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A significant element of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner countless cards tell familiar stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of flavor is widespread in the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. A number act as poignant reminders of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional stories are a key element of the Final Fantasy legacy," noted a senior game designer for the set. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the collection's most refined instances of narrative design by way of rules. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central systems. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline iterations in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, conveyed entirely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Moment

A bit of context, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the abilities effectively let you relive this entire scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament in the set that requires three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces function in this way: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can actually use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the attack completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of experience meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Central Interaction

However, the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just these cards. 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 chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny reference, but one that cleverly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

Zack’s card avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the moment yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the franchise ever made.