Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy is nearly here, and between the main set and the commander set, we are getting a lot of legendary creatures. In fact, there are over 150 new legendary creatures between the main Final Fantasy set, Commander decks, and the Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy Starter Kit.
With all of that, I undertook the task of ranking all of these creatures, from more obscure characters of games in the 1980s, to characters from the latest Final Fantasy 16. So having decided, and getting approval to do this – how are we going to rate these creatures?
While it is ultimately arbitrary, here is what I was considering when ranking the cards:
- Use Scenario: I took into consideration where the cards will be used, for example Commander deck cards are considered in that sense, while uncommons in the main set had more thought put into limited usage.
- Power: How powerful is the card at what it’s trying to do. This encompasses stats, costs, abilities, and everything else like that.
- Novelty: How unique is the card? Especially in cases where cards are rated similarly elsewhere, this factor will favor the card that’s doing something a bit more off the beaten path.
- Legends that are only so on the back end are not included – so Sidequest: Hunt the Mark /// Yiazmat, Ultimate Mark isn’t included, nor is the melded form of Ragnarok, Divine Deliverance though it is referenced on its constituent cards.
- Additionally, Final Fantasy Through The Ages cards aren’t rated because they are overlay reprints and not new cards.
Cards from the Final Fantasy Commander Decks will be noted with an asterisk (*), while the starter deck cards will have have two asterisks (**).
Because there are so many, we’ve split this list into two parts, and this is Part 1, and it will take us through numbers 161 to 50.
161 Omega, Heartless Evolution
Omega is a victim of high price at 7 mana and a poor enters ability that isn’t likely to do much in limited, and still too little in constructed or even casual play.
160. Adelbert Steiner
Steiner, it’s sad to say, isn’t very good in Magic, as a small life linker with a situational and weak growing ability that leaves it otherwise available to die to 1/1s.
159. Snow Villiers
While lacking some of the downside of some similar creatures, you also have a capped upside on a middling cost creature without evasion who can be rendered impotent by destruction of other things.
158. Hope Estheim
Hope may wish that he had great power, but being a 2/2 lifelinker for 2 with what is essentially flavor text with the milling outside of specialized decks puts him down here among the worst Final Fantasy legend cards.
157. Rinoa Heartilly
Rinoa, while bringing the very good Angelo with her is undersized and gives a situational buff that needs things to be going well, or else she is very much too expensive for her abilities.
156. General Leo Cristophe*
If Leo cost a bit less mana he’d be much higher up on this list, as at 5 mana returning one cheap creature, and growing based on how many creatures you have is just not that good especially given he lacks any protection or evasion.
155. Alphinaud Leveilleur*
4 Mana for Alphinaud is a lot, given what else you can get in card draw there, and the fact it’s only on your second spell each turn combined with a poor size make this a creature you probably leave out of your party, unless you are wanting to make use of its partner.
154. Gatta and Luzzu*
3 Mana is a lot for a combat trick, and while Gatta and Luzzu are a pretty decent combat trick, that cost makes it hard for anyone to consider.
153. Barret Wallace
Clearly designed for limited, this version of Barret is a decently sized creature with a somewhat useful keyword, and the ability to get some damage through a clogged board.
152. Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant
From a pure power level, Stiltzkin probably should be even lower, but the moogle merchant is an interesting donating card that could open up some fun play for people, and isn’t something we see too much of.
151. Rosa. Resolute White Mage**
An inclusion in the Final Fantasy Starter Decks, Rosa costs a hefty 4 mana to distribute a single counter and lifelink each turn from her very meager 2/3 body.
150. Beatrix, Loyal General**
From the Final Fantasy MTG Starter Deck Beatrix lets you skip a whole lot of equip costs but at 6 mana you’re spending a lot for a 4/4 who’s more restricted on that than some other option.
149. G’raha Tia
Somewhat overcosted, this version of G’raha Tia gives flying protection to the color that least needs it, and some mediocre card draw isn’t enough to make up for the fact that it costs 5 mana.
148. Ultros, Obnoxious Octopus
Ultros has too many teeth (though that’s accurate to the games), and is a great card for limited with letting your midrange spells ice opposing creatures, while the 8 mana thing left to the realm of casual play in large.
147. Ashe, Princess of Darkness
A good limited creature for artifact heavy decks with an aggressive tilt, Ashe’s size is acceptable, just watch that she trades with any 2 powered creature.
146. Tidus, Blitzball Star
It is with great sadness that I have to rate the Blitzball Star this low, as I loved Blitzball in Final Fantasy 10. He’s a bit undersized at the start, but can quickly grow out of it, while removing a blocker each turn.
145. Rufus Shinra
It’s an odd thing to take away from Rufus’ actions in destroying the world that he has a dog, but that is what Magic has chosen, so we get here a decently sized critter who can bring a total of 4 power for 3 mana and can keep respawning the dogs from his puppy mill as needed.
144. Giott, King of the Dwarves
As a dwarf fan, this King of the Dwarves is sadly not moving the needle much, although he should be a good signpost for the white/red equipment limited archetype with his rummaging and double strike.
143. Locke Cole
A saboteur looter is pretty good and going to be a limited staple, but I doubt we’ll see this Locke too much outside of that.
142. Gaius van Baelsar
Gaius is just very expensive for what he offers, as you are often getting significantly better than this for 4 mana in constructed, but he will be welcome in limited.
141. Kain, Traitorous Dragoon
Kain isn’t necessarily good, but he is interesting with his ability to draw cards and make treasure when you hit with him and give him away. His low ranking here is due to his lack of protection against him attacking you, unlike some similar creatures.
140. Heidegger, Shinra Executive*
Hasbro executives weren’t able to swoop in and make Heideggar a stronger card, as he’s a mediocre Soldier typal card, mediocre control card, and a mediocre board catchup card.
139. Alisaie Leveilleur*
Boring but acceptable is the description for Alisaie as a 3/2 first strike with an ability that reduces the cost of your second spell each turn. Most notably is partner with sibling Alphinaud Leveilleur who combine to a decent two spell commander.
138. Diamond Weapon
Diamond Weapon is a surprising legendary, but should often cost closer to 5 or 6 mana for a beefy 8/8 reach immune to combat damage hampered only by a lack of trample.
137. Gladiolus Amicitia
Gladiolus might not be a Primeval Titan (thank god), but he is a solid limited creature, who comes down and instantly can break open a board state with pump and evasion for creatures.
136. Sephiroth, Planet’s Heir**
Sephiroth here is in his Starter deck form, and he’s most disappointing because his payoff for his weak board wipe ability doesn’t work well with the way to get the most from it with blinking. A 4/4 for 6 otherwise isn’t very good, even with a mediocre board wipe.
135. Lord Jyscal Guado*
Bad card draw, is still card draw, and otherwise Lord Jyscal is perfectly alright, while fitting in the Final Fantasy 10 Commander Deck.
134. Maester Seymour*
Maester Seymour is still trying to appear nice here, but his monstrosity ability would reveal his true horror form, and the fact that he is a somewhat underwhelming creature until he shows his true face.
133. Matoya, Archon Elder
Turning your draw smoothing into card drawing too, Matoya is pretty neat that way and fits in a number of casual and Commander decks, but don’t expect to see this old lady haunting any other tables.
132. Reno and Rude
These two annoyances from Final Fantasy 7 aren’t really good in magic form either as they are subpar theft critters, needing to sacrifice to activate the theft, and still requiring you to pay the retail rate for the spells you steal.
131 Elena, Turk Recruit*
Elena doesn’t want anything to do with Ezio and friends, but is a decent raise dead effect with a body that grows in legendary matters commander decks that she fits into.
130. Fang, Fearless l’Cie
An average body, with a somewhat fiddly card draw feature, Fang gets a bit of a boost from the novelty and fun of being part of a meld pair with Vanille, Cheerful l’Cie turning into Ragnarok, Divine Deliverance.
129. Queen Brahne
While a bit undersized, Queen Brahne will be great in limited, and might even see some spellslinger Commander play as her creation of black wizard tokens could greatly increase how well a deck can finish things.
128. Prompto Argentum
Promptly engaging with haste, Prompto’s selfie shot ability helps you cast those more expensive spells which will make him important in limited, and maybe even some use in casual or commander decks.
127. Krile Baldesion*
This little dwarf is an odd card with the ability to raise dead a creature each turn that is smaller than the amount of mana spent combining revive-to-hand with spellslinger in an odd package that invites coming up with different ways to solve it.
126. Quistis Trepe
Qusitis is a great card for those who think Final Fantasy 8 is a subpar game in comparison to its storied predecessors, as Qusitis is basically Snapcaster Mage but worse.
125. Vaan, Street Thief
Vaan groups up a packet of rogues for stealing spells, and making treasures, but his undersized body, and lack of evasion will restrict him to casual play where he fails to truly excite.
124. Black Waltz No. 3
A more expensive, but more versatile Guttersnipe isn’t a bad card, but at 4 mana Black Waltz No. 3 is really asking how much you are willing to pay for this effect.
123. Ignis Scientia
Ignis is an interesting take on the Farhaven Elf type formula, trading a whole search for the ability to grab any land, along with the ability to make food tokens from whatever has been slain on the board.
122. Jill, Shiva’s Dominant
A decent enough tempo creature on her face, Jill bounces a nonland permanent, and eventually transforms into Shiva, Warden of Ice to let you get creatures through and disrupt your opponent some.
121. Xande, Dark Mage**
Xande just gets bigger based on the number of stuff in your graveyard, with okay evasion, but he is essentially a big dumb brute without anything else to speak for him.
120. Ambrosia Whiteheart
Chocobo ambulance services are here to save the day, and then run in there across the new terrain for some beats.
119. Gogo, Mysterious Mime*
Gogo clone… just wish you were more interesting than a middling clone that is undersized when not copying things on attack, even if you can copy legendary creatures
118. Judge Magister Gabranth
Ready for your white/black creature or artifact aristocrat deck, this judge has a ruling ready to menace your foes, especially in limited.
117. Cloud of Darkness
Cloud of Darkness is creature destruction on a flying body that’s overcosted, but is an excellent limited card due to that mixture of evasion and removal.
116. Quina, Qu Gourmet
Quina is chasing his/her current culinary obsession: Frogs, and making sure there are plenty of them around. A free creature token whenever you make tokens, on a decent body that can grow makes Quina decently.
115. Shantotto, Tactician Magician
A limited focused card for the UR cast big spells archetype which seems like a perfectly decent little dude, who also loves affinity for artifacts.
114.Tataru Taru*
Card advantage is a problem for White in the commander realm and Tataru Taru hopes to help address that, and white’s ramp issues in one quick move that is especially good with blink options.
113. Torgal, a Fine Hound
Who’s a good boy? Torgal is, and Torgal encourages a strategy of Man (humans) and Man’s Best Friends (Dogs and Wolves), while being a solid mana dork.
112. Bartz and Boko
Affinity for birds! A great line, and Bartz and Boko are also a great removal spell for bird decks, and will be prime inclusion in any new Choco decks.
111. Strago and Relm*
Chaos Wand but also creatures is an interesting twist and gives Strago and Relm a unique place, even if it is costly at 3 mana a turn to use on a very vulnerable creature.
110. Siegfried, Famed Swordsman
Menace and a touch of self mill aren’t enough to help Siegfried escape the mediocrity that similar cards generally end up in, but do make it better than many of your other get big based on the size of your graveyard cards.
109. Ultimecia, Time Sorceress
Ultimecia, Time Sorceress is definitely flashy, but is very pricey and on her front side doesn’t do that much with an undersized body with a middling ability, until you can get 8 mana to have her transform and time walk.
108. Ryida, Summoner of Mist
Fitting in with the limited theme of landfall for Red/Green Rydia rummages whenever you play a land, and can exploit that by hastily resurrecting the various summons in the set represented as enchantment creatures.
107. Ardyn, the Usurper
Ardyn costs a ton of mana, and while is full of powerful demonic lord abilities, it takes a lot to get going.
106. Absolute Virtue
Absolutely huge for sure, and definitely protects you but Absolute Virtue has an accordingly large mana cost and its lack of protection will likely limit it to being an option in reanimator decks.
105. Vincent Valentine
Let Vincent grow a bit quietly, and then flip him over and he picks up trample and lifelink in a card that isn’t competitively viable but will be fun to play.
104. Jecht, Reluctant Guardian
Tidus’ dad here is a bit surprising to see in black, but has an acceptable front face, and his back face is highly disruptive to opponents while drawing you cards and giving you one attack with a 7/7 Menace.
103. Shelinda, Yevon Acolyte*
Plenty of counters fun with Shelinda who either grows or pumps others depending on their size when they come join the party, fitting right into the Final Fantasy 10 Commander deck.
102. Lightning, Security Sergeant**
A perfectly acceptable creature, Lightning, Security Sergeant is a touch smaller than ideal in power, but provides impulse draw and some evasion.
101. Setzer, Wandering Gambler*
Setzer desperately wants you to have Edgar from the main set around, so that you can win all the coin flips you get to make these perfectly fine treasures that crewing and attacking with The Blackjack will get you.
100. Thancred Waters*
Thancred here is a good protection creature, hopping in with flash to protect a legendary permanent as long as he’s around, and able to get some protection himself, but 5 mana is a lot for this type of effect.
99. Cloud, Planet’s Champion**
Cloud, Planet’s Champion is a perfectly acceptable Boros Equipment commander with his on your turn protection and equip cost reducing, but fails to be exciting in any way after we’ve seen roughly a thousand Boros equipment commanders.
98. Professor Hojo*
Making abilities cheaper is useful, and Hojo comes down early to help you make it work, but it’s fair to wonder if his mad science is really mad enough even with the card draw to be worth the time given the limits.
97. Jenova, Ancient Calamity
Jenova is frankly a disappointment here in her card, which fits how she is in Final Fantasy 7 too, all hype but overshadowed by Sephiroth almost all the time.
96. Auron, Venerated Guardian*
From Final Fantasy X Counter Blitz Commander Deck, Auron isn’t the best removal but he is a consistent attacker who works with the deck’s synergies and takes out problematic creatures.
95. Zidane, Tantalus Thief
Zidane is interesting here as a gift commander, who is also sort of a Threaten commander and working with blinks to be very interesting for johnny players. As for competitive play, it’s a 5 mana 3/3, and Morphling he is not.
94. Tellah, Great Sage
Gathering heroes, knowledge, and then expending his knowledge in a great burst of overwhelming power that costs his life is a wonderful representation of Tellah from Final Fantasy 6, and makes him fit for duty as a spellslinger deck leader.
93. Vanille, Cheerful I’Cie
The better half of the meld pair of Ragnarok, Divine Deliverance, Vanille serves as an almost Eternal Witness for you, while also milling a bit, and if you get her together with Fang, Ragnarok can be real threat, but that’s best left to kitchen table aspirations.
92. Exdeath, Void Warlock
On the face, a 3/3 with a bit of life gain is only okay, but come the mid to late game, he transforms into a 6/3 or bigger trampler to put the game away.
91. Ardbert, Warrior of Darkness*
For your local legendary creature deck, Ardbert is going to become a member of the gang if they have enough white/black spells to support it, and a staple for lower-powered Ratadrabik decks that are willing to play fair.
90. Edgar, King of Figaro
In the world of Final Fantasy 6 (but not from its commander deck!) apparently cheaters do prosper as Edgar pulls the old double headed coin trick off to much profit, and his ability will make him a must include in your local coin flipping deck, while also being useful to blink artifact decks.
89. Cait Sith, Fortune Teller*
Really missing the robot type it should have (yes, we know you’re a liar Cait Sith, and apologies for 25+ year old spoilers), this lying cat is a 4 mana 3/3 that impulse draws each turn while growing one of your creatures, proving that even traitors can have a purpose.
88. Urianger Augurelt*
When you want a faux-card game in your card game Urianger is there as an option for blue/white exile casting decks and working well with mechanics like Foretell and Plot, though the bonus of 2 life is meager as a payoff.
87. Garnet, Princess of Alexandria
A solid 2/2 for 2 with lifelink, Garnet shines it up by her interaction with Saga’s by keeping them around longer and growing, working especially well with Saga creatures.
86. Sazh Katzroy
The bird seeker Sazh Katzroy is going to primarily be a casual card for the chocobo decks, or those that like his ability to work with +1/+1 counters.
85. Shadow, Mysterious Assassin*
The Final Fantasy 6 Commander Deck version of Shadow is a decent enough creature, but deathtouch isn’t a great evasive ability and to make the best use of his ability he really needs to get in so you can sacrifice whatever permanent you sneaked in for cards and damage.
84. Estinien Varlineau*
Estinien is another spellslinger support creature who grows bigger and flies when you cast spells, but leaves you wondering if it’s missing just a bit of something special.
83. Kimahri, Valiant Guardian*
Essentially a 4/4 for 4, Kimahri’s ability to copy your opponent’s creatures, and tap one down while keeping its vigilance gives him an interesting role to play in some Commander decks.
82. Zack Fair
Final Fantasy 7’s answer to Uncle Ben, Zack Fair is a new take on Selfless Savior and friends, playing into the counter theme of the set as well while providing the needed protection.
81. Lulu, Stern Guardian*
From the Final Fantasy 10 Commander Deck, Lulu here is an interesting combat deterrence card, and has a powerful proliferation activated ability that is of great use to counter decks, and poison decks.
80. Aerith Gainsborough
Aerith is in many ways essentially a legendary Ajani’s Pridemate, with some upside especially when she dies powering up your friends and possessing lifelink, making her useful but the extra mana probably restricts her to casual play.
79. Minwu, White Mage
While 5 mana for a 3/3 is a lot, Minwu is going to be welcome to all sorts of cleric typal decks like my All Denominations Clerics, as giving a whole team counter on buff is distinct from the gains we normally see on creatures like Aerith Gainsborough.
78. Edgar, Master Machinist*
Tying in with Revival Trance’s graveyard strategy, this Edgar lets you gravecast an artifact each of your turns, and can do a decent attack.
77. Joshua, Phoenix’s Dominant
A solid body which can help refresh your fuel, Joshua’s face really lacks a standout feature, while the back costs a lot to get to, and really is missing haste to work in aggressive decks for the 5 mana that the transform costs.
76. Mog, Moogle Warrior*
Little Mog from the Final Fantasy 6 Commander Deck is an interesting Group Hug type of card, that lets everyone loot, and making you little moogles and growing them all up, just like your own little moogle breeding center.
75. Serah Farron
Serah Farron is probably unlikely to be seen in competitive formats, but will be prominent in legendary matters commander decks.
74. Avalanche of Sector 7*
Terrorists or freedom fighters? It’s in the eyes of the beholder, but Avalanche of Sector 7 is definitely going to terrorize the local artifact player who is still thankful that Dockside Extortionist is banned.
73. Hermes, Overseer of Elpis*
Another take on a Talrand type of effect, this trades down the size of the creatures for typal Bird synergies (vigilance!), and scrying.
72. Wakka, Devoted Guardian*
Wakka here is ready to engage in combat and toss the blitzball around at enemies, using it to destroy artifacts or enchantments to help train the team.
71.Hildibrand Manderville*
Hildibrand is an interesting token commander, and has a great deal of resilience with the recursion ability it has which will also end up with a token on the board.
70. Zenos yae Galvus
Zenos is a very odd card, providing a miniboard wipe on the face, and an interesting challenge for Johnny (combo type) players to solve, and unlock Shinryu, Transcendent Rival.
69. Raubahn, Bull of Ala Mhigo
A quick 2/2 for 2, Raubahn wants to join in decks with equipment and has protection in the form of a ward cost that gets nasty when he cheats a Colossus Hammer onto himself.
68. Seifer Almasy
Providing a boost of power the turn he comes down, Seifer’s exalted-type ability is powerful, and synergizes greatly with his second ability if you can get him some evasion.
67. Umaro, Raging Yeti*
Straight to you from the World of Ruin in the Revival Trance Commander Deck, Umaro is a beast of a design as a 6/6 for 6 with trample who will either pump your board, shoot something, or wheel you each turn at random.
66. Sin, Unending*
Sin comes in and takes away the sin of playing with all those counters, and magnifies them onto its flying, trampling self. Use with Dark Depths for maximum pain causing!
65. Fandaniel, Telophoroi Ascian*
Cosplaying over from the Assassin’s Creed set, Fandaniel here is from the Final Fantasy 14 Commander Deck where he works well with your spells to get card selection, while killing your opponents board… unless they take high amount of damage.
64. Gau, Feral Youth*
Final Fantasy 6’s wild boy, is a bear (a 2/2 for 2) getting in early and growing, while also taking advantage of Final Fantasy 6’s Revival Trance Commander Deck’s focus on graveyard antics to get even more damage in.
63. Clive, Ifirit’s Dominant
Clive comes in and recharges your hand with a decent body, and next turn you can flip it for removal with a 9/9 flying. A lack of haste on the backside is a major pain, and will probably stop it from competitive play.
62. Barret, Avalanche Leader*
Much better than Barrett from the main set, Final Fantasy 7 Commander Deck Barrett, Avalanche Leader provides a solid body that creates tokens for your equipment, and provides a limited, but completely free attaching method each turn.
61. Ultimecia, Temporal Threat**
Ultimecia here is a wonderful target to blink, and her tapping creatures lets your guys get in and take advantage of the Coastal Piracy style draw effect.
60. Red XIII, Proud Warrior*
Everyone’s favorite dog/cat/mutant/beast from Final Fantasy 7’s Limit Break Commander deck presents an acceptable body, while helping modified creatures you have get through and even helps recur an aura or equipment.
59. O’aka, Traveling Merchant*
Trade that bead in for a card, knowledge for a touch of power is a powerful thing, especially with sagas, at a low cost.
58. The Warring Triad*
A very interesting take on a 3 mana rock that helps you advance your general gameplan until Kefka gets in the way (represented by 8 or more cards in the graveyard) and then it unleashes plenty of power.
57. Lyse Hext*
Ready to join your prowess commander decks is Lyse from Scions & Spellcraft who makes the spells cheaper, has prowess, and gains double strike after a couple of triggers.
56. Squall, SeeD Mercenary
Squall here is a solid creature, with what is essentially an exalted trigger for double strike, and can resurrect small creatures if he gets through making him a potentially large source of damage and card advantage.
55. Cid, Freeflier Pilot*
Cheap cost reduction, with jumping and limited recursion make this Cid a definite win for vehicle and equipment decks, as Final Fantasy’s premiere pilot and mechanic is ready to get to work.
54. Papalymo Totolymo*
Papalymo here is an interesting spellslinger creature in WB, and would work well with a token focused deck, especially with an aristocrats theme.
53. Tromell, Seymour’s Butler*
I don’t really remember Tromell, but this card is a good fit for +1/+1 counter decks, especially for those that want to go wide, and in elf-ball decks.
52. Gilgamesh, Master-at-Arms
Giglamesh’s card advantage and mana cheating are powerful as it gets equipment out cheap, and skips the equip cost, giving him an advantage over Godo, Bandit Lord.
51. The Emperor of Palamecia
A mana dork for spells, The Emperor of Palamecia combines it with growing when you cast bigger spells, and as The Lord Master of Hell can potentially deal a lot of damage to foes, but really wants some evasion.
That leaves us with 50 more creatures to go through in part 2 which you can read right here! What do you think will be the pick for top card? Anything you think is ranked too low here? Let us know in the comments below
