Eye-popping Final Fantasy x MTG artwork might be why Tetsuya Nomura is too busy for Kingdom Hearts 4

Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy collaboration hit a groundswell of excitement following its PAX East Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy showcase presentation, but the internet was not prepared for just how spectacular the art would be, especially ones done by Final Fantasy vet Tetsuya Nomura and series artist Yoshitaka Amano. Fans on social media […]

May 12, 2025 - 16:28
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Eye-popping Final Fantasy x MTG artwork might be why Tetsuya Nomura is too busy for Kingdom Hearts 4
two magic cards from the Final Fantasy set

Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy collaboration hit a groundswell of excitement following its PAX East Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy showcase presentation, but the internet was not prepared for just how spectacular the art would be, especially ones done by Final Fantasy vet Tetsuya Nomura and series artist Yoshitaka Amano.

Fans on social media instantly fell in love with Nomura’s art for Final Fantasy 7’s Sephiroth and Amano’s work on Final Fantasy 6’s Terra, especially the full artwork of the former, which showcases his early time as a SOLDIER, his usual long haired look, and his eventual ascension into godhood as the One-Winged Angel. 

It’s so good and detailed that many jokingly consider it the reason Nomura hasn’t delivered any news on the highly anticipated title Kingdom Hearts 4, which was announced 3 years ago with no real news since.

The reveal didn’t just showcase a bunch of gorgeous artwork, though, it also explained how some of these cards will function while honoring some characters’ in-game abilities.

For instance, Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER allows users to sacrifice a creature to draw a card when he enters the field or attacks. When a creature dies, opponents lose 1 life while the user gains 1 life, and if this happens four times in a single turn, he is allowed to transform into Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel.

Another clever ability that mirrors the game character’s function is Yuna, Hope of Spira from Final Fantasy X. The Summoner gives buffs to enhancement creatures (like Summon: Bahamut) with trample, lifelink, and ward (2). At the start of the end step, she can also return one target enhancement card from the graveyard to the battlefield with a finality counter on it, mirroring her ability to send spirits to the Farplane. 

Magic: The Gathering — Final Fantasy arrives on June 13, and if all goes well, fingers-crossed that a Kingdom Hearts collaboration gets announced soon.