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A significant part of the charm within the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards depict iconic stories. Take for instance the Tidus, Blitzball Star card, which offers a glimpse of the character at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose key technique is a unique shot that takes a defender out of the way. The abilities mirror this perfectly. These kinds of narrative is widespread across the complete Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. A number serve as heartbreaking callbacks of emotional events fans still mull over to this day.

"Emotional stories are a vital element of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior designer on the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but in the end, it was largely on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair card isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most elegant examples of flavor by way of mechanics. It skillfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial dramatic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central mechanics. And while it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the meaning within it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

For one mana of white (the color of heroes) in this set, Zack Fair has a base stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one generic mana, you can destroy the card to grant another unit you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are very know well, a moment that has been reimagined again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new versions in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, expressed entirely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For backstory, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a clash with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the friends break free. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his friend. They finally reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is killed by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the role of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Legacy on the Game Board

In a game, the rules essentially let you recreate this iconic scene. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional combo potential with the Buster Sword, letting you to look through your library for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces unfold as follows: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to pull the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you cast and attach it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s signature action is designed, you can potentially use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and activate it to prevent the attack completely. Therefore, you can do this at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He then becomes a powerful 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of moment meant when discussing “narrative impact” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

Extending Past the Obvious Synergy

And the narrative here is incredibly rich, and it reaches past just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova card is part of the collection 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 sort of hints that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he underwent, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle nod, but one that implicitly links the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked cliff where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* lets you recreate the passing for yourself. You perform the ultimate play. You hand over the weapon on. And for a fleeting moment, while enjoying a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most influential game in the series to date.