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A major element of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards narrate iconic narratives. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous Blitzball pro whose signature move is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all joyful stories. Several act as poignant callbacks of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a principal game designer on the project. "We built some overarching principles, but in the end, it was mostly on a card-by-card level."

While the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it is one of the collection's most clever instances of storytelling via gameplay. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the product's key gameplay elements. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will instantly understand the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands just as hard here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary context, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to protect his comrade. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

In a game, the abilities in essence let you reenact this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped 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, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s sacrifice ability is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Main Combo

But the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches beyond just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

Zack’s card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the legacy yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a brief second, while playing a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the franchise ever made.