Magic: The Gathering is taking a massive plunge into the lore and mechanics of Final Fantasy, and honestly, it’s as epic as it sounds. Fresh off the Wizard of the Coast’s PAX East panel, this Universes Beyond expansion isn’t just about showing off gorgeous artwork (seriously, check out those card illustrations), but it’s also packing in some seriously innovative and signature mechanics. Whether you’re a die-hard gamer or new to the scene, here’s your ultimate guide to all the funky keywords—and a little extra insight from an avid gamer who can’t wait to play.
Introducing Unique Mechanic Mashups Some of these mechanics, like Job Select, are popping up more than once, while others are one-of-a-kind experiences tailor-made for iconic Final Fantasy characters. Sure, abilities like Tifa’s Landfall and Melee aren’t completely new to the series, but we’re highlighting the unique twists that go beyond your typical Haste, Flying, Lifelink, and the rest of the pack. And yes, expect even more cards (and surprises) to drop in the coming weeks!
Summon: More Than Just a Pretty Face Think of Summons as a mashup between an Enchantment Creature and those cool, narrative-driven Sagas in Magic. When you play a Summon, the card goes through a series of events tied to the turns it’s been on the battlefield before it’s eventually sacrificed—though it still gets to attack and block as a regular creature while it’s hanging around. And for a fun twist, some characters like Final Fantasy XVI’s Clive can actually transform into Summons, nodding to epic in-game moments in a very clever way.
Job Select: Equipment That Brings a New Hero to Life Job Select isn’t your run-of-the-mill Equipment card. Instead of waiting for an existing creature to equip, these cards create a 1/1 colorless Hero token that comes pre-equipped with the gear. From adding creature types like Cleric for White Mage’s Staff or Wizard for Black Mage’s Rod, not only do these cards buff your creature, but they also inject some serious thematic flair into your deck.
Tiered Magic: Spending Mana Like a Pro Drawing heavy inspiration from the evolving magic systems in JRPGs, Tiered spells let you choose how much mana you want to invest to boost the damage output. It’s a nod to the layered strategy of black magic in Final Fantasy where, the more you invest, the bigger the bang for your buck—a mechanic that feels right at home on the battlefield.
Jump: The Dragoon’s Temporary Flight So far, Kain stands as the solo dragoon in this collaboration (though let’s be real, we’re all secretly hoping for a nod to Final Fantasy IX’s Freya). Creatures with Jump get to soar with Flying during your turn, a straightforward yet cool utility mechanic that fits perfectly with the character’s lore.
Darkness // Protect: A Tale of Transformation This dual mechanic highlights two forms of Cecil: starting as a Dark Knight with Darkness and then morphing into a Redeemed Paladin with Protect. With Darkness, whenever Cecil deals damage, you lose that much life—with the kicker that when your life drops to half or lower, Cecil flips back into his redeemed form. Once transformed, his Protect ability makes all creatures attacking with him Indestructible until the end of turn. It’s a high-risk, high-reward flip that packs a punch.
Super Nova: An Angelic Life Leech Sephiroth’s ominous transformation into Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel comes with the stellar Super Nova ability. As soon as the transformation starts, he gets an emblem that triggers whenever a creature dies: target opponent loses one life and you gain one. It’s like giving Lifelink a dark, twisted aura—a perfect fit for one of gaming’s most iconic antiheroes.
Trance: The Mind-Bending Groove Terra, Herald of Hope is currently the sole representative of the Trance mechanic, but keep your eyes peeled—this might be a recurring vibe. When Trance is active, players are forced to mill two cards at the beginning of the combat phase, after which the character gains Flying. Not your everyday ability, but it sure brings a strategic twist to the battlefield.
Stagger: Double the Pain, Double the Gain Lightning, Army of One, gets a loving nod to Final Fantasy XIII’s iconic Stagger system. After Lightning deals combat damage, any further damage aimed at that player or their permanents gets doubled until your next turn. This wild mechanic means that while Lightning might not be one of the marquee commanders, her low mana cost combined with Stagger can suddenly turn the tide in your favor.
Rough Divide: Lone Wolf Rising Squall isn’t just armed with that iconic scowl—he’s also packing Rough Divide. With this ability, whenever a creature you control attacks alone, it’s given Double Strike until the end of turn. It’s a fitting nod to Squall’s brooding lone wolf persona and could potentially lead to some spectacular one-man (or one-creature) showdowns.
Flame Star: Igniting Wizard Power Once Kuja, Genome Sorcerer transforms into Trance Kuja, Fate Defied, he unlocks the Flame Star ability. This super simple yet effective mechanic doubles the damage dealt by Wizards you control when they target a permanent or player. If your deck is stacked with Wizards, this fiery bonus might just be the spark you need to set the competition ablaze.
Meld: The Ultimate Card Fusion The band of brothers, Fang and Vanille, aren’t just a dynamic duo in the world of Final Fantasy—they come together with the Meld mechanic. When both Fang, Fearless l’Cie and Vanille, Cheerful l’Cie are on your battlefield, you have the option to pay five mana (three colorless, one black, and one green) to merge them into Ragnarok, Divine Deliverance. It’s a beautifully powerful fusion that’s a true homage to Final Fantasy XIII.
Cheer: Drawing Cards with a Smile Tidus brings his sunny disposition not just in character but also through the Cheer mechanic. Whenever one or more of your creatures with counters deals combat damage, you get to draw a card and Proliferate—the perfect way to enhance your existing counters. Although it can only hit once per turn, the ripple effect on your board can be massive, making Tidus a delightful and strategic choice.
Angelo Cannon: Rinoa’s Furry Friend Takes the Stage Final Fantasy VIII’s Rinoa Heartilly teams up with her adorable companion, Angelo, who isn’t just there to look cute. His Angelo Cannon ability kicks in whenever Rinoa attacks, giving another target creature you control a boost of +1/+1 for each creature you control until end of turn. Coupled with Rinoa’s ETB ability, this card is a stellar addition if you’re rolling with token-generation strategies.
Adventure (Land): A New Spin on a Familiar Mechanic Adventures aren’t new to Magic, but this time, they’re gracing a Land card for the first time. Once you drop this Land, you’ve got the option to pay the mana cost to activate the Adventure printed on the lower left-hand part of the card. After the adventure’s effect goes off, the card gets banished to Exile. It’s a neat twist that keeps the mechanic fresh and unpredictable.
Landfall: Tifa’s Groundbreaking Power Boost While Landfall isn’t brand new in MTG, Tifa Lockhart’s take is pretty special. Whenever a land you control drops onto the battlefield, Tifa’s power doubles until the end of the turn. Though the card itself might not be about ramping up mana, with a bit of clever play, this low-cost card can bring surprising strength to your game.
Melee: Extra Punch for a Martial Artist Last but not least, we have Melee—a trusted mechanic with a bit of extra spice. Every time Tifa, Martial Artist attacks, she gets +1/+1 for each opponent you’re attacking in that single combat phase. In multiplayer formats like Commander, where attacking solo is a common strategy, this ability can seriously elevate her game.
So there you have it—a complete break down of all the enticing mechanics and keywords in this Madness x Final Fantasy collaboration. Whether you’re in it for the jaw-dropping art or the layered gameplay mechanics, it’s clear that Magic: The Gathering is scoring a critical hit with this release. Stay tuned for further updates as the team reveals even more mind-blowing cards and effects!
Source: This article was inspired by content from Gamespot . All images belong to their respective owners.