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A major part of the charm within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion numerous cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Some are somber callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Powerful stories are a key part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a principal game designer for the set. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most clever examples of storytelling through gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, expressed completely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the friends break free. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

In a game, the abilities in essence 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 gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage completely. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Combo

And the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches further than just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 also becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the moment yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.