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A core element of the charm of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the way so many cards depict iconic tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the protagonist at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose key technique is a fancy shot that takes a defender aside. The abilities reflect this with subtlety. Such narrative is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not joyful stories. A number are somber reminders of emotional events fans still mull over to this day.

"Powerful narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy series," noted a lead game designer for the project. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was mostly on a individual basis."

Though the Zack Fair card may not be a tournament staple, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor through gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important dramatic moments in spectacular fashion, all while leveraging some of the product's core mechanics. And although it avoids revealing anything, those who know the story will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: A Narrative in Play

For one mana of white (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair is a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. For the cost of one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another creature you control protection from destruction and transfer all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an gear, onto that chosen creature.

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it lands with equal force here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

A bit of backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a battle with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his companion. They finally reach the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Abandoned, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Moment on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the abilities essentially let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a strong piece of armament in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 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. In combination, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Because of the way Zack’s signature action is worded, you can potentially use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the damage entirely. So you can do this at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two spells at no cost. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Main Combo

And the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it extends past just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of hints that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. It's a tiny reference, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

The card doesn't show his end, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the rain-soaked bluff where it happens. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you recreate the moment personally. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a card battle, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the series ever made.