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A significant aspect of the appeal found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards tell familiar narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. Such storytelling is found in the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking callbacks of sad moments fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior game designer involved with the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the set's most clever instances of storytelling via gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will immediately grasp the significance behind it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design paints a scene FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, communicated entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

Some necessary history, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to protect his friend. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Game Board

In a game, the abilities in essence let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to prevent the damage completely. This allows you to do this at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond just this combo. 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 target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to recreate the legacy personally. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series to date.