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A major element of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards tell familiar stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this perfectly. Such narrative is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Several act as poignant reminders of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Moving stories are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer on the project. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the release's most refined instances of storytelling via rules. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's central systems. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those acquainted with the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to take care of his comrade. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards function like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack completely. This allows you to do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Main Interaction

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches beyond 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the series for many fans.