The Final Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set is right here, and there’s by no means been a extra excellent assemblage of Magic playing cards. The set options playing cards taken from each mainline Ultimate Fantasy title, together with the 2 MMOs, so there’s one thing for each era of Ultimate Fantasy lovers. And whereas Magic has featured different online game crossovers up to now (hey, Murderer’s Creed and Fallout!), with the best way this set is constructed, from card mechanics to artwork, you possibly can inform this one is a developer favourite, positive to attraction to the huge chunk of people that love each video games.
However what in the event you don’t inhabit the middle circle within the Venn diagram of Magic and Ultimate Fantasy lovers however are nonetheless concerned with experiencing this set for your self? Magic: The Gathering is an intimidating recreation, even in the event you’re a seasoned participant like myself. There are such a lot of methods you possibly can play, each in particular person and on-line, that it may be overwhelming to determine one of the simplest ways to leap in. So right here’s just a few suggestions and tips to enjoying the Ultimate Fantasy Magic set.
Be warned, although: that is the best-selling set in Magic’s 30-plus-year historical past, and you’ll pay for the pleasure of this expertise — if you’ll find the product to pay for it in any respect.
The best way to play: bodily version
Over time, the designers at Magic developer Wizards of the Coast have realized it may be intimidating as hell for a brand new participant trying to begin their planeswalking journey. To assist these new gamers alongside, Magic builders have created a line of merchandise referred to as Starter Kits. Every is a set of two 60-card decks that includes playing cards particularly designed for brand new gamers and an instruction booklet that goes over the sport’s primary guidelines and cadence of play. Hold one deck for your self, give one to a buddy, and be taught as you play collectively. For MTG x FF, the starter package options two decks themed round Ultimate Fantasy’s best rivalry: Sephiroth vs. Cloud.
These decks are a good introductory course to Magic. Cloud’s is themed round gear playing cards (suppose the Buster Sword or the Ultima Weapon), that are primarily weapons you possibly can connect to your creatures to pump up their harm and hit laborious. Sephiroth’s deck is all about him. Kill creatures (yours and your opponent’s) to make him as huge as attainable. I performed each decks towards the set’s designers and managed to beat them each, a monumental feat for any Magic participant. Nevertheless, if you wish to play them for your self, the Starter Package is at present offered out on Amazon, so your greatest guess to seek out one is to hit up your native card store (recognized locally as your LCS) to see if it has any in inventory. Wizards’ web site does characteristic a handy store locator in the event you don’t know the place your nearest LCS is.
There are additionally four Commander decks you should buy and play, with each themed around a specific title in the series. Commander is the most well-liked format of Magic, however the guidelines are barely completely different from customary play, and matches can typically embrace multiple opponent. The Ultimate Fantasy Commander decks are beginner-friendly however costly, working anyplace from $80 to $130 when Commander decks in different units are less expensive.
The best way to play: on-line version
Should you don’t have any buddies you possibly can beg, bribe, or beat into enjoying Magic with you, there’s one other, far simpler choice: the sport’s on-line model, Magic: The Gathering Area. Area is one of the simplest ways to expertise the Ultimate Fantasy set as there’s no fear about inventory, it’s comparatively cheaper, and there are such a lot of other ways to play that in-person enjoying merely doesn’t accommodate. When you’ve made your account and downloaded the sport, you possibly can play by way of the sport’s tutorial, which I like to recommend to get your bearings. Not solely does it clarify how one can play, however the coloration challenges additionally offer you a really feel for the playstyles of Magic’s 5 completely different colours.
Selecting your slice of the colour pie
Consider colours and coloration combos as characters in your favourite hero shooter. Every has completely different skills and favors a particular type of play. Blue and white heart on going over your opponents’ heads with flying creatures, whereas mono inexperienced (my favourite and one of the simplest ways to play) favors huge, stompy creatures that run over your opponents’ defenses. The Ultimate Fantasy set makes it straightforward to discover a coloration or combo that works for you.
If you wish to get straight into the Ultimate Fantasy set, you possibly can merely skip the tutorial to unlock all of Area’s many recreation modes and options, and it’ll nonetheless be there to strive in the event you ever want to return.
When you’re prepared, you’ve gotten numerous choices out there. You will get proper into the thick of issues and begin enjoying the sport’s constructed modes. Should you’ve by no means performed Magic earlier than, don’t do that. It’s costly, costing lots of sources your account won’t have except you purchase them within the recreation’s money store, and it’s laborious. Making decks is troublesome; even I don’t prefer it that a lot in comparison with enjoying decks preassembled for me.
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Your greatest, most economical choice is to play Jumpstart mode. In Jumpstart all of the laborious work of constructing a viable deck is finished for you. You’re offered with numerous archetypes: Daring, Mage, Chocobos, Tools, and extra. You may choose two of them primarily based on nothing greater than vibes and private desire, and the sport will mechanically create a deck utilizing these two archetypes. Then you definately play your deck towards different Jumpstart decks and rack up the wins or the precious expertise that comes with dropping.
The wonderful thing about Jumpstart is that it’s low-cost — a brand new account grants you adequate foreign money to strive the mode 3 times — and the playing cards you choose are yours to maintain. Do it sufficient occasions and also you’ll ultimately have sufficient playing cards to instrument round with making your individual decks to check out within the recreation’s pleasant mode, Fast Begin. I’ve loved all of the completely different Jumpstart decks I’ve made, however in the event you actually wanna have some enjoyable, choose chocobos everytime you get the possibility. They’re creatures that get stronger everytime you play a land card (consider land just like the gasoline that powers your deck’s engine) and have unbelievable synergy with different card sorts, resulting in a deck that will overwhelm your opponent.
Additionally, they’re chocobos! What may very well be extra Ultimate Fantasy than chocobos?
If you’re a Ultimate Fantasy fan, I can’t stress sufficient how a lot enjoyable its Magic set is. And in the event you’re intimidated by Magic’s problem, don’t be. There are such a lot of beginner-friendly methods to play, and there are such a lot of learners attempting this set out for the primary time, that you simply’ll be in good firm. Plus, I’ve discovered the neighborhood is all the time blissful to assist newcomers. After I performed at an in-person occasion, my first opponent had by no means picked up the sport earlier than. Over the course of our match I taught him every part I knew as greatest I might, and earlier than the tip, he beat me. Badly. I’ve by no means had extra enjoyable.