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A core part of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards narrate well-known stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some act as somber echoes of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Moving narratives are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a senior designer for the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the release's most refined pieces of flavor by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the set's key systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will immediately grasp the significance within it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to give another unit you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a scene FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, expressed solely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Card

For history, 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. Following extended testing, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this whole scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards play out like this: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the attack entirely. So you can make this play at any time, transferring 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 pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is just the kind of experience alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Beyond the Central Synergy

And the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in 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 underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series to date.