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A major element of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards depict well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. This type of narrative is prevalent across the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. A number serve as somber echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior designer for the project. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily 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 pieces of storytelling by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, communicated solely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

A bit of backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this whole scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function like this: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat 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 explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Synergy

And the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than just Zack and Cloud. 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that subtly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to relive the moment personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise to date.