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A core aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion countless cards narrate familiar narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this with subtlety. This type of flavor is found across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several are somber callbacks of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior designer on the project. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most clever examples of storytelling through mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities in essence let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an weapon card. Together, these three cards unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. Therefore, you can do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.