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A major aspect of the allure of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards narrate iconic stories. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this with subtlety. This type of flavor is found in the entire Final Fantasy set, and some are not lighthearted tales. Some act as poignant echoes of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional narratives are a central component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead designer on the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair card isn't a competitive powerhouse, it stands as one of the release's most elegant instances of flavor through gameplay. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while leveraging some of the product's key gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the saga will instantly understand the emotional weight embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to bestow another creature you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that target creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it hits powerfully here, conveyed solely through rules text. Zack gives his life to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the pair get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Simulating the Passing of the Torch on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the rules in essence let you recreate this entire scene. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of gear in the set that requires three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an equipment card. In combination, these three cards function like this: You play Zack, and he gets 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.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is structured, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and activate it to cancel out the attack altogether. This allows you to do this at any time, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a formidable 6/4 that, whenever he does damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “emotional resonance” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

Beyond the Central Synergy

However, the thematic here is deeply satisfying, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that cleverly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable location where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* enables you to reenact the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.