"Magic: The Gathering's" partnership with "Final Fantasy" caught many fans off guard. The new set features a lot of strong cards and there's one that can deal an astonishing 10,000 damage—legally playable in Standard format.
Meet Jumbo Cactuar, an awkward-looking cactus character who only wants chaos and pure destruction despite its cute appearance.
Jumbo Cactuar: Looks Can Be Deceiving With 10,000 Attack Power
Among its highlight reveals is Jumbo Cactuar, a monster whose Final Fantasy pedigree is well-realized. 1/7 when attacking, this monster enjoys a whopping +9,999/+0 upgrade, making for a deadly warrior in battle, according to WarGamer.
Furthermore, this design has a nod in its name toward the "Final Fantasy VIII" boss monstrosity's hallmark attack, the 10,000 Needles, which directly kills enemies in the computer game.
Even with its ridiculous attack strength, Jumbo Cactuar is not necessarily game-breaking. Seven mana and no trample or haste abilities make it tame—though the players will find ways to make it more dangerous.
New Saga Creatures: A First for 'Magic: The Gathering'
In addition to high-damage monstrosities, the "MTG Final Fantasy" set adds a new Saga Creature mechanic. Unlike Sagas which have flipped into creatures (as with Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty), these new cards are both creatures and enchantment Sagas at the same time.
An example is Summon: Shiva, a card that replicates Final Fantasy's summoning mechanism. It works similarly to an ordinary Saga, producing effects over a series of turns before eventually being sacrificed. Nevertheless, Shiva can attack once on the second turn after play, making it an interesting combination between an enchantment and a creature.
Double-Faced Cards Illustrating Final Fantasy's Defining Moments
The "MTG Final Fantasy" set also features double-faced cards, creatively introducing aspects of the RPG series into gameplay. These cards capture the important story moments, boss evolves, and even minigames from "Final Fantasy" history.
A prime example is Emet-Selch, a popular villain from "Final Fantasy XIV." As a basic looter, his card evolves into Hades, a strong figure that enables players to play cards from their graveyard—if they can get 14 cards into their graveyard first (a nice wink at Final Fantasy XIV).
'Final Fantasy's' Influence on MTG's Future Mechanics
"Magic: The Gathering" will continue to transform, and we could only expect more about the crossover of MTG and Final Fantasy especially with how the mechanics will be brought for future updates.
The way that the collaboration combines outrageous creatures, groundbreaking Saga Creatures, and interactive double-faced cards makes it one of Magic's most offbeat crossovers.
More details on Final Fantasy's mechanics and additional card reveals are expected in May. Until then, fans can keep an eye on MTG's official release schedule to stay updated on this exciting crossover.
