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A core aspect of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way numerous cards tell well-known tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is prevalent in the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number act as somber echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior game designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever instances of narrative design by way of gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the saga will quickly recognize the significance within it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the rules effectively let you recreate this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to cancel out the damage entirely. So you can do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Synergy

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. 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 sort of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

The card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the series for many fans.