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A significant part of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards narrate iconic narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose signature move is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of flavor is widespread in the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number are somber echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly years after.

"Emotional stories are a vital component of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer for the set. "They created some general rules, but ultimately, it was primarily on a individual basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most elegant examples of narrative design via rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will instantly understand the significance within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s counters, as well as an gear, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates just as hard here, expressed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the pair manage to escape. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to protect his comrade. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you relive this whole sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these three cards unfold in this way: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack entirely. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards for free. This is precisely the kind of moment meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Combo

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just this combo. 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the passing yourself. You make the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the series for many fans.