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A core element of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell well-known stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. A number are poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead game designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the expansion's core systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a sequence FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands with equal force here, communicated solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his companion. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these three cards play out as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes 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 just the kind of interaction meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Interaction

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target 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 enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card doesn't show his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga to date.