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A major element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond release for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards tell iconic tales. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the character at the very start of *Final Fantasy 10*: a celebrated Blitzball pro whose signature move is a fancy shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The gameplay rules represent this with subtlety. Such storytelling is found across the entire Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Some are heartbreaking callbacks of sad moments fans continue to reflect on years after.

"Emotional stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a lead game designer involved with the collaboration. "We built some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair card is not a competitive powerhouse, it represents one of the release's most refined examples of storytelling via gameplay. It artfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments brilliantly, all while capitalizing on some of the product's core mechanics. And even if it doesn't spoil anything, those familiar with the tale will quickly recognize the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: A Narrative in Play

At a cost of one mana of white (the alignment of good) in this set, Zack Fair has a starting stat line of 0/1 but arrives with a +1/+1 marker. For the cost of one generic mana, you can destroy the card to give another unit you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, along with an Equipment, onto that target creature.

This design paints a moment FF fans are very remember, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the first *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even reimagined retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it resonates powerfully 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

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are left for dead after a clash with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo manage to escape. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to take care of his friend. They finally arrive at the plains outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by Shinra soldiers. Left behind, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the role of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Game Board

Through gameplay, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a powerful piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and provides the equipped creature +3/+2. Therefore, using six mana, you can make Zack into a respectable 4/6 while the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud Strife card also has intentional synergy with the Buster Sword, letting you to search your deck for an artifact card. When used in tandem, these three cards play out like this: You play Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “block” an attack and activate it to negate the attack altogether. So you can do this at a key moment, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He is transformed into a strong 6/4 that, whenever he deals combat damage a player, lets you pull extra cards and cast two spells for free. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when discussing “narrative impact” — not explaining the scene, but letting the card design trigger the recollection.

More Than the Obvious Synergy

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it reaches past just these cards. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity appears in the set as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER treatment he underwent, which included experimentation with Jenova cells. It's a tiny connection, but one that subtly ties the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter ecosystem in the expansion.

This design avoids showing his demise, or Cloud’s breakdown, or the stormy location where it happens. It doesn't have to. *Magic* allows you to relive the moment yourself. You make the ultimate play. You pass the weapon on. And for a short instant, while playing a card battle, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* is still the most impactful game in the saga for many fans.