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A major part of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards depict well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this with subtlety. This type of flavor is found throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number are heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a key element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a principal game designer for the project. "They created some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most refined examples of flavor via rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his companion. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities in essence let you recreate this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces 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.

Owing to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the damage altogether. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of experience referred to when discussing “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Main Synergy

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment personally. You make the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.