Magic: The Gathering’s Final Fantasy Set Could Ruin Standard Play Forever!

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Summary

  • Magic: The Gathering fans anticipate a big 2025 with Aetherdrift and upcoming UB sets, but high prices for MTG x FF products are concerning.
  • Some fans disapprove of WotC’s shift to Universes Beyond over in-universe sets, especially with UB sets becoming Standard-legal in 2025.
  • Standard players face challenges due to high prices for MTG x FF products, potentially impacting the format’s accessibility and player base.

2025 promises an exciting year for “Magic: The Gathering” enthusiasts with Aetherdrift now available and more Standard-legal sets to be released, including five this year. Notably, “Magic: The Gathering” has collaborated with “Avatar: The Last Airbender”, set to launch as the third Universes Beyond set on November 21, 2025. However, Wizards of the Coast is also preparing surprises and pre-orders for earlier sets such as Tarkir: Dragonstorms and the highly anticipated “Final Fantasy” UB set. Despite the growing anticipation, products from the “MTG” x “FF” collaboration carry a significant drawback that could potentially lead to a backlash.

It’s clear that many devoted Magic: The Gathering players and enthusiasts have expressed dissatisfaction with Wizards of the Coast’s choice to decrease the number of in-universe sets and focus more on Universes Beyond. This issue escalated at the end of 2024, when WotC revealed that only 3 Magic Multiverse and 3 UB sets would be released in 2025, with the latter becoming Standard-legal for the first time. This development appears to add fuel to the fire regarding the game’s overall health, given the high prices of the Magic: The Gathering x Final Fantasy merchandise currently available.

How Magic: The Gathering is Making Standard Less Accessible With Final Fantasy

One factor contributing to the initial popularity of Universes Beyond was the strong fit between the popular “Lord of the Rings” franchise and the collectible card game “Magic: The Gathering.” This made the concept appealing to many fans. Additionally, its legality within the game didn’t raise concerns, and despite being expensive, this was acceptable due to it being a premium set with powerful cards that increased the value of each pack. However, compared to the “MTG” x “FF” products, these seem to be priced similarly or even higher for a set that is not premium and intended to be Standard-legal.

It’s plausible to contend that Commander is the symbol of Magic: The Gathering, and Standard is one of its most popular and recognized two-player formats, each game featuring 20 life points. However, it’s also known as the hardest to follow due to its unique characteristics; only a few sets are legal in Standard at any given time within MTG, with some rotating out annually. Consequently, 2025 was set to be an exciting year for fans, with six Standard-legal sets on the horizon. Yet, the cost of the Final Fantasy products might prove detrimental to the format for numerous players.

Given the current situation, with many Amazon pre-orders filled and stock running low, the prices for Magic: The Gathering (MTG) products have reached record highs. Here’s a breakdown:

1. Booster Box – $99.99
2. Collector Booster – $99.99
3. Set Booster – $14.99
4. Bundle – $35.99
5. Draft Booster – $4.99
6. Theme Booster – $2.99
7. Commander Deck – $29.99
8. Premium Deck Series – $19.99
9. Planeswalker Deck – $17.99
10. Deck Box – $4.99

  • $200 for one Play Booster Box (around 210 euros in Europe)
  • $70 for one Commander deck (around 71 euros in Europe)
  • $450-460 for one Collector Booster Box (around 510 euros in Europe)

Magic: The Gathering’s 2025 UB Sets Are Caught Between a Rock and a Hard Place

The high prices of these items might force many fans to step back, given the financial strain it could cause for most Standard players who might struggle to purchase them before they’re all sold out. Moreover, the Play Booster Boxes, following Magic: The Gathering’s new Aetherdrift set, now contain six fewer packs than before – only 30 packs instead of 36.

In essence, those players opting for booster packs instead of individual cards find themselves spending more money to receive fewer items compared to normal. Whether they’re newcomers who found MTG through crossovers like Final Fantasy, or veterans with years of experience, this situation raises concerns about the cost structure. This pricing strategy could potentially give the impression that WotC is attempting to monetize licensed content, which might not sit well with customers.

If these high prices don’t actually reflect the quality of the product, it’s clear that they aren’t fostering good relations within the community. Moreover, these sets are not premium collections but rather part of the Standard series and the first of three UB sets in Magic: The Gathering. Given the frequency of releases this year, these prices might become the standard for UB sets, suggesting that they prioritize profit over consumer satisfaction.

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2025-02-23 00:54