own | Final Fantasy TCG, starter deck |
| You collect the artwork | The Magic edition's special versions have the most lavish illustrations |
| You want to play in tournaments | Magic has the larger tournament scene in Europe |
| A gift for a Final Fantasy fan | The Magic edition's collector booster or a Commander deck |
Common mistakes
- Buying the Magic edition believing it belongs to Square Enix's card game.
- Trying to mix cards from the two games in the same deck.
- Comparing prices between the two as if they were the same product.
- Buying collector booster and expecting more playable cards. They give finer cards, not more.
- Storing the foil cards without sleeves. They scratch easily.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the Final Fantasy edition real Magic cards? Yes, fully playable under Magic's rules.
- Can I mix the two games? No.
- What is Universes Beyond? Magic's series of editions with characters from other worlds.
- Which sleeves fit? Standard size for both.
- Do I need to have played Final Fantasy? No, but the characters are more fun if you have.
How to tell which card you are holding
- Look at the card's frame. Magic cards have Magic's frame with mana symbols in the top right.
- Look for the crystal symbol. Final Fantasy Trading Card Game marks its cards with elements and crystals.
- Read the set code at the bottom. The two games use different code systems.
- Check the publisher in the fine print on the card's edge.
- Look at the packaging. Magic products always carry the Magic logo.
Why the Magic edition became so sought after
Universes Beyond is Magic's way of bringing in characters from other worlds, and the Final Fantasy edition reached two large audiences at once. Magic players buy it because the cards are fully playable in regular formats. Final Fantasy fans buy it for the artwork, often without having played Magic before.
When two groups of buyers chase the same print run, the result is higher demand than for a regular edition. It is the same mechanism that has made other Universes Beyond editions sought after, and it is worth knowing before comparing the price with a regular Magic set.
The products in the Magic edition
| Play booster | Regular packs, built for both opening and draft |
|---|---|
| Collector booster | Highest share of specially treated cards. The collectors' choice. |
| Starter kit | Two ready-made decks for learning the game |
| Commander deck | Ready-made 100-card deck for the multiplayer format |
| Bundle | Several packs plus game materials and storage |
Collecting the artwork
For those buying out of love for Final Fantasy rather than for Magic, the special versions are the interesting part. They come in alternate illustrations, borderless versions and different foil finishes, and that is where the most lavish images are.
If you want a specific artwork, it is almost always cheaper to buy the single card than to open packs hoping to find it. The odds on the most coveted versions are low even in collector booster.
Read more about the Magic editions, how Magic is played and the rarity levels.
Shop: The Final Fantasy edition of Magic and Magic at Bangerpack.
Written by those of us who run Bangerpack. Range and prices change continuously. What applies when you read this is shown in the category.
