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A core part of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards tell iconic stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Some serve as poignant reminders of sad moments fans still mull over to this day.

"Moving tales are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer involved with the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of storytelling by way of gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the expansion's key mechanics. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics depicts a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

For context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They eventually make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, 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 Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the rules essentially let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is precisely the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes 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 chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series to date.