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A core element of the charm of the *Final Fantasy* Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* is the fashion so many cards tell iconic narratives. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that takes a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. This type of storytelling is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and they aren't all lighthearted tales. A number act as heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Moving tales are a central component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a lead designer on the collaboration. "They created some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was primarily on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair card is not a tournament staple, it is one of the collection's most refined examples of flavor by way of gameplay. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the expansion's key gameplay elements. And although it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the significance within it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

For one white mana (the color of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, along with an Equipment, onto that other creature.

This card paints a moment FF fans are extremely remember, a moment that has been reimagined throughout the years — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it lands just as hard here, conveyed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

For backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They finally make it the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Abandoned, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the rules effectively let you recreate this iconic event. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can make Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, enabling you to find for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these pieces function in this way: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s key mechanic is structured, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the attack altogether. This allows you to do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a powerful 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards for free. This is just the kind of experience meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Central Synergy

But the flavor here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. 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 then becomes a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny nod, but one that cleverly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

Zack’s card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the memorable bluff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you relive the legacy for yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the legacy on. And for a brief second, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.