The Ultimate Fantasy Magic: The Gathering set is right here, and there’s by no means been a extra good 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 prior to now (howdy, 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, positive to enchantment to the huge chunk of people that love each video games.
However what in the event you don’t inhabit the middle circle within the Venn diagram of Magic and Ultimate Fantasy lovers however are nonetheless excited by experiencing this set for your self? Magic: The Gathering is an intimidating recreation, even in the event 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 best ways to leap in. So right here’s just a few ideas and tips 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 yow will discover the product to pay for it in any respect.
The best way 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 seeking to begin their planeswalking journey. To assist these new gamers alongside, Magic builders have created a line of merchandise referred to as Starter Kits. Every is a set of two 60-card decks that includes playing cards particularly designed for brand new gamers and an instruction booklet that goes over the sport’s fundamental guidelines and cadence of play. Preserve one deck for your self, give one to a pal, and study as you play collectively. For MTG x FF, the starter package options two decks themed round Ultimate Fantasy’s best rivalry: Sephiroth vs. Cloud.
These decks are a good introductory course to Magic. Cloud’s is themed round tools playing cards (assume the Buster Sword or the Ultima Weapon), that are basically weapons you may connect to your creatures to pump up their harm and hit exhausting. Sephiroth’s deck is all about him. Kill creatures (yours and your opponent’s) to make him as large 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 at present offered 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 characteristic a helpful retailer locator in the event you don’t know the place your nearest LCS is.
There are additionally 4 Commander decks you should buy 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 usually embrace a couple of 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.
The best way to play: on-line version
In the event you don’t have any associates 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 best 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 by way of 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 skills and favors a selected fashion of play. Blue and white heart on going over your opponents’ heads with flying creatures, whereas mono inexperienced (my favourite and one of the best ways to play) favors large, 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 strive in the event you ever want to return.
When you’re prepared, you will have various choices out there. You may get proper into the thick of issues and begin enjoying the sport’s constructed modes. In the event you’ve by no means performed Magic earlier than, don’t do that. It’s costly, costing plenty of sources your account is not going to have except you purchase them within the recreation’s money store, and it’s exhausting. 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 exhausting work of creating a viable deck is completed for you. You’re offered with various archetypes: Daring, Mage, Chocobos, Tools, and extra. You possibly can choose two of them based mostly on nothing greater than vibes and private desire, and the sport will mechanically 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 shedding.
The beauty of Jumpstart is that it’s low cost — a brand new account grants you adequate foreign money to strive the mode 3 times — and the playing cards you choose are yours to maintain. Do it sufficient instances and also you’ll finally have sufficient playing cards to device round with making your personal 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 in the event 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 will overwhelm your opponent.
Additionally, they’re chocobos! What may very well be extra Ultimate Fantasy than chocobos?
In case you are a Ultimate Fantasy fan, I can not stress sufficient how a lot enjoyable its Magic set is. And in the event you’re intimidated by Magic’s issue, don’t be. There are such a lot of beginner-friendly methods to play, and there are such a lot of inexperienced persons making an attempt this set out for the primary time, that you just’ll be in good firm. Plus, I’ve discovered the neighborhood is all the time pleased 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 every thing I knew as greatest I may, and earlier than the tip, he beat me. Badly. I’ve by no means had extra enjoyable.