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A major element of the appeal of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* comes from the way numerous cards tell well-known stories. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which provides a snapshot of the hero at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a fancy shot that pushes a defender aside. The abilities mirror this perfectly. This type of narrative is found throughout the complete Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Some act as heartbreaking reminders of tragedies fans remember vividly to this day.

"Moving tales are a key component of the Final Fantasy franchise," wrote a principal game designer for the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but ultimately, it was mostly on a case-by-case basis."

Though the Zack Fair isn't a competitive powerhouse, it is one of the set's most clever instances of narrative design via mechanics. It masterfully captures one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most important cinematic moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the expansion's central mechanics. And even if it steers clear of spoiling anything, those who know the saga will immediately grasp the emotional weight within it.

How It Works: Flavor in Rules

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

These mechanics paints a moment FF fans are very familiar with, a moment that has been retold again and again — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new retellings in *FF7 Remake*. And yet it hits just as hard here, conveyed completely through card abilities. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then inherits the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Scene

Some necessary context, and consider this your *FF7* spoiler alert: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After extended experimentation, the duo manage to escape. The entire time, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack makes sure to look after his companion. They finally make it the edge outside Midgar before Zack is fatally wounded by Shinra soldiers. Abandoned, Cloud then takes up Zack’s Buster Sword and adopts the persona of a first-class SOLDIER, setting the stage for the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Moment on the Tabletop

In a game, the card mechanics essentially let you reenact this whole event. The Buster Sword is a a powerful piece of armament in the collection that requires three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. Thus, with an investment of six mana, you can turn Zack into a respectable 4/6 with the Buster Sword equipped.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has deliberate synergy with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an equipment card. When used in tandem, these three cards function like this: You summon Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to retrieve the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to cancel out the damage entirely. This allows you to make this play at a key moment, passing the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a powerful 6/4 that, every time he deals combat damage a player, lets you draw two cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is precisely the kind of interaction referred to when talking about “flavorful design” — not revealing the scene, but letting the card design make you remember.

Beyond the Main Combo

And the narrative here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova card is part of the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, places a number of +1/+1 counters on a target creature, which also becomes a Mutant. This kind of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, in a way, the SOLDIER enhancement he received, which included genetic manipulation with Jenova cells. It's a subtle connection, but one that implicitly connects 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 all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the moment personally. You choose the sacrifice. You transfer the sword on. And for a short instant, while engaged in a card battle, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most influential game in the series for many fans.