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A core element of the charm within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards narrate familiar narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this in nuanced ways. Such narrative is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional tales are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior designer on the collaboration. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most refined examples of narrative design by way of gameplay. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the set's key systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the significance within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands powerfully here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the pair break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces play out in this way: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the attack completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Main Synergy

But the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the collection 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 in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series ever made.