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A major aspect of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards depict well-known tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. This type of flavor is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. Several are somber echoes of emotional events fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal designer on the project. "We built some general rules, but ultimately, it was largely on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most refined pieces of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's core systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the significance behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This card portrays a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. In combination, these three cards unfold like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the attack altogether. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of moment meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Central Synergy

However, the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends further than 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 also becomes a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

This design does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing personally. You make the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga to date.