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A core part of the charm found in the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner countless cards tell familiar stories. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the protagonist at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities represent this perfectly. This type of storytelling is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some serve as heartbreaking reminders of sad moments fans still mull over years after.

"Moving stories are a central element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior game designer for the set. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was primarily on a card-by-card level."

While the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the collection's most elegant pieces of storytelling by way of rules. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the product's core mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one white mana (the hue of heroes) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one generic mana, you can sacrifice the card to bestow another unit you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s counters, along with an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Scene

A bit of history, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of imprisonment, the pair get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is delirious, but Zack makes sure to take care of his friend. They eventually arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you relive this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of armament in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to find for an equipment card. In combination, these pieces play out as follows: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the design Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage entirely. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and cast two spells for free. This is precisely the kind of moment referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Interaction

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a tiny connection, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You make the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the series to date.