Final Fantasy’s Tetsuya Nomura Reveals Secrets Behind Magic: The Gathering’s Sephiroth Card Art
Discover a stunning, original illustration showcasing Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, and One-Winged Angel side by side—an epic visual showdown.
Sephiroth Comes to Magic: The Gathering with Exclusive Illustrations
Line up both Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER and Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel to see a combined 'original illustration'.
Tetsuya Nomura Offers Insight on New Card Designs
Celebrated Final Fantasy artist Tetsuya Nomura shared some intriguing details last Monday about his contributions to the upcoming Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy crossover set.
"I actually drew [Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER and Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel] so that they would join up if placed one on top of the other, so if you manage to get two of the same card and line them up, you'll see how the original illustration looked," Nomura explained.
He also hinted at a design change for Safer Sephiroth, mentioning there's a reason behind it that he can't disclose at the moment.
© SQUARE ENIX. ©WIZARDS.
Collaboration and Card Reveal Highlights
Nomura’s comments arrive shortly after Wizards of the Coast announced and showcased their Magic: The Gathering Final Fantasy collaboration during the PAX East event on May 10. While the artist’s remarks are cryptic, his drafts hint at a narrative of Sephiroth’s evolution throughout Final Fantasy VII.
In the sketches, a small figure stands in front of Sephiroth, Fabled SOLDIER, and a similar pose appears in the depiction of Sephiroth, One-Winged Angel — though the images are somewhat blurry.
While many speculate these images depict Sephiroth's character development throughout the game, the changes to Safer Sephiroth's design in the cards remain unexplained.
Background on the Collaboration
- Announcement: October 2022 — Wizards of the Coast revealed plans for a Magic: The Gathering & Final Fantasy crossover.
- Teaser: October 2024 — Previewed key cards like “Lightning, Army of One,” “Emet-Selch, Unsundered,” and “Together Forever.”
- Recent Developments: In early May, additional cards such as Tifa from Final Fantasy VII were revealed.
The full set is scheduled for release on June 13, 2025.
Sources
With this collaboration, fans are eager to see how these iconic characters will be portrayed in this unique crossover universe.