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A significant part of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards depict iconic narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules reflect this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is found throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. A number serve as poignant echoes of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional narratives are a key element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a senior designer involved with the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was mostly on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair card may not be a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design by way of rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the story will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an gear, onto that other creature.

This design portrays a scene FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a elite SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards unfold in this way: You cast 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.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to prevent the damage completely. This allows you to do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two cards at no cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Extending Past the Obvious Synergy

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches 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 chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny reference, but one that implicitly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the legacy on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series for many fans.