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A significant element of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards tell familiar stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. A number act as heartbreaking echoes of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a lead game designer involved with the collaboration. "We built some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of storytelling by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the set's central mechanics. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the saga will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design paints a scene FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed completely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

For history, 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. After years of imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

In a game, the card mechanics effectively let you recreate this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. Together, these pieces unfold like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. So you can perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Combo

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it goes past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the passing yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga to date.