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A significant part of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner numerous cards narrate familiar narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all fun and games. Some act as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead designer involved with the project. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most refined instances of flavor through mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's central systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a sequence FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates with equal force here, conveyed completely 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 Moment

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you recreate the legacy for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise to date.