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A core aspect of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards tell familiar tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. Such narrative is found in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Several are heartbreaking echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a senior designer involved with the set. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of narrative design by way of gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's central gameplay elements. And although it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands powerfully here, conveyed solely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his companion. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you relive this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the damage completely. So you can perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series for many fans.