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A core element of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion so many cards depict familiar tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is found in the whole Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several serve as poignant reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior game designer on the collaboration. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most clever examples of storytelling through mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the product's key gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the significance within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces play out in this way: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack altogether. This allows you to do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Interaction

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy yourself. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga to date.