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A core aspect of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* crossover set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner numerous cards depict familiar narratives. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a portrait of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans remember vividly decades later.

"Emotional stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer on the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but in the end, it was primarily on a individual level."

Though the Zack Fair may not be a top-tier card, it stands as one of the set's most refined examples of storytelling through rules. It masterfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those who know the tale will instantly understand the significance within it.

How It Works: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s counters, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics depicts a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits with equal force here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Moment on the Battlefield

In a game, the rules in essence let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to cancel out the damage altogether. So you can do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat 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 “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Combo

And the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it goes beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the expansion.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga to date.