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A core part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards depict familiar stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is widespread in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several are poignant reminders of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional stories are a central element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a lead designer involved with the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most elegant instances of flavor via mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to protect his friend. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces unfold in this way: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to negate the attack completely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Central Interaction

And the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment personally. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.