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A core element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards narrate familiar stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is found throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. Several act as poignant echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Moving stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer for the set. "They created some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the set's most elegant pieces of narrative design via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the set's central mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics depicts a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

For context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to look after his comrade. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to recreate the moment for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the saga ever made.