Gavin Verhey Interview | How Final Fantasy CHANGED Magic: The Gathering Forever
Magic meets Final Fantasy! In this episode, Wade (ProfNoctis), Evan, and Nick sit down with Magic: The Gathering principal designer Gavin Verhey to unpack how the Final Fantasy collaboration came to life—and why “every card is an invitation.”
What we cover:
-Gavin’s origin story (from 11-year-old aspiring designer to Principal Designer)
-How Universes Beyond brings new players into MTG (and keeps veterans engaged)
-Final Fantasy design gems: Saga Creatures (Bahamut!), Fang & Vanille meld, King Edgar’s coin-flip, and the Gold Saucer date debate
-Keeping Magic fresh: creative worldbuilding + elegant mechanics
-Why Commander builds community (and thoughts on future digital multiplayer)
-The power of Battlebond, Mystery Booster, and the “unknown events”
-SpellTable, on-ramps for beginners, and the heart of the MTG community
Key Lessons:
-“Every card is an invitation.”
-How the team balanced fan-service with avoiding spoilers
-Why losing and still having fun is the secret design
-Community as the real endgame: finding instant friends at college, LGS, and cons
Guest links:
Gavin’s YouTube — Good Morning Magic: @GoodMorningMagic
Gavin on social: BlueSky / Instagram / X / TikTok: @ gavinverhey
Questions for you (no spoilers):
-What Final Fantasy moment do you most want to pull off in a Commander game?
-Which Gold Saucer date card is your canon? 👀
-New to MTG? What helped you get past the first 5 games?
If you enjoyed this convo, hit 👍, subscribe, and share with a friend who loves FF or MTG. For more deep-dive lectures, interviews, and playthroughs, stay tuned here on ProfNoctis. Walk tall, friends.
-------------------------------------------------
New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord
Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
Wade/Prof - https://bsky.app/profile/profnoctis.b...
Evan - https://bsky.app/profile/whiskerss.bs...
______________________________
CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Final Fantasy X / X-2: https://amzn.to/4kIBKiE
-------------------------------------------------
Want to listen to the ProfNoctis Show on-the-go? Check out our audio-only version wherever you get your podcasts!
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1A9WZpJ...
______________________________
RIVERSIDE FM: The Preferred Podcast Program of ProfNoctis
Also, we're excited to use the BEST Video Podcasting program around: Riverside FM! Check out and see if this program is for you. https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig... (As a Riverside Affiliate, we receive a commission on all new subscriptions through this link)
What we cover:
-Gavin’s origin story (from 11-year-old aspiring designer to Principal Designer)
-How Universes Beyond brings new players into MTG (and keeps veterans engaged)
-Final Fantasy design gems: Saga Creatures (Bahamut!), Fang & Vanille meld, King Edgar’s coin-flip, and the Gold Saucer date debate
-Keeping Magic fresh: creative worldbuilding + elegant mechanics
-Why Commander builds community (and thoughts on future digital multiplayer)
-The power of Battlebond, Mystery Booster, and the “unknown events”
-SpellTable, on-ramps for beginners, and the heart of the MTG community
Key Lessons:
-“Every card is an invitation.”
-How the team balanced fan-service with avoiding spoilers
-Why losing and still having fun is the secret design
-Community as the real endgame: finding instant friends at college, LGS, and cons
Guest links:
Gavin’s YouTube — Good Morning Magic: @GoodMorningMagic
Gavin on social: BlueSky / Instagram / X / TikTok: @ gavinverhey
Questions for you (no spoilers):
-What Final Fantasy moment do you most want to pull off in a Commander game?
-Which Gold Saucer date card is your canon? 👀
-New to MTG? What helped you get past the first 5 games?
If you enjoyed this convo, hit 👍, subscribe, and share with a friend who loves FF or MTG. For more deep-dive lectures, interviews, and playthroughs, stay tuned here on ProfNoctis. Walk tall, friends.
-------------------------------------------------
New episodes of the ProfNoctis Weekly Show release every Monday! / @profnoctis
Check out my Livestream! / profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
/ profnoctis
Join Prof's Classroom discussions: / discord
Also connect with us on BlueSky now!
Wade/Prof - https://bsky.app/profile/profnoctis.b...
Evan - https://bsky.app/profile/whiskerss.bs...
______________________________
CLASS SUPPLIES and EXTRA CREDIT
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Final Fantasy X / X-2: https://amzn.to/4kIBKiE
-------------------------------------------------
Want to listen to the ProfNoctis Show on-the-go? Check out our audio-only version wherever you get your podcasts!
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1A9WZpJ...
______________________________
RIVERSIDE FM: The Preferred Podcast Program of ProfNoctis
Also, we're excited to use the BEST Video Podcasting program around: Riverside FM! Check out and see if this program is for you. https://www.riverside.fm/?utm_campaig... (As a Riverside Affiliate, we receive a commission on all new subscriptions through this link)
