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A core element of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards depict familiar stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a portrait of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several are poignant echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving stories are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a lead designer on the collaboration. "The team established some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was largely on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's core mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates powerfully here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his comrade. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards function as follows: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the attack entirely. So you can do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Interaction

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the series for many fans.