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A significant element of the charm found in the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the manner so many cards tell well-known narratives. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a portrait of the hero at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a wildly famous sports star whose secret weapon is a specialized shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this with subtlety. These kinds of narrative is prevalent in the entire Final Fantasy offering, and some are not fun and games. Several act as poignant reminders of sad moments fans continue to reflect on to this day.

"Emotional stories are a key component of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a senior game designer on the collaboration. "The team established some overarching principles, but finally, it was mostly on a individual level."

Even though the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it represents one of the collection's most elegant examples of flavor via gameplay. It skillfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the product's central gameplay elements. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those familiar with the tale will instantly understand the significance behind it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one white mana (the color of good) in this collection, Zack Fair enters with a starting power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 marker. By spending one generic mana, you can remove from play the card to give another ally you control indestructible and transfer all of Zack’s markers, as well as an artifact weapon, onto that other creature.

This card depicts a moment FF fans are all too remember, a moment that has been retold throughout the years — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates powerfully here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack sacrifices himself to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. Following extended testing, the duo get away. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to protect his comrade. They eventually reach the plains outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by forces. Left behind, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and takes on the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Reenacting the Passing of the Torch on the Battlefield

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you recreate this whole sequence. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and grants the wielding creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword wielded.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate combo potential with the Buster Sword, allowing you to search your deck for an weapon card. When used in tandem, these pieces function like this: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you summon Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword out of your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Due to the way Zack’s sacrifice ability is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to prevent the attack entirely. Therefore, you can make this play at any time, transferring the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a formidable 6/4 that, each time he strikes a player, lets you gain card advantage and play two cards at no cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction meant when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the gameplay make you remember.

Beyond the Obvious Combo

But the flavor here is incredibly rich, and it reaches further than just this combo. 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 chosen creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small reference, but one that subtly connects the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

This design does not depict his end, or Cloud’s trauma, or the rain-soaked bluff where it concludes. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the moment for yourself. You choose the sacrifice. You pass the weapon on. And for a brief second, while playing a strategy game, you remember why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most impactful game in the franchise to date.