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A significant part of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner so many cards depict familiar tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a portrait of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all joyful stories. A number are somber reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving tales are a vital component of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a principal game designer involved with the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most elegant instances of flavor by way of rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's key gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the significance within it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s counters, plus an gear, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands with equal force here, expressed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

A bit of backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended testing, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you recreate this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s key mechanic is designed, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the damage altogether. So you can perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series to date.