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A core aspect of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner so many cards depict familiar tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number are heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy series," wrote a senior designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of storytelling by way of rules. It artfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those who know the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

How It Works: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair has a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

These mechanics paints a sequence FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been revisited multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, expressed solely through rules text. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. After extended imprisonment, the duo get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to take care of his companion. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud then takes up 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

In a game, the rules essentially let you reenact this entire event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to negate the damage entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of experience meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Obvious Combo

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that cleverly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy personally. You make the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a short instant, while enjoying a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most influential game in the saga for many fans.