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A core aspect of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards depict well-known stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Some serve as somber echoes of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Powerful stories are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a principal game designer on the set. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the collection's most clever pieces of flavor through mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's core gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, plus an gear, onto that other creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to look after his companion. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the rules effectively let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Interaction

And the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you relive the moment for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the franchise to date.