FF Topics

Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY
Card Showcase Part 16 (FINAL FANTASY XVI)

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 sixteenth and final showcase, we’d like to show you a few cards from FINAL FANTASY XVI.

First up is “Clive, Ifrit’s Dominant,” the main character of FFXVI! As a Dominant, Clive is able to call upon powerful beasts known as Eikons, manifesting as “Ifrit, Warden of Inferno.” These cards, both visually and mechanically, recreate how he engages in combat by switching between his human form and Ifrit’s form.

Our next card is “Dion, Bahamut’s Dominant.” Dion Lesage is the crown prince of the Holy Empire of Sanbreque, as well as the commander of the Holy Order of the Knights Dragoon. His card reflects his abilities as both an accomplished dragoon and a Dominant wielding the power of “Bahamut, Warden of Light.”

Today’s showcase focused on the relationship between the almighty Eikons and the Dominants within whom they reside. Come experience their impressive strength for yourself by picking up FFXVI!

We’ve received some additional comments on some of today’s cards from Magic: The Gathering’s very own Principle Narrative Game Designer: Dillon Deveney! Enjoy his commentary below.

Clive, Ifrit’s Dominant / Ifrit, Warden of Inferno

"COME TO ME, IFRIT!" Clive caring about the Devotion mechanic was a really sweet way to tell his story - how devoted he is to Joshua and how he becomes devoted to fighting for the cause he believes in. When he transforms into Ifrit, all Ifrit's abilities are about fighting other creatures, because in the game, you're always fighting those big epic boss battles as Ifrit! I think this card sums up a lot of the FINAL FANTASY XVI experience from Clive's perspective very well.

Dion, Bahamut’s Dominant
Dion is such an amazing character and fully captured my attention throughout my playthrough of FINAL FANTASY XVI. I was emotionally involved in his story, constantly rooting for him, and couldn't wait to see what cool new power he would use next. As the leader of the Holy Order of the Knights Dragoon, his card cares about other Knight creatures. We also ensured that Sir Terence made an appearance in the art! These two are extremely wonderful and important characters who battle against many evils throughout the story of FINAL FANTASY XVI, so we really wanted to capture a moment of peace and harmony for them.

Bahamut, Warden of Light
And, as a Dominant, Dion transforms into the legendary Bahamut! It was a blast to play FINAL FANTASY XVI live, take notes during boss battles, and then come back to work and chat about what cool abilities we could adapt onto these cards. Getting Gigaflare on this card as a Flavor Word made me happy; it's just so cool!

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 XVI Official Website

FINAL FANTASY XVI
The sun is setting upon the land of Valisthea.

For centuries, people have flocked to her Mothercrystals to partake of their blessing—the abundant aether that fuels the magicks they rely upon in their everyday lives. As the aether begins to fade and the lifeless deadlands spread ever further, so too does the struggle for possession of the final flickers of the Mothers' light grow ever more fierce.

Yet amidst the gathering storm, there are those who believe that the legacy of the crystals has shaped mankind's destiny for long enough.