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A significant aspect of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards tell well-known narratives. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as poignant echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most clever instances of storytelling via rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules essentially let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these three cards play out like this: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the damage completely. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the legacy yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga ever made.