Sazh's Chocobo | Illustration by Domenico Cava
It’s that time of year again! Time to usher in a new Magic set, but this time with a twist. Going forward, all Universes Beyond sets that release are Standard legal. You can build a Standard deck that features Bloomburrow’s fuzzy critters, Tarkir: Dragonstorm’s imposing dragons, and Final Fantasy’s creature sagas, just to name a few.
But I’m getting ahead of myself. Our first opportunity to get our hands on Final Fantasy cards is the Final Fantasy prerelease, and I have your tutorial on how to find a prerelease event near you!
What Is the Final Fantasy Prerelease?
Starting Town | Illustration by Hristo D. Chukov
Final Fantasy Prerelease is a series of events held at WPN affiliated game stores. Players build their first decks with the cards from this set and compete for prizes, but they also get to enjoy a few hours of Final Fantasy Magic.
What Format Is Prerelease?
Prerelease is played in a best-of-three Sealed format. You open the Play boosters that come from your Prerelease kit and build a 40-card deck to face off against opposing players.
What Comes in a Prerelease Kit?
Final Fantasy Prerelease kits contain:
- 6 Final Fantasy Play boosters
- 1 foil, year-stamped Prerelease promo card (rare or mythic rare)
- 1 deck box
- 1 spindown die
One in every 10 prerelease kits contains a special crystal d20 spindown die.
Final Fantasy Play boosters contain 14 Final Fantasy Magic cards:
- 1-4 rares or mythic rares
- 3-6 uncommons
- 6-9 commons
- 1 land
There’s other incentives for attending Prerelease events. Sign up for an event using your Wizards Account to receive a crystal counter d10 spindown die. At WPN Premium locations, you can also receive a photo token, like the one you may have received at the Lord of the Rings Prerelease. If you attend two prerelease events, you unlock a collective velvet pouch designed for dice storage.
When Is Prerelease Week?
Final Fantasy Prerelease week takes place from June 6-12, but most events take place during the Friday through Sunday window (June 6-8).
Where Is the Prerelease?
You can attend a Final Fantasy Prerelease at any WPN affiliated game store, or you can order Prerelease kits for an at-home event.
To find a Final Fantasy Prerelease near you:
- Go to https://locator.wizards.com/.
- Enter your city, address, or ZIP code into the search bar, then click the Search button (the magnifying glass) or hit enter.
- Use the “Filters” menu at the top right of the interactive map to show only Magic Prerelease events, then scroll to the bottom of that menu and click “View Results.”
Search results populate on the left of the interactive map, and they’re sorted by date by default (though some WPN Premium stores have their events at the top as a “Featured Store”). You can see additional information by clicking on “Event Details.” Most stores allows you to sign up online, but you may be able to register by calling them or going in person. If you aren’t familiar with the stores in your area, you may want to go in ahead of time to scout the environment before it fills up with Final Fantasy Prerelease players (and support your LGS while you’re at it).
Who Goes to Prereleases?
Avalanche of Sector 7 | Illustration by Arif Wijaya
Magic Prerelease events attract all kinds of Magic fans. You’ll find players of all ages and experience levels, but you’ll especially see Magic players who like to get their hands on a new set as soon as it’s available. There are some Magic players that also specifically enjoy Sealed formats, or Limited gameplay and deckbuilding in general.
Prereleases are a good environment for newer players, since everyone in attendance is playing with these cards (and their mechanics/interactions) for the first time. The Final Fantasy Prerelease should also attract new Magic players who are fans of Final Fantasy but who haven’t dipped their toes into Magic yet.
Is Going to Prerelease Worth It?
It’s hard for me to tell you directly whether a Prerelease is worth it because events in different cities or different stores have different price points. I’ve seen events in Houston advertised at $40, while I’ve seen other events in New York that cost $55 to attend. And I’ve even see an at-home Prerelease event that costs $75. As with any prerelease where you know you’re getting 6 Play boosters, a Prerelease promo, and a set-specific spindown, that’s pretty much the only guaranteed value I can go on. Depending on the price you pay to attend and your specific pulls, you may or may not get your value back dollar-for-dollar.
Aside from the cards you get from playing (and winning!) a Prerelease, these events also have intangible perks. You get to hang out with other Magic players and Final Fantasy fans. And as with all Magic, you sometimes get stories of opening really good cards or unlocking interesting interactions. That’s the core value of Prerelease events, at least to me.
Final Fantasy Sealed Simulator
As you prepare to attend the Final Fantasy Prerelease, keep in mind that Draftsim’s Sealed Pool Generator is available when full spoilers are available, which should be roughly around May 30 when the full set is revealed.
Wrap Up
A Realm Reborn | Illustration by Anna Podedworna
Tutorial complete! You should have all you need to secure your spot at a Final Fantasy Prerelease. I’d hop on that sooner than later; I’m expecting that Final Fantasy will be a fairly popular set, and some of these events are going to fill up quickly. Prerelease isn’t the end, though! From June 13-24, every Final Fantasy Booster Draft or Sealed event that you attend earns you points in the Chocobo Racing Event Series.
Are you going to attend the Final Fantasy prerelease? Are you a Final Fantasy fan, a Magic fan, or both? Which cards are you hoping to find in your prerelease kit? Let me know in the comments below or over on the Draftsim Discord.
Good luck, and have fun!
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