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A major element of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards narrate familiar tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this perfectly. This type of narrative is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number act as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans remember vividly years after.

"Emotional narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer for the collaboration. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most clever pieces of flavor through gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's central gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will quickly recognize the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates just as hard here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards function in this way: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack completely. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Interaction

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches further than just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a subtle nod, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy personally. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise to date.