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A major element of the appeal of the Final Fantasy crossover collection for *Magic: The Gathering* lies in the fashion numerous cards tell well-known tales. Take for instance Tidus, Blitzball Star, which gives a snapshot of the protagonist at the beginning of *Final Fantasy 10*: a renowned professional athlete whose key technique is a unique shot that pushes a defender out of the way. The card's mechanics mirror this in nuanced ways. This type of flavor is prevalent across the entire Final Fantasy set, and they aren't all fun and games. Some serve as heartbreaking echoes of sad moments fans still mull over decades later.

"Emotional stories are a vital part of the Final Fantasy legacy," wrote a lead game designer on the set. "They created some broad guidelines, but finally, it was largely on a individual basis."

While the Zack Fair isn't a tournament staple, it stands as one of the set's most refined pieces of narrative design through gameplay. It artfully echoes one of *Final Fantasy 7*'s most crucial story moments in spectacular fashion, all while capitalizing on some of the expansion's core gameplay elements. And even if it avoids revealing anything, those acquainted with the tale will immediately grasp the meaning embedded in it.

The Mechanics: Story Through Gameplay

For one white mana (the hue of good) in this set, Zack Fair is a starting stat line of 0/1 but enters with a +1/+1 counter. By spending one colorless mana, you can destroy the card to grant another ally you control indestructible and put all of Zack’s markers, along with an gear, onto that other creature.

This design portrays a scene FF fans are extremely know well, a moment that has been revisited throughout the years — in the original *FF7*, *Crisis Core*, and even alternate-timeline retellings in *FF7 Remake*. But somehow it resonates with equal force here, conveyed solely through gameplay mechanics. Zack makes the ultimate sacrifice to save Cloud, who then picks up the Buster Sword as his own.

A Spoiler for the Card

For backstory, and here is your *FF7* spoiler alert: Prior to the main events of the game, Zack and Cloud are gravely wounded after a confrontation with Sephiroth. After years of testing, the duo get away. Throughout this period, Cloud is barely conscious, but Zack ensures to take care of his friend. They eventually arrive at the edge outside Midgar before Zack is gunned down by troops. Presumed dead, Cloud in that moment claims Zack’s Buster Sword and assumes the identity of a first-class SOLDIER, which leads right into the start of *FF7*.

Playing Out the Passing of the Torch on the Game Board

On the tabletop, the abilities essentially let you recreate this whole scene. The Buster Sword appears as a top-tier piece of equipment in the set that costs three mana and grants the equipped creature +3/+2. So, for a total of six mana, you can transform Zack into a formidable 4/6 while the Buster Sword attached.

The Cloud, Midgar Mercenary also has clear combo potential with the Buster Sword, enabling you to search your deck for an equipment card. Together, these pieces play out like this: You play Zack, and he gets the +1/+1 counter. Then you play Cloud to fetch the Buster Sword from your deck. Then you play and equip it to Zack.

Because of the design Zack’s signature action is designed, you can technically use it in the middle of battle, meaning you can “intercept” an attack and trigger it to negate the damage altogether. So you can perform this action at any time, moving the +1/+1 counter *and* the Buster Sword to Cloud. He subsequently becomes a strong 6/4 that, each time he does damage a player, lets you gain card advantage and cast two cards at no cost. This is just the kind of experience meant when talking about “narrative impact” — not revealing the scene, but letting the gameplay trigger the recollection.

Beyond the Obvious Interaction

However, the thematic here is oh-so-delicious, and it goes beyond just this combo. The Jenova, Ancient Calamity 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 additionally gains the type of a Mutant. This sort of implies that Zack’s initial +1/+1 token is, figuratively, the SOLDIER conditioning he underwent, which included modification with Jenova cells. This is a subtle reference, but one that cleverly connects the entire SOLDIER program to the +1/+1 counter theme in the set.

Zack’s card avoids showing his death, or Cloud’s confusion, or the stormy bluff where it happens. It does not need to. *Magic* lets you relive the passing yourself. You choose the ultimate play. You hand over the sword on. And for a brief second, while engaged in a trading card game, you are reminded of why *Final Fantasy 7* remains the most impactful game in the saga for many fans.