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A major aspect of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion so many cards tell familiar tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent in the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several serve as somber reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly years after.

"Emotional stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer on the project. "The team established some general rules, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most clever examples of flavor by way of rules. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key mechanics. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

For backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

In a game, the abilities in essence let you relive this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and grants the wielding 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 Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out like this: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage altogether. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is just the kind of moment referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of 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 implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise to date.