Legacy: Final Fantasy Review

Let's start reviewing the most anticipated set of the year, Legacy community!

Unlike the other big set centered around a great, fantastical universe (The Lord of the Rings), Final Fantasy is Standard-legal, and that has affected its power level. In this set, you won't find extremely strong cards that will change Legacy as we know it, like Orcish Bowmasters and The One Ring. Apparently, Wizards of the Coast wanted to make this set a bit less powerful, perhaps with more casual formats, like Commander, in mind, which significantly influenced how the eternal formats will receive it.

Ironically, what will impact Legacy the most will not be a particular card in this set, but rather a rule change.

Our expert house judge, Antônio Carlos, thoroughly explained the several new mechanics in Final Fantasy - Job Select, Tiered, and Saga Creatures - and the old mechanics that came back in this article!

Besides these mechanics, he also covered a recent rule change, and we need to discuss it in this article too because it is important to Legacy as a whole. In fact, it will affect one of the most foundational concepts in Legacy: the new Saga rule changed the interaction between Blood Moon and Urza's Saga!

According to the most recent rules, Blood Moon and similar effects (Magus of the Moon and Harbinger of the Seas) are one of the best answers to Urza's powerful land enchantment: when you resolved Blood Moon, the State-Based Effects of Urza's Saga, now turned into a Mountain, would put it straight into your graveyard, which gave you a huge advantage in tempo. Well, the updated rules, released alongside Final Fantasy, changed this interaction radically. This Saga no longer dies when it is turned into something else, and also keeps its chapter abilities before it was turned.

This means an Urza's Saga that has the ability to create Construct tokens will remain in play as a Mountain with this ability while Blood Moon is active. This will open a new array of deckbuilding possibilities, considering Moon is no longer the antithesis of Urza's Saga and could become a great ally instead. It not only keeps this land in play with an ability that could win the game by itself (anyone who has ever lost because this Saga activated twice knows how powerful it can be), but also still does its most basic job: it is one of the strongest Mana disruptions in the format. Anyone who plays decks like Red Prison and Painter should already be considering adapting to this new interaction, and you can expect a new age in Legacy because of this rule change.

Ok, now that we've dealt with the elephant in the room, let's take a look at the Final Fantasy cards that can see play in Legacy.

Battle Menu

This spell is quite versatile and could be interesting in a deck that wants to use its removal mode, as it could be useful even if you don't need to remove anything.

Cloud, Midgar Mercenary

Cloud can work as extra copies of the powerful Stoneforge Mystic, and is particularly interesting with Swords (Sword of Fire and Ice, for instance) and Jittes.

From Father to Son

Though nothing comes to mind right now, this card is a tutor that puts the card it tutors in your hand, not the top of your deck. We should keep an eye out for it in the future, particularly if some broken Vehicle interaction comes along. Its Flashback cost is a bit too expensive to be relevant in most matches, but it's a bonus.

Hildibrand Manderville

This is a Lord for token decks, but it's also a persistent body on the board, as it creates more (fabulous!) tokens for you when it comes back from the dead.

Machinist’s Arsenal

In a deck based around Artifacts, this equipment could be a finisher that can equip your next token if your opponent answers your first batch.

Restoration Magic

In White Dark Depths lists, Restoration Magic will protect both your lands from Wasteland and your Marit Lage token.

Sidequest: Catch a Fish

The critical mass of an Artifact Azorius list grows whenever a new set comes along. This enchantment draws a card, adds an extra land to your board, and also creates an artifact (a Food Token) for your interactions.

Ultima

5 mana is a lot for this type of effect in Legacy, but this card is particularly strong with Teferi, Time Raveler, and this means we can have hope.

Astrologian’s Planisphere

As Planisphere already creates a creature automatically, it could create a very big creature quite fast. Unlike other cards with Job Select, its Re-Equip cost is not that expensive, so it can keep creating threats even if your opponent figures out a way to get rid of the original Hero it created.

It reminds me of Cori-Steel Cutter and Questing Druid, but you can exile it to play Force of Will. Personally, I think this is Final Fantasy's Sleeper for Legacy.

Dreams of Laguna

It's an Opt for double the price, which doesn't seem great. However, it can instantly create some extra value when you have some mana left, so it's worth a second look.

Edgar, King of Figaro

I'm sure that, in some universe, some misunderstood genius is, at this very moment, figuring out a way to make a coin that never loses break the game.

Jill, Shiva’s Dominant

Jill offers versatility for decks like Esper Human, particularly when it comes to dealing with permanents that could create extra value in games that turn into attrition wars.

Matoya, Archon Elder

We talked about Matoya recently in another article. It is a recursive, low-cost card draw engine that could add a lot to this format.

Memories Returning

We learned our lesson from Stock Up: never underestimate massive card draw, even if it's a sorcery. Memories gives you the best, the third-best, and another bonus card from the top 5 cards in your deck. Control decks may even stall a game into its Flashback. This is the type of card that makes me think that, if Mana Drain was ever unbanned, it would open a wide array of options for control decks.

Valkyrie Aerial Unit

If Memory Guardian sees play, a stronger version with Surveil could very well see play, too.

Cecil, Dark Knight

Honestly, I don't know if it fits, but Cecil seems to have been designed around Death's Shadow, as its front side quickly activates its 13/13. However, its Paladin side goes against this. Really, we'll only be able to tell when we play it.

Malboro

Troll of Khazad-dûm was broken because 1 mana to Swampcycle already let you reanimate something on turn 2. I'm sorry, but this isn't the answer for Troll of Khazad-dûm's ban.

Fire Magic

End the Festivities shows up once or twice on sideboards, and this is a more upgraded, more versatile version of it. So, it should show up once or twice, too.

Sabin, Master Monk

Sabin is a recursive threat for red decks, but it hits hard and uses dead cards in your hand. Usually, these decks don't use their graveyards, so I'm curious to see if more players will start exploring strategies like this.

Samurai’s Katana

A 3/3 with Haste/Trample for 3 mana will always make Red Stompy players wonder if it's useful in their decks. 5 mana to Re-Equip is a lot of mana, but it's an option if you have extra mana to spend in the final turns of the game.

Summon: G. F. Ifrit

"Mommy, can we get Fable of the Mirror-Breaker?"

"We have Fable of the Mirror-Breaker at home."

This is not a Fable. Not even close.

Suplex

The preferred way to kill a train of 10 out of 10 Final Fantasy players can be compared to Abrade or Cast Into the Fire. Unfortunately, Suplex is a sorcery, and this is terrible for it.

Vaan, Street Thief

Vaan can be a real nightmare for your opponent if you play it with Broadside Bombardiers, but, on its own, it is fragile and doesn't do anything before dealing damage to the opponent. I wouldn't bet my savings on it.

Clash of the Eikons

Please note that removing the counter won't reactivate the previous chapter, but removing and adding the counter will reactivate the current chapter.

Commune with Beavers

A non-blue cantrip always stands out. Commune only lets you look at 3 cards in your deck, but you have a good chance of hitting what you want, as you can get a good variety of cards with it.

Sazh’s Chocobo

This little bird is quite aggressive with Fetch lands and Scythecat Cub.

Tifa Lockhart

Speaking of aggressive Landfall decks... Tifa is very aggressive and very fast.

Garland, Knight of Cornelia

In Rakdos and Grixis lists, Garland can see play as extra copies of Dragon's Rage Channeler. Its second ability will rarely be relevant, but, when it is, it is a nice bonus.

Golbez, Crystal Collector

Artifact decks that can splash to black can create a lot of value with Golbez. Its 4 toughness make it resistant to Lightning Bolt.

Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant

I'll test this fella in Boros Initiative.

Noctis, Prince of Lucis

With this fella, you can really lean into Lion's Eye Diamond and Lotus Petal.

Lunatic Pandora

Another option for Urza's Saga.

The Warring Triad

Triad doesn't enter play active in many decks, and in the decks it does, it is a 5/5 creature that starts attacking straight away.

Summon: Bahamut

Ashen Rider has shown up in Red Stompy sideboards as a tech against Show and Tell. Bahamut can take its place because at least you can play it once or twice.

Starting Town

This seems like a Gemstone Mine upgrade for decks that use this land.

This is the end of the multiple universes the Final Fantasy franchise brought to Legacy. Indeed, as we mentioned, the Saga rule change will be the most impactful part of this set. In any case, it is a very striking set, even for those that don't play MTG, and there are a few interesting things in it for our format.

What do you think of it? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!