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A major part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* is the way so many cards tell well-known tales. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a snapshot of the hero at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is widespread across the whole Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. Several act as somber reminders of emotional events fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving stories are a key element of the Final Fantasy series," explained a lead designer for the collaboration. "The team established some general rules, but finally, it was largely on a card-by-card basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card is not a top-tier card, it stands as one of the release's most elegant pieces of storytelling via gameplay. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments with great effect, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's central mechanics. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the saga will quickly recognize the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another creature you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s counters, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

These mechanics portrays a moment FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it resonates with equal force here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. After years of experimentation, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack vows to protect his friend. They finally arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

Through gameplay, the card mechanics effectively let you reenact this entire scene. The Buster Sword is a a top-tier piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out in this way: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is structured, you can potentially use it during combat, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the attack entirely. Therefore, you can make this play at a key moment, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a strong 6/4 that, every time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction referred to when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

More Than the Main Combo

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches beyond 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 in a way implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that subtly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the memorable bluff where it all ends. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you relive the passing yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the franchise for many fans.