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A major element of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way countless cards narrate familiar stories. Consider the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous professional athlete whose signature move is a specialized shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all joyful stories. Some act as heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional tales are a central part of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a lead game designer involved with the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but in the end, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

While the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most refined pieces of flavor by way of gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the set's key systems. And while it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This card paints a sequence FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Scene

A bit of history, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the duo break free. The entire time, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

On the tabletop, the abilities in essence let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to look through your library for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out as follows: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can actually use it during combat, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to negate the attack completely. 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 formidable 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just these cards. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This in a way suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the set.

The card does not depict his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga for many fans.