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A core part of the allure found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards tell well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated professional athlete whose secret weapon is a unique shot that pushes a defender aside. The card's mechanics reflect this in nuanced ways. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not lighthearted tales. A number are poignant reminders of emotional events fans still mull over years after.

"Powerful narratives are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a senior designer for the set. "The team established some overarching principles, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case level."

Though the Zack Fair is not a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most clever instances of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments with great effect, all while leveraging some of the product's central gameplay elements. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will immediately grasp the significance embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Flavor in Rules

At a cost of one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 token. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to bestow another ally you control indestructible and move all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that chosen creature.

This card portrays a moment FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined iterations in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits just as hard here, expressed completely through card abilities. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

Some necessary backstory, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a battle with Sephiroth. After years of imprisonment, the pair break free. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack vows to take care of his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the role of a elite SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you relive this entire event. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of armament 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 wielded.

The Cloud Strife card also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an artifact card. In combination, these pieces function as follows: You cast Zack, and he gains the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to pull the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can actually use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the attack altogether. Therefore, you can do this at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you pull extra cards and play two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Central Combo

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it extends further than just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity is part of the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This in a way implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that cleverly links the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter mechanic in the set.

This design avoids showing his end, or Cloud’s confusion, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It isn't necessary. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment yourself. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most beloved game in the saga for many fans.