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A major element of the appeal found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way numerous cards depict iconic tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which provides a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender aside. The gameplay rules mirror this in nuanced ways. These kinds of storytelling is widespread throughout the complete Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all fun and games. Several act as somber reminders of emotional events fans remember vividly years after.

"Powerful stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead game designer for the project. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most refined pieces of flavor by way of gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the product's central systems. And although it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the story will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the color of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to give another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, plus an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been revisited again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands powerfully here, communicated entirely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the friends break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They eventually reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you recreate this whole sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an weapon card. Together, these pieces function like this: You summon Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack completely. This allows you to perform this action at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics evoke the memory.

Extending Past the Obvious Interaction

However, the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. 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 target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny reference, but one that implicitly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* enables you to reenact the passing yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while playing a trading card game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series to date.