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A major aspect of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards depict iconic tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. This type of flavor is widespread across the whole Final Fantasy offering, and not all joyful stories. A number serve as poignant echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy franchise," noted a senior game designer for the project. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

While the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most clever instances of flavor by way of gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's key systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, communicated entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his companion. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics in essence let you reenact this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards unfold as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to cancel out the attack completely. So you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of experience referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Synergy

And the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the passing personally. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series for many fans.