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A major part of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards depict iconic narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities represent this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is found across the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Several act as poignant echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a lead designer on the set. "The team established some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was largely on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most refined pieces of narrative design by way of gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the set's central mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the emotional weight within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This design portrays a moment FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates with equal force here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the pair get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the abilities essentially let you reenact this entire sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces function in this way: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to negate the damage completely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Main Synergy

But the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in 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 starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to relive the legacy yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.