Video game RPG series Final Fantasy is iconic and hugely influential, having been a fixture on consoles since the first title was released on the NES back in 1990. Though they began, and were hugely popular, on Nintendo’s consoles, it wasn’t until the release of Final Fantasy VII in 1997 (on Sony’s 32-bit, CD-based console, the PlayStation) that it felt as if the series had truly hit the mainstream. Though it’s arguably not quite reached the same heights again, the Final Fantasy series has remained massively popular, and with each entry of the main video game series covering new ground in terms of settings, mechanics, story and characters, it’s in the unique position of constantly re-inventing itself as new games appear. Now Magic: The Gathering (or MTG, which itself has now been around since 1993!) has released its Final Fantasy set, and covers a frankly astonishing amount of content from the long-running series. Which cards are fans most keen to get their hands on? Let’s take a look at the most valuable MTG Final Fantasy cards!
10. Vivi Ornitier (Borderless Art) – Mythic Rare, 321
Hailing from Final Fantasy IX, Vivi Ornitier is a Black Mage, and is a great demonstration of the game’s return to a more stylized and medieval style, after the high tech-infused worlds of Final Fantasy VII and Final Fantasy VIII. One of the most important characters in Final Fantasy IX, Vivi is hugely popular, so it’s no surprise to see this great, borderless art card appearing on the list of the most valuable MTG Final Fantasy cards!
9. Tifa Lockhart (Borderless Art, Surge Foil) – Rare, 536
Moving away from a more painterly scene found on the Vivi card, this Tifa Lockhart borderless card (with a surge foil treatment that looks spectacular in person) features the Final Fantasy VII character posing in front of the numerals relating to the game she’s a part of, on a plain colored background. It’s a fantastic character portrait for Tifa, the childhood friend of Final Fantasy VII’s main protagonist, Cloud Strife, and it’s a card style you’ll be seeing a lot of on this list! With Final Fantasy VII being so influential and popular (it was the second best selling game overall on the Sony PlayStation), you can also be sure to find other characters from the same title appearing on this list.
8. Lightning, Army of One (Borderless Art, Surge Foil) – Mythic Rare, 545
The protagonist of Final Fantasy XIII, Lightning appears here on another portrait card, featuring the roman numerals of her game behind her. It’s a great aesthetic, and it’s clearly proving to be very popular among Final Fantasy/MTG fans, given the prevalence of this card type on this list. Despite a relatively muted critical response for Final Fantasy XIII, given that it felt like one of the most linear titles in the series for years at that point, lead character Lightning has always proven to be popular. This card (in its borderless, surge art variant) reinforces just how much appreciation the fans have for her!
7. Yuna, Hope of Spira (Borderless Art, Surge Foil) – Mythic Rare, 549
The trilogy of games on the PlayStation (Final Fantasy VII, VIII and IX) had pushed the series to new heights, both in terms of their narratives and their popularity, albeit with diminishing returns. Final Fantasy X was the first game in the series to appear on Sony’s PlayStation 2, and as such it was highly anticipated, as well as being expected to set a new technical benchmark for the series. It didn’t disappoint, with an audiovisual design and production values that were simply jaw-dropping at the time of release, with many elements that have stood the test of time. Despite Tidus being the face of the game, Yuna is arguably the strongest character of the protagonists in Final Fantasy X, and her appearance on this list proves how popular she is!
6. Cloud, Midgar Mercenary (Borderless Art, Surge Foil) – Mythic Rare, 520
The perennially popular Final Fantasy VII is here again, with main protagonist, Cloud Strife, on this particular borderless, surge foil character portrait card. Final Fantasy VII is only a few years away from its 30th anniversary, and its enduring popularity has spawned an entire series of its own, with a remake trilogy (that has drastically altered the original game’s narrative) still underway. Of course, this leads us to our next card on the list; yes, another character from Final Fantasy VII, and the direct opposite to the game’s main protagonist!
5. Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER (Borderless Art, Surge Foil) – Mythic Rare, 527
That’s right, Final Fantasy VII’s antagonist, Sephiroth, is here, his status as part of the elite army known as SOLDIER referenced in the card’s name. Just like all of the other cards on this list, Sephiroth’s abilities are a great way of bringing him to MTG in a way that befits his character. This borderless, surge foil card features a blood red backdrop and the “VII” in roman numerals in white, for a truly striking image.
4. Traveling Chocobo (Borderless Art, Blue Neon Ink) – Mythic Rare, 511c
Chocobos are a species of bird that are synonymous with Final Fantasy. The fictional birds have appeared in just about every mainline entry in the series, though (fun fact!) they didn’t make their debut until 1988’s Final Fantasy II. Though typically known for being yellow, they are found in different colors throughout the Final Fantasy games. Blue Chocobos made their debut in Final Fantasy VII, and are able to cross rivers.
3. Traveling Chocobo (Borderless Art, Yellow Neon Ink) – Mythic Rare, 511a
The most common Chocobo color makes its appearance in the number 3 spot of the most valuable MTG Final Fantasy cards list. Which feels like a good opportunity to mention that not only do Chocobos appear in most Final Fantasy games, but they’re also so popular that they’ve spun off into their own series of video games, as well as featuring in their own tabletop titles too!
2. Traveling Chocobo (Borderless Art, Pink Neon Ink) – Mythic Rare, 511b
Wait, another Chocobo? That’s right, and it’s not even the last one on this list! Pink Chocobos are another type of Chocobo which first appeared in Final Fantasy VII, as well as in Final Fantasy XIV, being seen in each title’s Chocobo racing minigame.
1. Traveling Chocobo (Borderless Art, Green Neon Ink) – Mythic Rare, 511d
The most valuable MTG Final Fantasy card is another Chocobo variant. This time, it’s the Green Chocobo, another which made its first appearance in Final Fantasy VII. Green Chocobos, also known as Mountain Chocobos, have made appearances in a wide variety of Final Fantasy games, which perhaps speaks to just why this particular color of Chocobo is so popular, and why it finds itself at the very top of the most valuable MTG Final Fantasy cards list!
Of course, Final Fantasy isn’t the only video game series to come to MTG; why not take a look at our full list of Fallout MTG cards? Still on the subject of video game related card games, check out our review of Slay the Spire: The Board Game!
