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A major part of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards depict familiar tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Some act as somber reminders of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Powerful narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer on the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most clever instances of storytelling by way of rules. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's central systems. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the tale will instantly understand the meaning within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue 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 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, communicated completely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards play out in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Interaction

And the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends past just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable location where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series ever made.