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A core aspect of the charm within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion countless cards narrate familiar tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which offers a portrait of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that takes a defender aside. The gameplay rules reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Several are somber echoes of tragedies fans continue to reflect on decades later.

"Moving stories are a key part of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal game designer on the collaboration. "We built some general rules, but finally, it was largely on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the collection's most elegant pieces of narrative design through rules. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's core mechanics. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the story will quickly recognize the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the color of protagonists) in this collection, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can sacrifice the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a sequence FF fans are all too familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits powerfully here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the friends manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, leading directly into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you reenact this iconic sequence. The Buster Sword is a a strong piece of gear in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s key mechanic is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to cancel out the damage altogether. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of experience meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

More Than the Main Interaction

However, the narrative here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just these cards. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a small connection, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy cliff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to recreate the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a trading card game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the series ever made.