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A major element of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion so many cards tell well-known stories. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a snapshot of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. These kinds of storytelling is widespread throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not joyful stories. A number act as heartbreaking echoes of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Moving tales are a key element of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead designer on the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant pieces of narrative design via mechanics. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those who know the saga will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a scene FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, communicated entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an weapon card. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains 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.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of moment alluded to when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Interaction

And the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it goes past just Zack and Cloud. 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 sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that implicitly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to recreate the moment for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You transfer the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the series ever made.