The Ultimate 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 technology of Ultimate Fantasy lovers. And whereas Magic has featured different online game crossovers previously (good day, Murderer’s Creed and Fallout!), with the way in which this set is constructed, from card mechanics to artwork, you may inform this one is a developer favourite, certain to attraction to the large chunk of people that love each video games.
However what when you don’t inhabit the middle circle within the Venn diagram of Magic and Ultimate Fantasy lovers however are nonetheless desirous about experiencing this set for your self? Magic: The Gathering is an intimidating recreation, even when you’re a seasoned participant like myself. There are such a lot of methods you may 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 a couple of ideas and methods 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 could find the product to pay for it in any respect.
Learn how to play: bodily version
Through the years, 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 known as Starter Kits. Every is a set of two 60-card decks that includes playing cards particularly designed for brand spanking new gamers and an instruction booklet that goes over the sport’s fundamental guidelines and cadence of play. Hold one deck for your self, give one to a pal, and be taught as you play collectively. For MTG x FF, the starter equipment options two decks themed round Ultimate Fantasy’s biggest rivalry: Sephiroth vs. Cloud.
These decks are a good introductory course to Magic. Cloud’s is themed round tools playing cards (suppose the Buster Sword or the Ultima Weapon), that are basically weapons you may connect to your creatures to pump up their harm and hit onerous. Sephiroth’s deck is all about him. Kill creatures (yours and your opponent’s) to make him as massive 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 presently bought out on Amazon, so your greatest wager to seek out one is to hit up your native card store (identified locally as your LCS) to see if it has any in inventory. Wizards’ web site does function a useful retailer locator when you don’t know the place your nearest LCS is.
There are additionally 4 Commander decks you should purchase and play, with each themed round a selected title within the collection. Commander is the most well-liked format of Magic, however the guidelines are barely completely different from commonplace play, and matches can typically embody multiple opponent. The Ultimate Fantasy Commander decks are beginner-friendly however costly, operating wherever from $80 to $130 when Commander decks in different units are less expensive.
Learn how to play: on-line version
When you don’t have any pals you may beg, bribe, or beat into enjoying Magic with you, there’s one other, far simpler possibility: 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 may play via the sport’s tutorial, which I like to recommend to get your bearings. Not solely does it clarify play, however the shade challenges additionally provide you with a really feel for the playstyles of Magic’s 5 completely different colours.
Selecting your slice of the colour pie
Consider colours and shade combos as characters in your favourite hero shooter. Every has completely different talents and favors a selected 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 massive, stompy creatures that run over your opponents’ defenses. The Ultimate Fantasy set makes it straightforward to discover a shade or combo that works for you.
If you wish to get straight into the Ultimate Fantasy set, you may merely skip the tutorial to unlock all of Area’s many recreation modes and options, and it’ll nonetheless be there to attempt when you ever want to return.
When you’re prepared, you may have various choices accessible. You may get proper into the thick of issues and begin enjoying the sport’s constructed modes. When you’ve by no means performed Magic earlier than, don’t do that. It’s costly, costing plenty of sources your account won’t have except you purchase them within the recreation’s money store, and it’s onerous. 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 possibility is to play Jumpstart mode. In Jumpstart all of the onerous work of constructing a viable deck is finished for you. You might be offered with various archetypes: Daring, Mage, Chocobos, Tools, and extra. You may choose two of them based mostly on nothing greater than vibes and private choice, and the sport will routinely create a deck utilizing these two archetypes. You then play your deck towards different Jumpstart decks and rack up the wins or the dear expertise that comes with dropping.
The beauty of Jumpstart is that it’s low-cost — a brand new account grants you sufficient foreign money to attempt the mode thrice — and the playing cards you choose are yours to maintain. Do it sufficient instances 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 when 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 unimaginable synergy with different card sorts, resulting in a deck that can overwhelm your opponent.
Additionally, they’re chocobos! What could possibly 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 when 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 freshmen making an attempt this set out for the primary time, that you simply’ll be in good firm. Plus, I’ve discovered the neighborhood is at all times joyful to assist newcomers. Once 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 all the things I knew as greatest I may, and earlier than the top, he beat me. Badly. I’ve by no means had extra enjoyable.
