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A significant aspect of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards narrate familiar narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. This type of narrative is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. Several are poignant callbacks of tragedies fans remember vividly years after.

"Powerful tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy series," explained a principal designer for the collaboration. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most refined instances of flavor through rules. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance embedded in it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s counters, plus an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates just as hard here, communicated 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 Scene

Some necessary backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the card mechanics in essence let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the attack altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

More Than the Main Combo

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just these cards. 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 target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to relive the moment for yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series ever made.