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A core part of the allure within the *Final Fantasy* crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* is the manner countless cards narrate iconic tales. Cards like the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which gives a portrait of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender aside. The card's mechanics represent this perfectly. This type of narrative is prevalent across the complete Final Fantasy set, and some are not fun and games. A number act as heartbreaking callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over years after.

"Emotional stories are a key element of the Final Fantasy franchise," explained a principal designer for the set. "They created some general rules, but finally, it was primarily on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair is not a tournament staple, it is one of the release's most elegant examples of narrative design by way of gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's central gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the tale will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 token. By paying one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that target creature.

This design depicts a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully here, communicated completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

The Story Behind the Moment

Some necessary backstory, and here is your *FF7* warning: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended imprisonment, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is comatose, but Zack ensures to protect his companion. They eventually arrive at the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by forces. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you reenact this iconic event. The Buster Sword is featured as a top-tier piece of equipment in the collection that costs three mana and gives the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an artifact card. Together, these pieces function like this: You cast Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack completely. So you can make this play at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two cards for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when discussing “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design evoke the memory.

More Than the Obvious Combo

And the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it reaches beyond just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. This is a subtle connection, but one that implicitly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

The card does not depict his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked cliff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the legacy on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the franchise for many fans.