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A core aspect of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way countless cards tell well-known tales. Consider Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a glimpse of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned Blitzball pro whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics represent this in nuanced ways. Such flavor is found throughout the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Some serve as poignant callbacks of tragedies fans still mull over to this day.

"Emotional narratives are a key component of the Final Fantasy series," explained a senior game designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Even though the Zack Fair may not be a tournament staple, it stands as one of the release's most refined examples of storytelling via rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments in spectacular fashion, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central gameplay elements. And while it steers clear of spoiling anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base stat line of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control protection from destruction and move all of Zack’s markers, plus an gear, onto that chosen creature.

This design portrays a sequence FF fans are all too know well, a moment that has been retold multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. Yet it hits with equal force here, expressed entirely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then takes up the Buster Sword as his own.

The Context of the Card

A bit of history, and take this as your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended experimentation, the pair manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is comatose, but Zack makes sure to look after his comrade. They finally arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Left behind, 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*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you relive this entire sequence. The Buster Sword appears as a powerful piece of equipment in the collection that requires three mana and provides the wielding creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 while the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has intentional interaction with the Buster Sword, allowing you to look through your library for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these pieces play out in this way: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Owing to the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an assault and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. Therefore, you can perform this action at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two spells at no cost. This is just the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not spoiling the scene, but letting the mechanics make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Interaction

But the thematic here is incredibly rich, and it goes further than just Zack and Cloud. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 then becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER treatment he received, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. This is a small connection, but one that cleverly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

Zack’s card does not depict his death, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy location where it concludes. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to reenact the legacy personally. You make the ultimate play. You transfer the sword on. And for a fleeting moment, while engaged in a strategy game, you recall why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the saga for many fans.