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A major element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards narrate well-known tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The abilities mirror this perfectly. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Some serve as heartbreaking reminders of emotional events fans remember vividly decades later.

"Powerful tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal game designer involved with the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the set's most elegant pieces of flavor through rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the set's key systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits just as hard here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to look after his friend. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the rules essentially let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. So you can do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of experience referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Main Synergy

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in 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 in a way suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series for many fans.