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A significant element of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards depict well-known tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is prevalent throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Some are heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most elegant examples of narrative design through rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the significance within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics depicts a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his companion. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an weapon card. Together, these three cards unfold like this: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack completely. Therefore, you can do this 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 strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Central Combo

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.