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A significant part of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards tell familiar tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this perfectly. Such storytelling is prevalent across the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Several are somber reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a vital part of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a principal game designer for the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most elegant instances of narrative design by way of mechanics. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the meaning behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the abilities in essence let you reenact this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the damage completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it extends further than just this combo. 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 chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the legacy yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga to date.