When Wizards of the Coast revealed Zenos as part of the MTG x Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set, I was already hyped. But then they revealed the actual card—and it might be one of the most flavorful designs in the entire crossover.

Let’s get this out of the way: Zenos yae Galvus isn’t the most beloved villain in Final Fantasy XIV. In fact, he’s one of the most divisive. Some players see him as one-note, others call him over-the-top. But for me? Zenos is the standout. He’s my personal favorite—because he doesn’t hide behind a tragic backstory, manipulative schemes, or twisted ideology. He wants to fight you. That’s it. He doesn’t pretend otherwise.

And not just anyone—he wants to fight you, the Warrior of Light. You, the player. The only one who’s ever made him feel alive.

“My First Friend”: A Villain Obsessed with You

Zenos yae Galvus enters the battlefield as a 4/4 Legendary Creature costing 3 generic and 2 black mana. That statline alone makes him a solid presence, but it’s his ability that truly brings his FFXIV persona to life.

When Zenos enters the battlefield, you choose a creature an opponent controls—this is his “first friend.” Every other creature on the board gets -2/-2 until end of turn.

It’s a brutally elegant flavor mechanic. In FFXIV, Zenos sees all life as empty and unworthy—except for one: the Warrior of Light, the player’s avatar. That’s the person he refers to as his “first friend”—not because of camaraderie, but because fighting you is the only time he feels truly alive.

This MTG x Final Fantasy card captures that moment of hyperfixation perfectly. Zenos enters, singles out one rival as worthy, and everything else is reduced to dust. It’s not even personal. It’s just that everyone else doesn’t matter.

Shinryu Awakens: Raising the Stakes, Just Like in the Game

But Zenos’ obsession doesn’t end there. In FFXIV, he later merges with Shinryu in order to gain greater power, raise the stakes, and force you into a confrontation. The MTG card leans fully into that lore.

If Zenos’ chosen “friend” leaves the battlefield, he transforms into Shinryu, a monstrous new form that reflects his desperation to rekindle the duel.

And that’s when he casts Burning Chains.

Burning Chains lets you choose an opponent. When that player loses the game—you win.

At first glance, it looks like a high-stakes mechanic targeting someone new. But in truth, it’s not about them at all. It’s Zenos forcing the stakes higher, recreating the same tension he thrives on in FFXIV. Just like in the game, when the Warrior of Light disappears or escapes him, he doesn’t mourn or move on—he escalates. He transforms. He sets the world ablaze so that you have no choice but to return.

Burning Chains is his way of saying, “If you won’t fight me, then I’ll destroy everything until you do.”

The MTG x Final Fantasy Commander Potential: Turning Duels into Endgames

In a multiplayer Commander game, Burning Chains adds a dangerous, pressure-building element. Here are some strategic insights on how to leverage it effectively:

• Timing is Everything: Don’t transform Zenos too early. Wait until one opponent is low on life, vulnerable, or has drawn aggro from the rest of the table. The moment they’re targeted by multiple threats, cast Zenos and prepare to flip.
• Psychological Warfare: Even if your chosen opponent isn’t the strongest, other players will see Shinryu as a looming alternate win condition—and that fear can shift how they play, who they attack, and what they leave open.
• Revenge Mechanic: If someone knocks out your key combo piece or betrays you politically, they just became a perfect target for Burning Chains. Your win becomes tied to their downfall—a very Zenos-style way to settle the score.

Why This Card Works So Well

There’s a lot of fan service in MTG x Final Fantasy, but Zenos’ card isn’t just a nod—it’s a deep character study in cardboard form. It doesn’t attempt to redeem him or reinterpret him. Zenos doesn’t just make for a cool card—he makes for a card that understands him. And in a set packed with legendary figures, that might be the most dangerous thing of all.

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