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A significant element of the allure found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way so many cards depict iconic stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this with subtlety. Such narrative is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number are poignant callbacks of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a principal game designer for the collaboration. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most refined pieces of flavor by way of mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key systems. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

This design paints a scene FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the rules in essence let you recreate this whole scene. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces function as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Main Combo

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just Zack and Cloud. 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 also becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to recreate the legacy for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.