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Zenos yae Galvus/Shinryu, Transcendent Rival | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mokhman/?hl=en">Alexander Mokhov</a>
The Magic: The Gathering fandom was still reacting to May 7's first Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY reveal when another one dropped on social media only a few hours later.
Coming off the heels of <a href="https://scryfall.com/card/fin/241/shantotto">Shantotto, the Radical Lady</a>, the details of which you can find here, the second legendary creature of the day appeared - Zenos yae Galvus/Shinryu, Transcendent Rival:
<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150936" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150935" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-127-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a>
Yes, it's a dual-faced card. While Shantotto is a character featured in Final Fantasy XI, Zenos yae Galvus arrives to Magic via Final Fantasy XIV and its associated expansions. That particular game released to consoles and PC in August of 2013. Fitting perfectly into Commander games that utilize politics, the Burning Chains trigger on the card's Shinryu side will lead to plenty of humorous stories.
In addition to the basic art and frame, Wednesday also saw the reveal of an alternate treatment:
<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150949" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a> <a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150948" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-384-zenos-yae-galvus-1.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a>
With Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY heading to Standard on its release next month, that effect might not hold as much value in a one-vs.-one environment.
Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY is slated for release on June 13, 2025 and promises to be stuffed with iconic characters, events, and legends from the long-running video game series. The set will feature both Play and Collector Boosters and four preconstructed Commander Decks (in both base and Collector's Edition versions), as well as Bundles, Prerelease Kits, and Starter Kits.
How do Zenos/Shinryu's abilities fit the character? Are you suprised to see the character make an appearance in Magic form? Be sure to frequent EDHREC as deck techs featuring all the revealed characters start hitting the website in the coming weeks - with a deck tech centered around Zenos coming courtesy of <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/michael-wheelan">Wheels</a>.

Final Fantasy First Look: Zenos yae Galvus

Shantotto, the Radical Lady | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jsraphael_/?hl=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Joshua Raphael</a>
On May 7th, Magic fans were surprised with a reveal of another new character coming to the game, courtesy of the upcoming Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY.
According to translation from the card's printed Japanese, we're looking at Shantotto, the Radical Lady:
<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-241-shantotto.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-150792" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-241-shantotto-215x300.jpg" alt="" width="215" height="300" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-241-shantotto-215x300.jpg 215w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/fin-241-shantotto.jpg 672w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 215px) 100vw, 215px" /></a>
As per translation, here's what we're seeing:
Shantotto, the Radical Lady
Legendary Creature - Dwarf Wizard
Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +X/+0 until end of turn, where X is the amount of mana spent to cast that spell. If X is 4 or greater, draw a card.
"Oh my! I'm so pissed."
The uncommon legend fits with the red/blue color pair's spell-slinging focus, and the character as featured in Final Fantasy XI sees its "Tarutaru" identifier streamlined in Magic as the "Dwarf" creature type. The character's popularity exploded in the years following 2002's release of FFXI. As a result, Shantotto is featured in several subsequent expansions and crossovers.
Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY is slated for release on June 13, 2025 and promises to be stuffed with iconic characters, events, and legends from the long-running video game series. The set will feature both Play and Collector Boosters and four preconstructed Commander Decks (in both base and Collector's Edition versions), as well as Bundles, Prerelease Kits, and Starter Kits. Magic: The Gathering — FINAL FANTASY will be Standard-legal upon its release next month, the first Universes Beyond release to be so.
Despite the release more than a month away, the crossover has proven to be extremely popular, already becoming<a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-best-selling-mtg-set-before-official-release-date" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> the best-selling Magic set to date</a>. Several of the characters have already been revealed in Magic form, including <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-mtg-spoiler-reveals-tifa-lockhart-cards" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tifa Lockhart</a>.
What's your opinion on Shantotto? Does the card match the character? How would you have designed it? Show off your FFXI knowledge below. And be sure to check back often, as more cards are expected to be revealed leading up to MagicCon: Las Vegas.

Final Fantasy First Look: Shantotto, the Radical Lady

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Header image courtesy of Wizards of the Coast</h6>
The Spotlight Series is headed to Japan for the first time.
Wizards of the Coast announced the company’s ongoing Spotlight Series will be hosting Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY in Chiba, Japan this summer.
According to Wizards, the Magic Spotlight: FINAL FANTASY event "will feature the excitement of competitive Magic and the impact of the FINAL FANTASY series with a high-stakes main event and an assortment of engaging side events offering something for every type of fan." In collaboration with Japanese retailer <a href="https://mtg.bigmagic.net/top.html">BIG MAGIC</a>, Magic Spotlight: FINAL FANTASY is a three-day event running from June 27–29 in Chiba, with a two-day open field tournament where competitors will face off in Standard Constructed format for a share of a $50,000 USD prize pool. The top eight players from the event will receive invitations to the Pro Tour Edge of Eternities tournament at MagicCon: Atlanta (Sept. 26-28).
Each participant in Magic Spotlight: FINAL FANTASY's main event will receive a non-foil Japanese-language borderless promo card featuring a card from the upcoming Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY release. Additionally, the Top 128 competitors in the event will receive traditional foil copies of that promo card. In addition to the main event, Magic Spotlight: FINAL FANTASY will host multiple side events with a variety of formats on display.
This event is free to enter, however there is a maximum capacity in the venue, so fans should check for specific information about access to the venue closer to the event. Entry into the $50,000 prize pool main event will require the purchase of a ticket when registration opens, and limited seating is available. Full details will be available on the website for Magic Spotlight: FINAL FANTASY. The site goes live on Wednesday, April 16, with registration opening the next day, April 17 at Noon JST.
Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY launches June 13, with the set representing a rich universe with iconic elements that fans have come to love over the franchise's history. Fans will see characters from every mainline FINAL FANTASY game, each depicted through the lens of Magic: The Gathering. The set is available for preorder now at local game stores, online retailers like Amazon, and elsewhere Magic products are sold.
This upcoming set features the largest collection of FINAL FANTASY artwork ever in a single game, drawing from across the franchise. Magic artists have brought moments from FINAL FANTASY to life in their own unique style while classic FINAL FANTASY art pieces make appearances on these epic cards. Fans will see their favorite stories, characters and moments from FINAL FANTASY depicted across Magic cards, with these icons of the series captured on over 100 legendary creature cards across the entire release.
What is the Spotlight Series?
The <a href="https://magic.gg/spotlight">Magic Spotlight Series</a> is a collection of open invite events that lets anyone play high-level Magic to win significant prizes. The next Spotlight Series event is slated for <a href="https://scgcon.starcitygames.com/event/scg-con-indianapolis-2025/">May 30-June 1 in Indianapolis, Indiana</a>, centered around a "Secret Lair" theme, and will be organized by Star City Games. The main event will be Modern Constructed, with all participants receiving a Secret Lair Showdown Garruk Wildspeaker promo:
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Garruk Wildspeaker|SLP|42"></div></div>
In addition to prize money and a Pro Tour invite, the winner of Indianapolis's Spotlight Series: Secret Lair will also consult on a future Secret Lair.
The main feature of each Magic Spotlight Series event is $50,000 in prize money. With the money going to the main event's top finishers, it's a great incentive to grab a deck and dive into competitive Magic. Additionally, the Top 8 players of each main event will receive invites to the Pro Tour.
For more information on Spotlight events and other places to experience Magic: The Gathering—FINAL FANTASY, keep an eye on <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/news">DailyMTG</a>.

Spotlight Series: Final Fantasy Announced for Chiba, Japan in June

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Header Photo provided by Wizards of the Coast</h6>
LAS VEGAS -- Most Early Bird badges are currently available for MagicCon: Las Vegas, but if you needed a little extra incentive, how does a party sound?
Event organizers for the June event announced today a one-night-only "<a href="https://mcvegas.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/experience/magiccon-presents-party-at-the-edge-of-eternity.html?querytoken=rXaS%20JQNHccILjyHALrrnfzhRc1vgCdunoj3mxMd4fElW3NsrsbHOJ9NhJ2jZojeVuJCQSv6bNFzbroi2OtaUw%3D%3D">Party at the Edge of Eternity</a>" featuring DJ Elliot and Grumgully taking place Friday, June 20 from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Held at AREA15 approximately 15 minutes from MagicCon's location at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the event promises to "help celebrate the first night of Summer" and "launch your weekend into the stratosphere." Event organizers laud karaoke as a primary draw for the evening's festivities in addition to the socializing.
Early Bird General Admission tickets for the event are $40 for a limited time, ending April 18 or while supplies last, before raising to the standard price of $50. A ticket includes entry into both areas of the party: The "Portal" and The "Wall." The event is limited to attendees age 21+ and a valid MagicCon badge is required to purchase a Party at the Edge of Eternity ticket.
MagicCon: Las Vegas is slated for June 20-22. Tickets are <a href="https://checkout.conventions.leapevent.tech/eh/wlherwuptsywmagiclvvzqylhzcvhjt">on sale now</a>. A full schedule of events and ticketed play is <a href="https://mcvegas.mtgfestivals.com/en-us/magic-play/ticketed-play-schedule.html">available here</a>.

Nick Wolf

Limit Break Precon Guide - Final Fantasy

Revival Trance Precon Guide - Final Fantasy

Old Man Magic: The Bureaucratic Undead

Final Fantasy First Look: Zenos yae Galvus

Final Fantasy First Look: Shantotto, the Radical Lady

Spotlight Series: Final Fantasy Announced for Chiba, Japan in June

Early Bird Tickets Available for Official MagicCon Party

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