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A significant element of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards narrate familiar tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. A number are poignant callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer on the project. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most refined instances of flavor by way of mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key mechanics. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, communicated entirely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities effectively let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack entirely. So you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of experience meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Synergy

And the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the passing yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the saga to date.