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A major aspect of the appeal of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards depict well-known narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose signature move is a specialized shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this perfectly. This type of storytelling is widespread across the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all lighthearted tales. Some are poignant reminders of tragedies fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal designer involved with the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most refined pieces of storytelling by way of gameplay. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's core gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They eventually make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is killed by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities effectively let you recreate this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards function as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to prevent the damage entirely. Therefore, you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Obvious Synergy

And the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it extends beyond just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a small reference, but one that cleverly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked bluff where it all ends. It doesn't have to. *Magic* enables you to relive the legacy personally. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the series ever made.