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A significant aspect of the allure of the Final Fantasy Universes Beyond set for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the manner numerous cards depict iconic narratives. Cards like Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the character at the outset of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned sports star whose secret weapon is a unique shot that knocks a defender out of the way. The abilities reflect this in nuanced ways. This type of narrative is widespread throughout the whole Final Fantasy set, and not all fun and games. Several act as somber echoes of sad moments fans remember vividly to this day.

"Powerful tales are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," explained a lead game designer on the project. "We built some general rules, but in the end, it was primarily on a card-by-card basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a top-tier card, it represents one of the set's most elegant pieces of narrative design through rules. It skillfully reflects one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most pivotal story moments brilliantly, all while utilizing some of the set's central gameplay elements. And while it avoids revealing anything, those familiar with the story will instantly understand the emotional weight behind it.

The Card's Design: Story Through Gameplay

At a cost of one mana of white (the color of protagonists) in this set, Zack Fair enters with a base power and toughness of 0/1 but comes into play with a +1/+1 counter. By paying one colorless mana, you can remove from play the card to grant another ally you control protection from destruction and put all of Zack’s bonuses, plus an gear, onto that target creature.

These mechanics depicts a scene FF fans are extremely familiar with, a moment that has been reimagined multiple times — in the classic *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even new iterations in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it lands just as hard here, conveyed completely 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 Scene

A bit of context, and here is your *FF7* warning: Years before the primary events of the game, Zack and Cloud are severely injured after a battle with Sephiroth. Following years of experimentation, the friends get away. During their ordeal, Cloud is delirious, but Zack vows to look after his companion. They eventually reach the outskirts outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Left behind, Cloud subsequently grabs Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the persona of a elite SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Legacy on the Battlefield

Through gameplay, the rules essentially let you relive this iconic scene. The Buster Sword is featured as a strong piece of gear in the collection that costs three mana and gives the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can turn Zack into a solid 4/6 with the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear interaction with the Buster Sword, letting you to find for an equipment card. Together, these three cards play out in this way: You cast Zack, and he receives the +1/+1 counter. Then you cast Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you summon and give it to Zack.

Because of the manner Zack’s signature action is worded, you can technically use it when blocking, meaning you can “block” an assault and activate it to prevent the damage entirely. This allows you to perform this action at any time, transferring 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 draw two cards and play two cards without paying their mana cost. This is exactly the kind of interaction alluded to when talking about “flavorful design” — not explaining the scene, but letting the mechanics trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Main Interaction

But the flavor here is deeply satisfying, and it extends beyond just this combo. The Jenova card appears in the collection as a creature that, at the start of combat, puts a number of +1/+1 counters on a chosen creature, which then becomes a Mutant. This sort of suggests that Zack’s starting +1/+1 token is, symbolically, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a small nod, but one that subtly ties the whole SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the expansion.

This design doesn't show his demise, or Cloud’s trauma, or the stormy cliff where it all ends. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you reenact the legacy personally. You perform the sacrifice. You hand over the legacy on. And for a brief second, while enjoying a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* continues to be the most beloved game in the saga ever made.