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A significant part of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the fashion numerous cards narrate well-known tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of storytelling is prevalent in the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several act as heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Moving narratives are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a principal game designer for the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but finally, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most clever examples of narrative design by way of rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments with great effect, all while utilizing some of the set's core systems. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated entirely 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 Scene

For backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules essentially let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out in this way: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage completely. Therefore, you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Central Synergy

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the passing yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series ever made.