The Last Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set is right here, and there’s by no means been a extra excellent assemblage of Magic playing cards. The set options playing cards taken from each mainline Last Fantasy title, together with the 2 MMOs, so there’s one thing for each technology of Last Fantasy lovers. And whereas Magic has featured different online game crossovers previously (howdy, Murderer’s Creed and Fallout!), with the way in which this set is constructed, from card mechanics to artwork, you’ll be able to inform this one is a developer favourite, positive to enchantment to the large chunk of people that love each video games.
However what when you don’t inhabit the middle circle within the Venn diagram of Magic and Last Fantasy lovers however are nonetheless keen on experiencing this set for your self? Magic: The Gathering is an intimidating sport, even when you’re a seasoned participant like myself. There are such a lot of methods you’ll be able to play, each in individual and on-line, that it may be overwhelming to determine one of the simplest ways to leap in. So right here’s a number of suggestions and tips to taking part in the Last Fantasy Magic set.
Be warned, although: that is the best-selling set in Magic’s 30-plus-year historical past, and you’ll pay for the pleasure of this expertise — if you will discover the product to pay for it in any respect.
Methods to play: bodily version
Through the years, the designers at Magic developer Wizards of the Coast have realized it may be intimidating as hell for a brand new participant seeking to begin their planeswalking journey. To assist these new gamers alongside, Magic builders have created a line of merchandise known as Starter Kits. Every is a set of two 60-card decks that includes playing cards particularly designed for brand spanking new gamers and an instruction booklet that goes over the sport’s fundamental guidelines and cadence of play. Hold one deck for your self, give one to a pal, and study as you play collectively. For MTG x FF, the starter package options two decks themed round Last Fantasy’s biggest rivalry: Sephiroth vs. Cloud.
Although that is Magic: The Gathering Area, these are the 2 starter decks that includes Sephiroth and Cloud. Picture: Wizards of the Coast
These decks are a good introductory course to Magic. Cloud’s is themed round tools playing cards (assume the Buster Sword or the Ultima Weapon), that are basically weapons you’ll be able to connect to your creatures to pump up their harm and hit laborious. Sephiroth’s deck is all about him. Kill creatures (yours and your opponent’s) to make him as large as attainable. I performed each decks in opposition to the set’s designers and managed to beat them each, a monumental feat for any Magic participant. Nonetheless, if you wish to play them for your self, the Starter Equipment is presently bought out on Amazon, so your greatest wager to search out one is to hit up your native card store (identified in the neighborhood as your LCS) to see if it has any in inventory. Wizards’ web site does function a useful retailer locator when you don’t know the place your nearest LCS is.
There are additionally 4 Commander decks you should buy and play, with every one themed round a selected title within the sequence. Commander is the preferred format of Magic, however the guidelines are barely totally different from customary play, and matches can typically embody a couple of opponent. The Last Fantasy Commander decks are beginner-friendly however costly, working anyplace from $80 to $130 when Commander decks in different units are less expensive.
Methods to play: on-line version
For those who don’t have any associates you’ll be able to beg, bribe, or beat into taking part in Magic with you, there may be one other, far simpler possibility: the sport’s on-line model, Magic: The Gathering Area. Area is one of the simplest ways to expertise the Last Fantasy set as there’s no fear about inventory, it’s comparatively cheaper, and there are such a lot of other ways to play that in-person taking part in merely doesn’t accommodate. When you’ve made your account and downloaded the sport, you’ll be able to play by way of the sport’s tutorial, which I like to recommend to get your bearings. Not solely does it clarify how one can play, however the shade challenges additionally provide you with a really feel for the playstyles of Magic’s 5 totally different colours.
Selecting your slice of the colour pie
Consider colours and shade combos as characters in your favourite hero shooter. Every has totally different talents and favors a selected fashion of play. Blue and white middle on going over your opponents’ heads with flying creatures, whereas mono inexperienced (my favourite and one of the simplest ways to play) favors large, stompy creatures that run over your opponents’ defenses. The Last Fantasy set makes it simple to discover a shade or combo that works for you.
If you wish to get straight into the Last Fantasy set, you’ll be able to merely skip the tutorial to unlock all of Area’s many sport modes and options, and it’ll nonetheless be there to attempt when you ever want to return.
When you’re prepared, you will have quite a lot of choices out there. You may get proper into the thick of issues and begin taking part in the sport’s constructed modes. For those who’ve by no means performed Magic earlier than, don’t do that. It’s costly, costing numerous assets your account is not going to have except you purchase them within the sport’s money store, and it’s laborious. Making decks is troublesome; even I don’t prefer it that a lot in comparison with taking part in decks preassembled for me.
1/4A few of my favourite playing cards from this set. Picture: Wizards of the Coast
Your greatest, most economical possibility is to play Jumpstart mode. In Jumpstart all of the laborious work of creating a viable deck is finished for you. You might be offered with quite a lot of archetypes: Daring, Mage, Chocobos, Gear, and extra. You may decide two of them primarily based on nothing greater than vibes and private desire, and the sport will routinely create a deck utilizing these two archetypes. You then play your deck in opposition to different Jumpstart decks and rack up the wins or the dear expertise that comes with dropping.
The wonderful thing about Jumpstart is that it’s low cost — a brand new account grants you adequate foreign money to attempt the mode 3 times — and the playing cards you decide are yours to maintain. Do it sufficient occasions and also you’ll ultimately have sufficient playing cards to instrument round with making your personal decks to check out within the sport’s pleasant mode, Fast Begin. I’ve loved all of the totally different Jumpstart decks I’ve made, however when you actually wanna have some enjoyable, decide chocobos everytime you get the possibility. They’re creatures that get stronger everytime you play a land card (consider land just like the gasoline that powers your deck’s engine) and have unbelievable synergy with different card varieties, resulting in a deck that will overwhelm your opponent.
Additionally, they’re chocobos! What could possibly be extra Last Fantasy than chocobos?
In case you are a Last Fantasy fan, I can not stress sufficient how a lot enjoyable its Magic set is. And when you’re intimidated by Magic’s issue, don’t be. There are such a lot of beginner-friendly methods to play, and there are such a lot of newcomers making an attempt this set out for the primary time, that you just’ll be in good firm. Plus, I’ve discovered the group is at all times pleased to assist newcomers. Once I performed at an in-person occasion, my first opponent had by no means picked up the sport earlier than. Over the course of our match I taught him every part I knew as greatest I might, and earlier than the tip, he beat me. Badly. I’ve by no means had extra enjoyable.
