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A significant element of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards depict familiar tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this perfectly. Such flavor is prevalent throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking reminders of emotional events fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most elegant instances of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the meaning behind it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands with equal force here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the card mechanics effectively let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage entirely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends past just this combo. 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 initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.