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A core aspect of the allure within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell iconic narratives. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. Such storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Powerful narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior designer involved with the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was largely on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most clever pieces of storytelling by way of mechanics. It masterfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They eventually make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Left behind, 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*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this whole scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an equipment card. Together, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to negate the attack entirely. So you can do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

More Than the Obvious Combo

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set 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 sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that implicitly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You choose the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the franchise for many fans.