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A major aspect of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards narrate familiar stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities represent this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Some serve as somber echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Moving narratives are a central part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior designer on the collaboration. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design through gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's core gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance within it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a scene FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They eventually make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Game Board

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. Together, these pieces function as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. So you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Obvious Synergy

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle reference, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise ever made.