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A major part of the allure of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way countless cards tell familiar tales. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and not all lighthearted tales. Several act as poignant reminders of tragedies fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior game designer on the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most clever examples of storytelling through mechanics. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the product's key systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the saga will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless 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 design paints a sequence FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of context, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to protect his companion. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

In a game, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function like this: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. So 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, whenever he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

More Than the Central Combo

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy location where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the passing yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.