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A core aspect of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion countless cards narrate iconic stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is widespread in the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Some serve as poignant echoes of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful tales are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead game designer involved with the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most refined examples of narrative design through gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his comrade. They eventually make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an weapon card. Together, these three cards unfold like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the damage entirely. So you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it goes beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of 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 starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment personally. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga ever made.