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A major element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards narrate well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. Several serve as somber reminders of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal designer for the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most clever pieces of flavor by way of mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the product's core systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those who know the tale will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, communicated entirely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics in essence let you reenact this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an equipment card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the damage altogether. So you can make this play at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card 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 sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the moment personally. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the saga to date.