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A core part of the appeal within the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way numerous cards tell familiar narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this with subtlety. Such storytelling is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. Several act as somber echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Emotional narratives are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead designer involved with the project. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was largely on a individual level."

While the Zack Fair is not a top-tier card, it is one of the set's most refined examples of storytelling by way of mechanics. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the set's core systems. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits powerfully here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

For backstory, and take this as your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to protect his companion. They eventually make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you relive this whole event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to prevent the damage altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Main Synergy

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card 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 then becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small nod, but one that subtly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked location where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to relive the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the series to date.