<p>Today is Saturday, June 7th; I hope everyone has been enjoying the new <em>Final Fantasy</em> set since yesterday's first batch of Prerelease events! I hope, too, that you've all been enjoying this <em>Final Fantasy</em> Count-Up article series! Yesterday we covered <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-ten-ffx/"><em>FFX</em></a>, and today we will be covering <em>Final Fantasy XI</em>.</p>
<p>Notably, the <em>FFXI</em> subset has only thirteen cards in it, just eleven of which are at all applicable to this series. So, we will be eschewing an Honorable Mention for this section. However, the overall criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will, again, not have a card for this category.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's look at some of the best and most exciting cards in the <em>FFXI</em> subset!</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shantotto, Tactician Magician"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shantotto, Tactician Magician" href="#" target="_blank">Shantotto, Tactician Magician</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> was revealed fairly early on in the spoiler season for this set. Even so, she's my pick for the best <em>Final Fantasy XI</em> card to have as a commander. This isn't any shade towards cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Absolute Virtue" href="#" target="_blank">Absolute Virtue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, as you'll see in a moment. Shantotto just happens to have a remarkably strong ability that allows her to shine in a way that's a minor challenge and a major delight.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sabotender"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sabotender" href="#" target="_blank">Sabotender</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a lowball entry, but with only eleven applicable cards for this subset to grant superlatives, we have to work with what we have. It's a good card, though, as it acts as a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spitfire Lagac" href="#" target="_blank">Spitfire Lagac</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> analogue in a set that likes to burn opponents little by little. I can see a Limited environment in which Sabotender completely shines for its controller, even winning some games almost totally on its own (or in multiples).</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gysahl Greens"></div></div>
<p>A question for the <em>Final Fantasy</em> diehards reading this article: Did you ever want to own a Chocobo of your very own? If so, did the concept of enticing a Chocobo with a favorite food ever appeal to you? If so, you probably understand what I'm saying when I nominate <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gysahl Greens" href="#" target="_blank">Gysahl Greens</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as the Most Flavorful card in the <em>FFXI</em> subset. It's a cute card with reasonable gameplay application, and it summons a Chocobo! What's not to love about that?</p>
<p>And with that, we move to our Best In Show. I hinted at it earlier, so it should come as no surprise to you that our Best In Show is...</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy XI</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Absolute Virtue"></div></div>
<p>...<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Absolute Virtue" href="#" target="_blank">Absolute Virtue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>When the <em>Final Fantasy</em> Design team first previewed <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Absolute_Virtue">Absolute Virtue</a>, they imparted a story that implied that the creature in-game took a hellishly long time to vanquish for the many, many players in <em>FFXI</em>. This feels like it tracks with this card version in a fairly big way. Protecting you and everything you control from opposing forces seems great and makes you a prime threat at the Commander table. However, it's not hard to make Absolute Virtue just as hard to defeat as in the video game. Be it by frequent reanimation or consistent protection, this creature could be the bane of many Aggro players in many cases. Even at eight mana, Absolute Virtue is beyond worthy of being my Best In Show for <em>Final Fantasy XI</em>.</p>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>This particular article was a bit harder to pen than the others so far. This was namely due to the lack of options, but I'm glad to continue this series. We only have five more count-up articles to go until <em>Final Fantasy</em> officially fully releases! It really feels like it's no time at all.</p>
<p>And now, some questions for you, dear readers. Are you enjoying the Prerelease events this weekend thus far? Are you hoping to open any particular cards from <em>MTGFIN</em> packs? And, are you building any cool decks this weekend to give any of the new cards a home? Sound off in the comments! And, if you are interested in reading more, the previous entries in the Count-Up series are all below. Feel free to give them a read!</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-eight-ffviii/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 8: </a><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-eight-ffviii/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em>FFVIII</em></a></strong><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-nine-ffix">Day 9: <em>FFIX</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-ten-ffx/">Day 10: <em>FFX</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Eleven: FFXI

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's <em>finally</em> here! Many players can breathe easy at last, for their wait is over. The prerelease events for <em>Final Fantasy</em> begin this weekend, officially starting today, June 6th. What kind of format will this Prerelease entail? What goodies can you hope to gather from this sort of event? Read on, and we'll lay it out for you!</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy</em> Prerelease Format</h2>
<p>First off, <a href="https://wpn.wizards.com/en/event/prerelease-magic-the-gathering-final-fantasy">the Prerelease events</a> for this set will almost unanimously be <em>Final Fantasy</em> Sealed. This is due to the widespread use of 6-pack Prerelease Kits. However, depending on your location or region, allocations may be a bit off; for that reason, you may be engaging in a different Limited format instead to meet demand. We can't say for sure whether your local game store will have you deviate from the norm, but if it's a Prerelease event, it will no doubt be <em>Final Fantasy</em>. And yes, you <em>can </em>use the Prerelease promo you get in your Kit.</p>
<p>Additionally, some stores do Prerelease in a slightly different way and offer 2-Headed Giant Sealed for at least one day of their events. These events are also tons of fun! In fact, we recently covered Archidekt's collaboration with Flyquest on a 2HG Sealed <em>Final Fantasy</em> event coming very soon, called Duel Land. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/archidekt-x-flyquest-to-host-celebrity-final-fantasy-prerelease-event-june-14-15">You can read up on that event here.</a></p>
<h2>Prerelease Goodies For The New Set</h2>
<p>In addition to getting packs from playing and for doing well in this Prerelease event series, players who participate in a Prerelease event may secure themselves a crystalline 10-sided spindown die (while supplies last). Furthermore, if you participate in at least two of these events, you might bag yourself a velveteen dice pouch as well.</p>
<p>While we don't have an image of the dice pouch, this is what the spindown d10 looks like from two different angles (Image credit: Wizards of the Coast):</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10.jpg"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-155427" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10.jpg" alt="" width="559" height="559" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10.jpg 1080w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10-300x300.jpg 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10-150x150.jpg 150w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Crystal_D10-768x768.jpg 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px" /></a></p>
<h2>What's Next After Prerelease?</h2>
<p>Starting right at the release date for <em>Final Fantasy</em>, local game stores are getting an event called "Chocobo Racing". <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-adds-chocobo-racing-to-magic-presents-events">We covered this event in detail a few weeks ago.</a> But, as a refresher:</p>
<blockquote>
<blockquote><p>Chocobo Racing Events are the weekly Booster Draft and Sealed event based on the <em>FINAL FANTASY VII</em> mini-game "Chocobo Racing". Whenever players play Draft or Sealed events with <em>Magic: The Gathering—</em>FINAL FANTASY in your store, earning points to reach special rewards just for this event.</p></blockquote>
<p>The site goes on to explain how this minigame works:</p>
<blockquote><p>As players enjoy racing around the track throughout the season, they'll earn a set number of points that build toward rewards.</p>
<p>Award points for the following:</p>
<ul>
<li>Players <strong>earn 3 points</strong> for each Draft of Sealed event (excluding Prerelease) they attend.</li>
<li>Players <strong>earn 1 point</strong> for each match they win in a qualifying event.</li>
<li>Existing players that bring in a new player who <a href="http://myaccounts.wizards.com/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">signs up for a Wizards Account</a> and participates in a qualifying event <strong>earn 1 point</strong>.</li>
</ul>
<p>When a player reaches 10 cumulative points, they earn a foil Chocobo art print. When a player reaches 20 cumulative points, they earn a Chocobo Pinfinity AR pin!</p></blockquote>
<p>At the very end of the event, store owners are encouraged to give out any unallocated prints or pins to players who didn't make it to 10 or 20 points. WPN suggests stores give them out in order of highest standings at the end of the event's run.</p></blockquote>
<p>And that about wraps up what you may need to know about the <em>Final Fantasy</em> Prerelease and Release events! Are you excited about this weekend? Sound off below!</p>


Final Fantasy Prerelease Events Begin This Weekend

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image Credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Friday, June 6th, at long last! That means it's the day that a lot of people have been waiting for: <em>Final Fantasy</em> Prerelease day! But also, today is Day 10 of our count-up towards the official release of the set. I've been writing about the best and most flavorful cards from each game in the main <em>FF</em> series. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-nine-ffix/">Yesterday I covered <em>FFIX</em></a>, and today I'll be looking at <em>Final Fantasy X</em>!</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These can be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. Today's list will only have one card.</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Al Bhed Salvagers"></div></div>
<p>This Honorable Mention was actually quite difficult, as there are a fair few cards that were in the running. However, I decided to give it to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Al Bhed Salvagers" href="#" target="_blank">Al Bhed Salvagers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card eked out the superlative win over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Combat Tutorial" href="#" target="_blank">Combat Tutorial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> on the merits of mechanical utility over flavor. Al Bhed Salvagers is a helpful, if literally uncommon, Aristocrat-style card in this set, with the only other card overtly like it in the set being <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. As such, Al Bhed Salvagers is a helpful addition to many different builds. It will see a lot of play in Limited under the white-black sacrifice archetype, but the card is more genuinely useful in any deck that utilizes black in the format. And this isn't even touching upon Commander's applications of the card, which seem quite vast as well!</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Yuna, Hope of Spira"></div></div>
<p>In the Best as a Commander spot, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Yuna, Hope of Spira" href="#" target="_blank">Yuna, Hope of Spira</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Between <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment" href="#" target="_blank">Sin, Spira&#039;s Punishment</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> costing too much mana and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seymour Flux" href="#" target="_blank">Seymour Flux</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> having too few colors about it, Yuna felt like the right choice for this superlative spot. As a dedicated "Summon"-centric legend, Yuna seems like fertile ground for open potential in deckbuilding. You could always go with the Saga creatures from the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set, but you could also err towards general enchantment creatures as well. There is a real case for Yuna's high degree of open utility here, so make of that what you will.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Overkill"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overkill" href="#" target="_blank">Overkill</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of those cards that you have to experience to really understand the magnitude of. Whether it's killing a bomb of a creature definitively and turning the tide of the game, or comboing out with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaws of Defeat" href="#" target="_blank">Jaws of Defeat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to take a player out, Overkill will seldom be unimpactful in a game of Commander.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blitzball"></div></div>
<p>How could we talk about <em>Final Fantasy X</em> and not put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blitzball" href="#" target="_blank">Blitzball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> at Most Flavorful on this list? The card is a solid mana rock (mana ball? The verdict is still out among my editors) and provides ample card advantage upon scoring a goal. The analogy of <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Blitzball_(minigame)">scoring a goal</a> being a legendary creature dealing combat damage is pretty rad, if I'm being frank. In Limited, people will probably only be sacrificing Blitzball in the late game, as mana is so vital earlier in Sealed or Draft. However, this card will be used a lot in Commander decks that care about the card advantage capabilities of this card. Time will tell how many decks want it, but it's still a really cool and flavorful card.</p>
<p>And that brings us to the Best In Show for <em>FFX</em>. Which card takes this category? It couldn't be any other card than...</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy X</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Summon: Bahamut"></div></div>
<p>...<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Summon: Bahamut" href="#" target="_blank">Summon: Bahamut</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>This absolute monster of a Summon is one of the most impactful cards in the set, if you can cast it. If you're able to cheat it into play, such as by reanimating it with Yuna, Hope of Spira, it's even better. At one or two lore counters, Bahamut is <em>going</em> to ruin an opponent's day. But that's nothing compared to what's to come. When it reaches its apex at four lore counters, it's apt to do a metric ton of damage to every one of your opponents; this may often end games outright. It's one helluva powerful card, and that's reason enough for it to be my Best In Show for <em>FFX</em>.</p>
<p>So, that marks the end of my count-up for <em>Final Fantasy X</em>! Do you agree with my assessments here? Are there better considerations that I've perhaps missed? Make your case in the comments! And while waiting for tomorrow's <em>FFXI</em> count-up, feel free to read some of the previous entries in the articles linked below.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a></strong><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-eight-ffviii">Day 8: <em>FFVIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-nine-ffix/">Day 9: <em>FFIX</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Ten: FFX

Dion, Bahamut's Dominant - Final Fantasy Deck Tech

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Wednesday, June 4th, which means it's time for the next entry in our <em>Final Fantasy</em> count-up series! Each day leading up to <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/final-fantasy">the release of the new <em>Universes Beyond</em> set</a>, I'm denoting my picks for the most powerful and flavorful cards from each game in the main series. Yesterday, we went over <em>FFVII</em>, and today marks Day 8 of our count-up, so naturally, we're covering <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> today.</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rinoa Heartilly"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rinoa Heartilly" href="#" target="_blank">Rinoa Heartilly</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our Honorable Mention in this list. She has a lot of cool, flavorful applications to her. Namely, Rinoa can create Angelo and then essentially launch him at opponents. This is more of a case for Angelo than Rinoa, as Angelo is <em>the</em> bestest boy in this game. However, as Angelo is a token and linked to Rinoa, we have to give this superlative to her.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Squall, SeeD Mercenary"></div></div>
<p>I've noticed that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Squall, SeeD Mercenary" href="#" target="_blank">Squall, SeeD Mercenary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is practically identical to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seifer Almasy" href="#" target="_blank">Seifer Almasy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in many ways. Both are 4-mana 3/4 legendary creatures that can give double strike to a lone attacker. Plus, both have a trigger on dealing combat damage that recurs a card with a mana value of 3 or less. However, with this stiff competition, Squall beats out Seifer here in that Squall doesn't give the creature cards he recurs finality of any sort. Seifer effectively does, since he exiles the instants and sorceries he allows you to cast from your graveyard. Both are very powerful recursion engines, but Squall is a stronger card in this way. To this end, Squall, SeeD Mercenary is my pick for Best as a Commander.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="PuPu UFO"></div></div>
<p>I'm a fan of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Atlas" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Atlas</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects. I think they're fantastic and have a lot of useful utility. As such, I will be giving the Best in the 99 superlative to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="PuPu UFO" href="#" target="_blank">PuPu UFO</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, an even better Walking Atlas effect than Walking Atlas itself. Sure, Atlas has one more power in any normal situation, but PuPu UFO is a 0/4 flyer that can get huge in Limited. There are even some Commander decks that will synergize well with PuPu UFO, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Wandering Minstrel" href="#" target="_blank">The Wandering Minstrel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Obviously, by the strictest definitions, it's not <em>strictly</em> better than Atlas, but it's certainly pushed and power crept.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triple Triad"></div></div>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/best-final-fantasy-spoilers-from-may-12th-15th">I've covered</a> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triple Triad" href="#" target="_blank">Triple Triad</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the past. I truly like the card. Put simply, it's a minigame that is heavily based on the card game minigame from <em>FFVIII</em> and beyond. There are a bunch of layers to this that we can unpack, but at the end of the day, it's just a really fun card that's bursting with flavor.</p>
<p>With that, we've gotten to our Best In Show for <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em>. Which card earned this superlative?</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Jumbo Cactuar"></div></div>
<p>It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jumbo Cactuar" href="#" target="_blank">Jumbo Cactuar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Jumbo Cactuar is a strong card with humorous flavor implications. It's probably the most memetic card in the set right now on social media. Since its reveal, people have been trying to find ways to adequately break the giant cactus monster, and many have succeeded. It's essentially the new "Congratulations, we finally broke _____" card, always funny to a fault.</p>
<p>Additionally, the card itself <em>is</em> disgustingly powerful. Give this thing trample, flying, or even haste against an unsuspecting board, and you have a card that will defeat opponents quickly and easily. 10,000 power is no joke, dear reader, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fling" href="#" target="_blank">Fling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>ing 10,000 power is itself a power move. And let's not even talk about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rite of Consumption" href="#" target="_blank">Rite of Consumption</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Defeating one opponent and gaining an unreasonably high amount of life is usually a way to end games outright. Plays like that are why Jumbo Cactuar is our Best In Show for this game.</p>
<p>That wraps up our coverage of <em>Final Fantasy VIII</em> for this count-up series! Do you think we missed any important points here? What are your picks for any of these superlatives? Sound off below! And, in the meantime, if you want to look at any of our previous entries, you can find them below as well.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a><strong> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-seven-ffvii">Day 7: <em>FFVII</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Eight: FFVIII

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Flyquest</h6>
<p>Mark your calendars, <em>Final Fantasy</em> fans! <a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest">Archidekt is teaming up with Flyquest</a>, a multi-title American esports organization, to host the epic celebrity Duel Land event!</p>
<p>Duel Land is a streaming charity and <em>Final Fantasy</em> prerelease tournament hosted by Flyquest, featuring sixteen well-known names from the <em>Magic</em> and esports worlds.</p>
<p>These titans of their respective gaming universes will clash head-to-head for $5,000 to go to the charity of the winning team's choice.</p>
<p><iframe loading="lazy" title="Introducing Duel Land: A Celebrity Magic: The Gathering Tournament" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2B7-O30WSwI?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe></p>
<h2>Who's hosting the event?</h2>
<p><a href="https://archidekt.com/flyquest">Brought to you by Archidekt</a>, Duel Land will be hosted by <em>Magic</em> personality <strong>Brian Kibler</strong> and esports veteran <strong>Travis Gafford</strong>. The event seeks to put sixteen creators into eight teams of two for this 2-day 2HG competition.</p>
<p>Each team shall consist of a <em>Magic</em> player and an esports player. The format? <em>Final Fantasy</em> 2-Headed Giant Sealed.</p>
<p>Your favorite MTG and esports personalities will also be showcasing some of Archidekt's coolest collection and deckbuilding features to check out on stream as you brew up your own <em>Final Fantasy</em> decks.</p>
<h3>What does the event schedule look like?</h3>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-155176" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png" alt="flyquest event schedule" width="512" height="236" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule.png 512w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eventschedule-300x138.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px" /></a></p>
<p><strong>On Day One</strong>, the competing teams will be put into two groups to compete.</p>
<p>The top two teams from each group will face each other on <strong>Day Two</strong> for the title, and $5,000 to go to the charity of their choice.</p>
<p>You can also<a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/EDHRECast"> expect to see the EDHRECast</a> at the event for a Commander Showmatch on Day Two!</p>
<p><strong>Day Three</strong> also promises epic action on the Bracket stage!</p>
<h2>Where can I watch?</h2>
<p>The Duel Land charity event will be streaming LIVE on <strong>June 14th and 15th</strong>!</p>
<p><a href="https://www.twitch.tv/FLYQUEST">Be sure to bookmark the Flyquest Twitch page</a> and get notifications for match start times.</p>
<p>For more information on this prestigious for-charity event, you can also visit <a href="https://flyquest.gg/pages/duelland">Flyquest's dedicated event page</a>.</p>
<p>Which celebrities and MTG personalities do you think will head up this epic charity prerelease event?</p>
<p>More information will be available soon, <a href="https://edhrec.com/flyquest">so stay tuned</a>!</p>


Archidekt x Flyquest To Host Celebrity Final Fantasy Prerelease Event June 14-15

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It's Tuesday, June 3rd, and that means it's time for another <em>Final Fantasy</em> count-up entry! Each day ahead of the release of the new <em>Universes Beyond</em> set, I'm writing a piece wherein I list some of the best and most flavorful cards from each game in the series! Yesterday, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi">I covered <em>FFVI</em></a>, my personal favorite. Today, we are looking at <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, arguably the most popular game in the franchise!</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER"></div></div>
<p>Wow, I bet you didn't see <em>this</em> coming!</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that, by most intents and purposes, should be a high-ranking card in most any set. It's powerful, it's iconic, and it rises above and beyond most other cards in its weight class. However, for all it's worth, it doesn't do that here. It's only an Honorable Mention. Why? Well, to be fair, this set is positively <em>stacked</em> with cool cards! It's not that Sephiroth is bad by any stretch of the imagination; however, there are better cards in the set to match my criteria therein. Ultimately, though, this card had to make this list, and so to the Honorable Mentions he goes.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cloud, Midgar Mercenary"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Midgar Mercenary" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Midgar Mercenary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strong choice to pilot a mono-white Commander deck. Cloud Strife is one of the more iconic characters of <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>, if not <em>the most</em> iconic. His reputation precedes him. And, as a powerful, impactful Equipment commander, Cloud certainly lives up to it in <em>Magic</em>.</p>
<p>Cloud is a tutor from the command zone, and a potent one at that. Being able to search up any Equipment and put it into hand is a very strong ability. Be wary, though: some players will attempt to capitalize on timing with this card, and it won't work out. If you were to equip Cloud before his entry trigger resolves (with something like a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hero&#039;s Blade" href="#" target="_blank">Hero&#039;s Blade</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance), you'll still only tutor up one Equipment, despite his triggers then being doubled. It's not an ideal play in many cases, unless you prefer to have him equipped for some doubled effect later on.</p>
<p>That said, if you load Cloud up with plenty of Equipment that have triggers, or grant them, such as the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Fire and Ice" href="#" target="_blank">Swords</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> from <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Mirrodin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Umezawa&#039;s Jitte" href="#" target="_blank">Umezawa&#039;s Jitte</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, you probably have one of the scariest commanders on the battlefield. Happy hunting!</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nibelheim Aflame"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nibelheim Aflame" href="#" target="_blank">Nibelheim Aflame</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a great variant on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chandra&#039;s Ignition" href="#" target="_blank">Chandra&#039;s Ignition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. For one thing, Nibelheim Aflame only costs four mana to essentially wipe the board of all creatures (sans those protected). If that isn't enough, you can also do it again for <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-5" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>! Plus, when you do that, you can get four new cards. That's pretty impactful for a board wipe, especially because if it resolves, your opponents' hands are likely exhausted of cards too. And how cool is that art?</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aerith Gainsborough"></div></div>
<p>Come on, you <em>knew</em> we had to choose <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aerith Gainsborough" href="#" target="_blank">Aerith Gainsborough</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for this superlative! And, if you didn't, feel free to skip ahead a paragraph because this one contains a massive spoiler for <em>Final Fantasy VII</em>. In the game, Sephiroth straight-up kills Aerith, which is a major plot point in the game and ultimately spurs on the end-stage of his plans. He is trying to stop Aerith from using her Holy magic to stop his Meteor spell from destroying the planet. It's a whole thing, and honestly, this iconic scene is probably the last motivation that Cloud and company needed in order to take Sephiroth down.</p>
<p>So that's why Aerith has the triggered ability she does. It's also very possible to enact that very scene from <em>FFVII</em> in this way!</p>
<p>So, with that, we move on to our Best In Show. I feel like you know what's coming, especially if you've been watching YouTube videos or reading other list articles on this very subject. So, in the greatest twist <em>ever</em> (I say with sincerest sarcasm), we chose...</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy VII</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Buster Sword"></div></div>
<p>The <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buster Sword" href="#" target="_blank">Buster Sword</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>Please, hold your applause. This card is legitimately the best Equipment in the set, even above <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genji Glove" href="#" target="_blank">Genji Glove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aettir and Priwen" href="#" target="_blank">Aettir and Priwen</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It slices, it dices, it does your laundry, and it even allows you to cast a boatload of spells if it sticks.</p>
<p>Lorewise, it uses <a href="https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Materia_(Final_Fantasy_VII)">Materia</a> as a source for Cloud to use magic and summons, among other abilities. This is a good representation of that, in the context of the <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> card analogue. Overall, it's just a really strong piece of Equipment that can break the game if left alone on a creature for too long! Plus, equipped to Cloud, Midgar Mercenary (or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER" href="#" target="_blank">Cloud, Ex-SOLDIER</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), it performs even better than it would on most any other given creature! How's <em>that</em> for a flavor win?</p>
<p>With that, we have reached the end of our <em>Final Fantasy VII</em> count-up entry. If you liked this series so far, feel free to let us know in the comments below! And, if you wish to read any more of them, the series so far is below as well.</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a> |</strong></p>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-six-ffvi"><strong>Day 6: <em>FFVI</em></strong></a></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Seven: FFVII

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>Today is Monday, June 2nd, the sixth day of our count-up towards the release date of the <em>Magic</em> set for <em>Final Fantasy</em>! For the past five days, I've been examining the best cards in the set from each game in the series based on superlatives. Yesterday we looked at <em>FFV</em>, and today we'll be looking at <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>! Like many other <em>FF</em> fans, this game is my favorite entry in the main series, so I have some thoughts on this one. So join me as we look into this masterpiece of a game and the most powerful and faithfully adapted cards for <em>FFVI</em>!</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's begin!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<p>It was actually very difficult to find an optimal Honorable Mention for <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>. Every card in this subset is extremely well made and faithful to the game in a huge way. However, having found one, I can safely say it is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Opera Love Song" href="#" target="_blank">Opera Love Song</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Opera Love Song"></div></div>
<p>Opera Love Song depicts such an important and iconic scene from <em>FFVI</em>. This is the moment that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Celes, Rune Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Celes</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is quite torn about the affections of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Locke Cole" href="#" target="_blank">Locke Cole</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, her fellow party member who is himself torn between Celes and <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Terra, Magical Adept" href="#" target="_blank">Terra</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He's smitten with both, but at that time, Terra had left the party, having gone into an Esper Trance form. One of Celes' main concerns is if, to Locke, she's just a rebound or "replacement" for Terra. Celes is also performing in an opera during this scene, but her passion, alongside this particular issue, shines through her performance.</p>
<p>Now, the reason I have to only give this scene-depicting card Honorable Mention over Most Flavorful is that there are still more important scenes in this subset. Furthermore, Opera Love Song is an okay card at best. Mechanically, it's not terrible, but it doesn't exactly shine, either. I love how it shows this scene, but love isn't an easy thing to represent in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. Given enough time for Wizards of the Coast to figure that out, it might be okay eventually to redo. But for now, the concept is a bit mechanically undercooked.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kefka, Court Mage"></div></div>
<p>For full disclosure, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kefka, Court Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kefka, Court Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a subject of my clear-cut biases. Whether it's Piedmon from the <em>Digimon Adventure 01</em> anime, Dhoulmagus from <em>Dragon Quest VIII</em>, or even Chuckles from <em>Legends of Avantris</em>, I'm an absolute sucker for evil or demented clowns. I even have my own evil clown "BBEG" (or "Big Bad Evil Guy"), in the <em>Dungeons &amp; Dragons</em> campaign I currently act as Dungeon Master for. Suffice to say, after Dhoulmagus and Piedmon, Kefka is probably my favorite of the lot.</p>
<p>Anyway, Kefka is the best commander of the <em>FFVI</em> options. As a tricolor legend, he has more versatility than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Edgar, King of Figaro" href="#" target="_blank">Edgar, King of Figaro</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or Locke Cole, but a less-difficult required mana base than Terra, Magical Adept. His control strategy paired with the ability to pivot into a combo stance is also a really powerful playstyle. I <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/group-slugging-with-kefka-court-mage">covered Kefka in a deck tech</a> early on in the preview season. And, I still stand by the idea that he's my favorite commander in the set overall.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Phoenix Down"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phoenix Down" href="#" target="_blank">Phoenix Down</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a strong modal artifact with a use in many white decks. If you need to reanimate a reasonably-sized creature, Phoenix Down has your back. Do you need to remove a pesky undead? Phoenix Down is available to help you here as well. This falls in line with how the card works in the <em>Final Fantasy</em> series, as healing magic can kill undead creatures. But overall, it's a very versatile card and works great in the 99 of most white decks for its extreme utility in a pinch.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<p>With cards like Opera Love Song and Phoenix Down in other superlative spots, what takes the cake as Most Flavorful? Well, we have to give this one to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Suplex" href="#" target="_blank">Suplex</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Suplex"></div></div>
<p>The flavor of Suplex is that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sabin, Master Monk" href="#" target="_blank">Sabin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is faced against the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phantom Train" href="#" target="_blank">Phantom Train</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Normally, you could kill the Train with a Phoenix Down, which would deal 9,999 damage to it, but Sabin can <em>also</em> suplex the Train. Yes, you read that correctly. It's apparently a major rite of passage for <em>Final Fantasy VI</em> players to suplex the Phantom Train, and many do it just for bragging rights.</p>
<p>What's that? Suplex can exile an artifact? And the Phantom Train is an artifact? What a supreme flavor win!</p>
<p>The card depicts this memetic scene so well that it had to be my Most Flavorful.</p>
<p>And that brings us to our Best In Show. With so many awesome entries ultimately relegated to other categories, what could this one be? Well...</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy VI</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stolen Uniform"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stolen Uniform" href="#" target="_blank">Stolen Uniform</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that, like Suplex, depicts a really cool scene from <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>. In the game, at some point in the first half, Locke has to infiltrate the ranks of the Gestahlian Empire to find a way to escape a town. To do this, he robs an Imperial soldier blind, down to his uniform. The soldier flees, naked down to his boxers, in a scene that can be best described as "pathetic for the soldier" and "funny for Locke". So, this card has a ton of flavor to it.</p>
<p>It also has a ton of mechanical usage. In Limited, it's going to be a card that changes games in a big way due to all of the job select cards. And in Commander, the same will happen; someone is bound to steal and equip a pair of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lightning Greaves" href="#" target="_blank">Lightning Greaves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, making something susceptible to removal for upwards of a turn cycle. I can't wait to cast it on my <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuo, Imperial Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuo, Imperial Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, though, and equip my own <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kaldra Compleat" href="#" target="_blank">Kaldra Compleat</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> onto him. The potential is basically endless here!</p>
<p>That does it for our count-up of <em>Final Fantasy VI</em>! Do you agree with my takes on this game's cards? Sound off below! Also, if you missed any of our past coverage of this count-up, feel free to read these articles below to refresh yourself!</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-five-ffv">Day 5: <em>FFV</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Six: FFVI

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Squqare Enix</h6>
<p>Happy June! It's June 1st, and our fifth day counting down towards the release of the <em>Final Fantasy</em> <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> set. Yesterday, <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv">we went over <em>FFIV</em></a> and all the best cards that this article series wished to cover. What that means is, today we get to cover the best cards from <em>Final Fantasy V</em>!</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list are as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>With that, let's dive into this game!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bartz and Boko"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bartz and Boko" href="#" target="_blank">Bartz and Boko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is our Honorable Mention for <em>FFV</em>. This card, while cute-yet-potent for what it aims to do, isn't quite as effective of a commander as, for instance, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Choco, Seeker of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Choco, Seeker of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It is fine in the 99 of a deck like Choco, Seeker of Paradise, but that's hardly ubiquitous or utilitarian. Furthermore, when looking at it for flavor, there may be something to show here, but there's a bigger choice in <em>FFV</em>'s card list that suits this part much more. What card is that? You'll have to wait and read on.</p>
<p>However, Bartz and Boko is not a card to sniff at. The creature can come in cheaply, at a minimum cost of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and immediately have your other Birds stomp something to death. It's a fine card for what it is and does. Other cards just outclass it in this subset, which is why it only attained an Honorable Mention here.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms"></div></div>
<p>Get ready for all the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XP5lz2CYNR4">SakuraCon 2009</a> memes people will sourcelessly reference when they play this commander! <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms" href="#" target="_blank">Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a powerhouse in mono-red. It is very similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Godo, Bandit Warlord" href="#" target="_blank">Godo, Bandit Warlord</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and even synergizes quite well with that card. Just imagine if you manage to grab a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helm of the Host" href="#" target="_blank">Helm of the Host</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with Gilgamesh! It's also a faithful depiction of a famed and beloved character from within <em>Final Fantasy V</em>, so there's really very little to dislike here if anything.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Restoration Magic"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Restoration Magic" href="#" target="_blank">Restoration Magic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is this set's obligatory <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> analogue, but boy howdy, is it ever versatile! For just <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> you can make something indestructible and hexproof; plus, for one more mana you can gain 3 life on top of that. However, if you pay a total of <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span><span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, you can protect your entire board and gain 6 life! While I don't see many players using the <em>Cura</em> mode on this card, I can foresee common cases for either <em>Cure</em> or <em>Curaga</em>'s uses.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tonberry"></div></div>
<p>If you're going down a dimly lit path at night and you suddenly see a lantern in the distance, <em>keep away!</em> <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tonberry" href="#" target="_blank">Tonberry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of those extremely iconic creatures from the <em>Final Fantasy</em> series, and as always, this time it's out for blood. The creature is understandably slow, which here is represented by a stun counter on entry, but when it gets going, it's positively deadly (It's also sure to be scary in Limited, but that's not the point here). The card gets the Most Flavorful pick because of all that it accurately implies in the scope of both <em>Magic</em> and <em>Final Fantasy</em>.</p>
<p>This brings us to our <em>FFV</em> Best In Show. There were quite a few spots on this list already vying for this one. So, what card could have outclassed them?</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy V</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Genji Glove"></div></div>
<p>...It's <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Genji Glove" href="#" target="_blank">Genji Glove</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<p>This card is my Best In Show pick for its mechanical might a little bit more than its flavor impact. The card does have some big flavor implications (for example, being able to attack twice with two weapons in a turn). But generally speaking, the card is a very powerful piece of Equipment. At 5 mana, it is great with a commander like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tetsuo, Imperial Champion" href="#" target="_blank">Tetsuo, Imperial Champion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's great with really any Equipment-based Voltron strategy, though. Truly, its relevance can't be understated if you have a cool or impactful trigger on attack or combat damage.</p>
<p>That's it for my picks for the best cards in <em>Final Fantasy V</em>! Tomorrow, we'll be looking at <em>FFVI</em>, my personal favorite entry in the series, and I have some <em>thoughts</em> on that game for this list series! So please, if you're interested, keep reading on because there are still <em>eleven</em> more days and eleven more games to go!</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-four-ffiv">Day 4: <em>FFIV</em></a></strong></p>


Final Fantasy 16-Day Count-Up, Day Five: FFV

<h6 style="text-align: right;">Image credit: Wizards of the Coast and Square Enix</h6>
<p>It's Saturday, May 31st, and the <a href="https://magic.wizards.com/en/products/final-fantasy/card-image-gallery">entire <em>Final Fantasy</em> set</a> is now public knowledge! Today, we're continuing our count-up of the best and most flavorful cards in the series by game. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii">We went over <em>FFIII</em> yesterday</a>, and so today, we're covering <em>Final Fantasy IV</em>.</p>
<p>The criteria we're working with for this superlative list is as follows:</p>
<ul>
<li>Honorable Mention - These usually will be a cycle or group of cards that are great but don't quite measure up to the "best" in the categories we have chosen to cover. (Today's list will only have one card.)</li>
<li>Best as a Commander - This category covers, as advertised, the best commander to lead a deck in Commander, but may also look briefly at other Command Zone-driven formats.</li>
<li>Best in the 99 - This section discusses my choice for the best card in a given 99 of a deck. It may be a ubiquitous card, but it might also just be a card with a fair amount of utility.</li>
<li>Most Flavorful - The most fun to play card in a storytelling context will be deemed Most Flavorful. For example, we covered <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Town Greeter" href="#" target="_blank">Town Greeter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in our <em>FFI</em> list for its fun lore synergies with Towns, especially those with specific <em>Final Fantasy</em> town names.</li>
<li>Best In Show - The very best of these cards in a balance of the above categories.</li>
</ul>
<p>Furthermore, cards from the Commander precons, <em>Through the Ages</em>, and promotional/<em>Secret Lair</em> cards are ineligible for consideration. We want to keep this strictly from the main set.</p>
<p>So, without further ado, let's take a look at my picks for the best cards in <em>Final Fantasy IV</em>!</p>
<h2>Honorable Mention</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards side-by-side"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cecil, Dark Knight"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cecil, Dark Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Cecil, Dark Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a pretty interesting card, but it's not quite up to snuff for a given Commander deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Death&#039;s Shadow" href="#" target="_blank">Death&#039;s Shadow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effects are often interesting, but it's a tricky effect to build around properly. Granted, the Redeemed Paladin side of Cecil is nice, but going down to 20 life or less in Commander is putting oneself into a red zone that many players may not be comfortable with being in. It's still a neat card for flavor, but for what it's worth, there's better flavor in other cards. Cecil is our Honorable Mention, though, because he's <em>almost</em> good enough for a few categories.</p>
<h2>Best as a Commander</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tellah, Great Sage"></div></div>
<p>This card ranks as our Best to lead a Commander deck because he's a fantastic midrange value engine. Drawing two cards from casting something for four or more mana is going to do wonders for your card advantage output. Plus, the potential to do a massive amount of damage with this commander is nothing to sniff at. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tellah, Great Sage" href="#" target="_blank">Tellah, Great Sage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a card that needs some amount of build around to be a formidable commander, especially at a mana value of 5. Still, when you manage to keep him protected and pivot into a strong, moderate to high-MV spell, you're going to get amazing value out of him.</p>
<h2>Best in the 99</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mysidian Elder"></div></div>
<p>I'll be real with you all; I <em>seriously</em> like the Black Mage synergies in the <em>Final Fantasy</em> set. I wouldn't call myself biased, per se, but I do like how they interact and swarm upon the opposition when you cast noncreature spells. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mysidian Elder" href="#" target="_blank">Mysidian Elder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is one of those cards you'll want to add to a deck that cares about noncreature interaction. A given white-blue-red deck, any number of blue-black-red decks, and, let's face it, any number of blue-red decks in general, all want this sort of effect. This is a great card, especially if you can flicker it repeatedly.</p>
<h2>Most Flavorful</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kain, Traitorous Dragoon"></div></div>
<p>Kain is a character that many either love or hate in <em>Final Fantasy </em><em>IV</em>. He is a supreme backstabber and this is a trait that is encapsulated perfectly in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kain, Traitorous Dragoon" href="#" target="_blank">Kain, Traitorous Dragoon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. It's clear that his loyalties are anything <em>but</em> clear, and the card swaps controllers more than you do with your older siblings at your childhood home. I digress; the card is chock-full of flavor and it is our Most Flavorful for that reason.</p>
<p>And that brings us to the Best In Show category. Which <em>FFIV</em> card made the cut?</p>
<h2><em>Final Fantasy IV</em> Best In Show</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Lunar Whale"></div></div>
<p>You may be surprised to learn that my Best In Show is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Lunar Whale" href="#" target="_blank">The Lunar Whale</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This card is a strong card that gives me flashbacks to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Reality Chip" href="#" target="_blank">The Reality Chip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. However, it offers more overall damage output potential. I've played enough with The Reality Chip to know a strong <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Future Sight" href="#" target="_blank">Future Sight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-style effect when I see one, and The Lunar Whale is one. With the evasion it has plus the low crew cost (just tap a Hero token or something!), this card is something very neat. Its design is extremely elegant, too.</p>
<p>So that does it for <em>Final Fantasy IV</em>! Tomorrow, we seek to delve into <em>FFV</em> and all the subset offers us in <em>Magic</em>. Are you following along with this series? Do you agree with my picks? Sound off below!</p>
<p><strong><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-one-ffi?utm_source=edhrec">Day 1: <em>FFI</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-two-ffii?utm_source=edhrec">Day 2: <em>FFII</em></a> | <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/final-fantasy-16-day-count-up-day-three-ffiii">Day 3: <em>FFIII</em></a></strong></p>


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