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A major part of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell well-known stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is widespread in the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. A number act as poignant echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Powerful stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant pieces of narrative design by way of mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's key gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the tale will instantly understand the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, expressed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the friends manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to look after his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules essentially let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces function like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the attack altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it goes past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set 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 kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

The card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the passing yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the legacy on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga ever made.