Power Up Revival Trance — Make Your Final Fantasy Commander Deck Unforgettable

So the Final Fantasy Commander decks finally landed, and if you’re anything like me, you probably cracked open Revival Trance the second you got your hands on it. This Esper-colored list (white-blue-black for the uninitiated) is already doing cool things out of the box. You’ve got legendary faces, loops of recursion, and flavorful nods to the Final Fantasy saga. But here’s the thing: as much fun as the precon is, it’s just the beginning.Let’s dig into the ways you can evolve Revival Trance into something really special. Whether you love reanimator decks, live for value engines, or just want to summon Sephiroth and smile, there’s plenty of room to make this one your own.

Why Revival Trance is Worth Building Around

At the heart of this deck is one clear idea: recursion. It’s all about letting your creatures die, then bringing them right back—often with bonuses attached. Your main commander, Sephiroth, Infernal Divider, thrives on this cycle. He wants to see creatures hit the graveyard, and when he does, he rewards you by climbing back onto the battlefield himself.But the backup commander? That’s where things get spicy.Aerith Gainsborough turns every legend’s death into a draw. And in a deck absolutely stacked with iconic characters, that’s not just strong—it’s relentless value. It’s like your graveyard is writing you love letters every turn.You’ll also see heavy hitters like Cloud Strife, who powers up from spellslinging, and Tifa Lockhart, rewarding aggression with resources. But to make this deck punch above its weight, you’ll want to streamline a few things—starting with the recursion package and mana base.

Top Upgrades to Transform Revival Trance

More Recursion, Less Waiting Around

Reanimate — One mana. Any creature. No fluff.

Animate Dead — Still one of the best budget options out there.

Dance of the Dead — Slightly clunky, but repeatable with the right setup.

Persist — A clean fit with legends and ETB effects.

Each of these ups your speed and gives you more ways to bring back the cards that matter—fast.

Upgrade the Corpses You’re Digging Up

If you’re reanimating, you might as well make the creatures worth it. Here are a few bombs that are tailor-made for this strategy:

Sheoldred, Whispering One — Recursion and forced sacrifice in one terrifying package.

Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite — Makes opposing boards irrelevant while pumping yours.

Kambal, Consul of Allocation — Keeps your life total stable and punishes spells.

Dropping these early via reanimation is often enough to swing the whole game.

Fix the Mana, Actually Play Your Spells

Fetchlands like Polluted Delta, Flooded Strand — great for deck thinning and fixing.Shocklands like Watery Grave, Hallowed Fountain — untapped when needed, and fetchable.Painlands like Caves of Koilos — surprisingly efficient and budget-friendly.This helps you cast your early spells without playing the “do I keep this sketchy hand?” game.

Fuel the Engine with Draw & Selection

Aerith rewards you when things die, but let’s not stop there.Necropotence — It’s still one of the strongest draw engines, if you can handle the precision.Phyrexian Arena — Slow and steady, and perfect for grinding out value.Fact or Fiction — A classic. Instant speed, fills the graveyard, and draws cards.You’re playing Esper. Card draw should never be your problem.

Tech Picks & Sneaky Synergies

This deck is already interested in ETB effects, so take advantage of that.Ravenous Chupacabra turns reanimation into removal.Solemn Simulacrum gives you ramp and card draw when it dies (which it will, often).Ashen Rider or Sun Titan can make every resurrection count extra.Also, don’t forget about protecting your graveyard. Losing your pile to a single Bojuka Bog or Rest in Peace is brutal. Consider tools like:Elixir of Immortality — Not just flavor-friendly, it’s functional.Perpetual Timepiece — Works overtime to keep your graveyard safe and usable.

And if you’re going full flavor or proxying upgrades? https://mtgetsy.com has some beautiful custom Final Fantasy-style cards and tokens. Great way to make your Sephiroth or Aerith feel even more iconic.

Parting Thoughts: Build It Your Way

Revival Trance isn’t just a precon—it’s a canvas. It plays with beloved characters, powerful themes, and one of the most satisfying mechanics in Magic: reanimation. With just a few smart upgrades, you can take this deck from “cool theme” to “actual threat at the table.”Some players lean into Sephiroth’s relentless board pressure. Others prefer Aerith and her patient, value-laden style. There’s no wrong answer here—only how you want to bring your legends back from the grave.Now go out there, get creative, and don’t be afraid to experiment. After all, in Final Fantasy—and Commander—the end is never really the end.

Got spicy tech for your Revival Trance build? Drop your takes in the comments. Let’s make this deck as legendary as the characters it celebrates.