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A major part of the allure of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards tell familiar tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics mirror this perfectly. Such narrative is prevalent throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly decades later.

"Moving narratives are a vital component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a lead designer involved with the set. "We built some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the set's most refined pieces of storytelling by way of gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's key mechanics. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the alignment of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an Equipment, onto that target creature.

These mechanics depicts a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands powerfully here, expressed entirely through rules text. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

For context, and consider this 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 testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They finally make it the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Legacy on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you recreate this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. Together, these pieces unfold like this: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is just the kind of moment referred to when discussing “emotional resonance” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

However, the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches past 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 chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a tiny nod, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

Zack’s card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked cliff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the moment for yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most beloved game in the series to date.